Choosing Love in a Hate Filled World
Our world can appear to be a very dark and hopeless place, but remember: Light is most clearly seen in darkness.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. Isaiah 9:2
I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the Light of life. John 8:12
God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all. I John 1:5
Faith is not practiced only in a church pew. It’s our life and the lens through which we look at the world—a world that often appears dark and full of sin. It is precisely when you and I encounter darkness that the light of faith transforms our vision. Despair gives way to hope, pessimism to optimism, and darkness to light. Beware of the “victim” mentality where you perceive yourself as a victim to the events of life. You and I are not here by accident, nor are we passive spectators of the events of life. As we look through the lens of faith our lives have purpose and are making an eternal difference in this world. Rather than victims, we are active participants in bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth.
The Effect of Fear on the Brain
The dark events so often seen in our world promote fear, which hinders the light of love. Fear is like a galactic black hole that even light cannot escape. It sucks the joy out of life and inspires choices that are often not in our or others’ best interest. When absorbed in fear, our brains even act differently. Blood rushes from the cognitive part of the brain where we make rational choices to what has been termed the “reptilian brain”. Rational thought shuts down and a “fight or flight” response to life occurs. This is necessary when being attacked by an animal or rescuing a loved one, but it is not where one wants to stay very long.
Fear-Based Religion
Fear can also be used in religion to the point of spiritual abuse. Sometimes people are even physically or emotionally harmed in the name of God. Several years ago, I attended a week long workshop “Healing Religion’s Harm”. The course addressed how the abuse of religion has hurt people and ways to bring healing. I find fear to be a lousy religious motivator. If fear is regularly used in religion to motivate or control children, they will almost certainly reject it as they mature. Some adults harbor great anger toward churches and religious authorities for using fear to motivate or control them when they were younger. In the Bible the word for “fear” can be translated “awe or reverence”. For example, in Psalm 111:10 we read: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This can also be interpreted: “Awe and reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This understanding opens us to the God of love revealed in the New Testament and life of Jesus.
God Is Equated with Love
There is a dramatic shift in the understanding of God from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Here we see love is the primary attribute of God to the point where God is even equated with love. The author of I John states:
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. … There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates their brother or sister, is a liar. For anyone who does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love their brother and sister. I John 4:16-21
Is Love Non-Essential?
So, to live in God is to live in love. Our concern needs to be the love of people and not to control them. Some may say: “But, our job is to change people. What’s with all this fluffy love stuff?” Do you really want to change people, or, do you want to control them? Unconditional love changes people. It is the most powerful force in the universe and is the essence of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. True change in people’s lives is an “inside out” job. God changes people from the inside as we love them. God knows far better than you or I what individuals need. An environment of love at home and church is where God works best.
