“We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.” 
-1 John 3:16

Over the last few years, I have thought a lot about love. From my perspective, the world, and even the Church, seems to be becoming less loving. This lack of love has led me to try harder to understand what love is and why it is central to God’s identity and our faith. 

In many ways, love is still a mystery to me. What I am certain of is that Jesus Christ personifies God’s character, and His life is the most perfect example of love we have.

The climax of Christ’s story is a great sacrifice. It is a tragic death, but it isn’t a tragedy Jesus couldn’t avoid. It is a tragedy that He chose not to avoid. Jesus was not overwhelmed by the power of the Roman Empire. He allowed their violence to be carried out on Him. 

The God of creation, who had already humiliated Himself by emptying His divinity into human form, then allowed the religious leaders and secular state to further humiliate Him on the cross.

His sacrifice was an act of love toward us and is the ultimate expression of love. Jesus sought what was good for us even to His own detriment.

If we are to be loving, we should seek to emulate Jesus’ perfect love. That does not mean we will all literally lay down our lives for others. But it does mean we should all figuratively lay down our lives for others.

In the world, in the Church, and even from pulpits, I hear so many claims about who we should be and how we should behave that don’t seem loving. They are not rooted in an ethic that is willing to sacrifice ourselves for others. Often they seem like justifications for being selfish or even hateful. Also, they subtly elevate us over others.

That is not love.

We know love because Christ laid down His life as an act of love. In light of that, we should show our love by demonstrating a willingness to lay our lives down for others.

A Quote to Consider

“Those who think it is permissible to tell white lies soon grow color-blind.” 
-Austin O’Malley

Truth is a big deal. It is an important concept within the Christian faith. It is also a foundational aspect of God and, therefore, the universe. Truth should not be treated lightly.

Often, when people see quotes like this, they think the quote argues that we should never lie. I do not think that is the case. I can see a strong moral argument that those protecting the Jews from the Nazi’s did the moral thing when they lied. 

Those weren’t white lies. Those were very serious lies. They were moral calculations about whether honesty or protecting life mattered more. 

A white lie does something very different. A white lie treats truth as if it is trivial. A white lie says our convenience matters more than a foundational component of the universe. It says that our convenience, blaming our tardiness on traffic when we are late for dinner with friends, matters more than reflecting the character of the God who is Truth by admitting we misjudged the time.

We grow color-blind, blind to what is important when we treat something as serious as truth as trivial.

Maybe the decision to lie about something that doesn’t really matter is more harmful to our spiritual formation than lying about something that really does matter?

Prayer

Lord, 

Teach us to love as Christ loved us, with humility and a willingness to sacrifice for others. Forgive us when we place ourselves above love and truth. Help us reflect Your character in all we say and do. 

Amen.

About Post Author

Rondall Reynoso

Rondall is an artist, scholar, educator, and the Executive Editor of Faith on View. He holds an M.S. in art history, an M.F.A. in painting, and a Ph.D. in religion. His artwork had been exhibited internationally and he currently serves as Chair of the Department of Visual Arts in the Jackson Dinsdale Art Center at Hastings College.

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