The wonderful pastoral theologian, Father Richard Rohr, recently posed this question: If our love of God doesn’t directly influence, or even change, how we engage in the issues of our time, I wonder what good religion is? We might consider it in this way: words matter, but acting out of love matters more. It harkens back to something I wrote about a couple of weeks ago; saying we love God and each other is easy, but doing something about it takes commitment. I hear a lot of people talking a good game, but not all of them living it out in how they treat others. This idea is at the core of Jesus’ condemnation of hypocrisy, and He points it out most clearly when He criticizes some of the most religious people of His day. He told His disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” (Matthew 23).
The Apostle Paul addressed the very same problem in 1 Corinthians 13, pointing out that we can be amazing at practicing spiritual gifts, but if we don’t have love, we are nothing. Even when we mess up, love comes through. Even when we are imperfect in our actions, love wins. My experience has shown me that too many allegedly devout people say one thing and do another. They say they are faithful and care about others yet vote only for their own benefit. They say they love God yet live as if they only love themselves. Self-love is only the beginning; according to Jesus (and almost every religion), loving oneself must lead to loving God and neighbor. And our enemy. If it doesn’t, we are spiritual narcissists.
Love has everything to do with it. Our worship might be modern and exciting, but if we aren’t giving to our neighbors in need, we are wasting our time. Our worship space might be full, and the seating might be comfortable, but if we aren’t moving out into the world and making lives better, we are fooling ourselves. Our singing might tell the world we love God, but if our actions don’t show those outside of our faith community what we live that way, we are lying. I would invite all of us to look in our spiritual mirrors and ask ourselves – and only ourselves – if we are living up to Fr. Rohr’s challenge. Because love has everything to do with it.
Prayer – Holy God, disarm us and empower us to live in ways that show Your love. Amen.
Today’s art is by Hal and Yvonne Davis portrays the abbreviated mission statement (“art, love, walk”) of Hanover Presbyterian Church.