CAN I LOVE YOU IF I DON’T LIKE YOU?

 

This continuation of blogs based on John Wesley’s Manifesto leads us directly into a statement that is very positive and gives me a bit of a glow – share the love of God with everyone.

This should be a no-brainer. After all:

·         We are children of God.

·         “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

·         “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16)

How should we react when we realize what God has done for us? The love God has for us? And the knowledge that God IS love?

I can’t believe we could react any other way than to share that love with everyone.

But that’s not the end. I went back to something I had that took the manifesto and replaced these “easy” words with his own words. The eleventh item on the list says “the world is my parish.”

Well, that is just a little bit different than the easy-sounding idea of sharing the love of God. He felt that sitting in a pulpit and only preaching to those that could afford a seat in the building was illogical. He, of course, was an Anglican priest and had started out preaching from the pulpit. But, over time, he felt that the Word of God should be heard and experienced by as many people as possible. That lead to the concept of the world as parish, and preaching from fields, corners of the street and even standing atop his father’s grave.

But the world as his parish goes even further than that. He actually said:

"I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. This is the work which I know God has called me to; and sure I am that His blessing attends it. Great encouragement have I, therefore, to be faithful in fulfilling the work He hath given me to do. His servant I am, and, as such, am employed according to the plain direction of His Word, As I have opportunity, doing good unto all men'; and His providence clearly concurs with his Word; which has disengaged me from all things else, that I might singly attend on this very thing, and go about doing good.'"

We need to go about doing good. For everyone! It is so easy, especially today and in light of what appears in our news feeds, and our social media, on the television, even in printed material, to simply react with anger and hostility, or just “hate” the person for the statement.

This is something I work on every day. It is far too easy to simply block someone on social media for what I view as a misguided statement, or to stop talking to a friend for a hateful opinion. But it goes back to a statement I remember from my childhood: “I may not like what you did, but I still love you.”

Can I live into that? Can I dislike something and still love the person? Some days it’s easier than others!

But if God can love me, no matter my faults (and there are plenty) and no matter some of my actions (not all of which I’m proud of), then how can I NOT reach out in love to God’s other beloved children and love them with all the love of God. God IS love!