Christian Love in a World Filled with Discord

Posted by on Nov 14, 2016 | 13 comments

Christian Love in a World Filled with Discord

Christian love is to be a hallmark of our faith. An old song from the early years of the Jesus Movement says, “They will know we are Christians by our love…” But in this critical world full of discord and strife, are Christians really acting differently than non-believers, or do they see us as hypocrites who happen to sit in church on Sunday mornings? 

 

2MefromHim Devotionals

Christian Love in a World Filled with Discord

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

A popular praise song from when I was in college has been on my mind lately. I believe it speaks volumes to Christians about how we are to present ourselves to the world and treat each other.

Christian Love in a World Filled with Discord scripture

They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love

By Carolyn Arends

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

Love is patient, love is kind
Never boasts, not full of pride
Always hopes, always trusts
The evidence of Christ in us

We talk a lot about Christian love, but does the world see Christians as examples of love and unity? Or are we perceived as purveyors of the same dissension and division as non-Christians?

What if the body of Christ concentrated on building each other up in love? What if we refused to judge fellow believers for things that have no bearing on salvation? What if we rejoiced in our differences and trusted God for the outcome? What if we worked and worshiped hand in hand without allowing God-given uniqueness to divide us?

God did not make “cookie-cutter” Christians. Just because we all pray does not mean we reach the same conclusion. Believers vary greatly in our personalities and perceptions. Our children are as different as two people could possibly be. We taught them to appreciate and learn from their differences, and today, they get along well. Christian love and unity must be the example of families, whether or not they agree on everything.

Christian Love in a World Filled with Discord meme

 

We taught our children to respect the position of authority, even if they could not respect the person. Christians must live unity and love out loud before our world. Non-believers want to see how we handle difficult situations. When we berate each other, destroying the dignity of fellow believers, we destroy our public witness and create private division and great individual hurt.

This is a time of great discord in our world and society. Christian love is how we can demonstrate that we are bigger than the differences between us. We must allow fellow believers to choose a different way, recognizing that they too have prayed and acted on God’s leading. God may use those very differences to accomplish His purpose.

Christians can be catalysts of change accepting others in love despite differences or we can act like the world. God ultimately decides all outcomes. No one person or group can thwart His plan or diminish our witness unless we allow it.

How many skeptics would accept Christ if they saw Christians as the unifiers and peacemakers we are admonished to be in scripture?

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, November 11, 2016

http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/carolyn-arends/theyll-know-we-are-christians.html

Norma 2015About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:Land of My Dreams cover sm

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

13 Comments

  1. Wow, Norma, this is a perfect word for today’s politically-charged atmosphere. It’s more important than ever to focus on the big picture—Love—and put aside the small stuff. Christ’s Love shed through His blood is the BIG picture. I remember that song well. It needs to be sung now more than ever before.
    Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy

    • Thanks so much Wendy! It is so disheartening to continue to see Christians bashing each other and everyone else on Facebook and in person, day after day! I appreciate your encouragement!

  2. Such a timely message! Now is the time for believers to demonstrate love in our words and deeds–as the song says, as we walk and work. Thanks for sharing!

    • Thank you so much, Kelly! I will admit I got the idea from a sermon our pastor gave on unity, but it stewed in my brain for a week. I appreciate the encouragement!

  3. Such a beautiful message for our nation to hear right now! Respect is such an important quality to live out right now. Thank you for your post!

    • Thank you so much, Becky, for taking time to comment! My heart hurts at the hate that continues to pour forth among Christians. We cannot show love to the world if we cannot first show love toward each other.

  4. I’m with you 100% on this…what IF we loved more? It is like Jesus has lit a fire in me for this topic. How will others see Him in us if they can’t see love?

    • Thanks for stopping by, Natalie! I have been especially impressed of the importance of Christians showing love to both believers and non-believers alike through this mean and hateful election season, but it has to be a 24/7/365 thing. Every moment, in every situation!

  5. Definitely a message that God’s children need to hear and obey in today’s world.

    • Thank you, Ann! We really need to be ambassadors of God’s love!

  6. This is a perfect time for this article. God’s children needed to hear this – and we need to remember that we should not conform to the patterns of this world

  7. I really enjoyed reading the entire post, thank you!

    • You’re welcome, Nikolina! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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