Dr. Scott Black Johnston: By Our Love

You know the song.

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.

It was written by Peter Scholtes, a Catholic priest. It conveys the sweet side, the swaying, hand-holding side of the decade in which it was written-the 1960's.  It also points to something that Jesus clearly, repeatedly proclaimed:  To be his disciple is to be identified not by words, or doctrines, or moral purity, but by the love you show to your neighbor.

This week I am finishing up a sermon series that has focused (for ten weeks) on various commands that Jesus gave to the disciples.  We have made our way through:  Knock, Wash, Thank, Spit, Share, Fear (not), Feast, Visit, and Raise.

Week #10 is... Love.

It is probably the most important, most distinctive, most life-changing thing that Jesus asked his disciples to do.  It is also the most difficult one to describe.  It is a force that changes the course of many a life, and yet it is ephemeral.

Even our best poets struggle to describe it.

But, I am not looking for poetry... I am looking for "testimony." What does Christian love look like? Seen it recently?  Seen it ever?

Please share.  Be bold.  Take a shot at describing this virtue of virtues...

I am eager to hear what you have to say.

[Taken with permission from Dr. Scott Black Johnston's blog, "Sharp About Your Prayers," Nov. 15, 2010.]