Why we MUST love one another

We must love one another simply because the issue of vulnerability, or the potential vulnerability, or the past vulnerability of people will mean that those negative experiences have meant that the last thing they need is for us to add to their burden.

This means none of us can afford to wear even more than we’ve worn. And none of us can afford to put onto another person more than they’re already wearing.

For this reason, it is imperative that we love people with every ounce of encouragement that we can give them, because in assuming that there is vulnerability (loss, abuse, mental illness, etc) in a person’s past or present or future, we know that we cannot add to that trauma, for reasons that would be obvious. 

We do not need to put ourselves in harm’s way by becoming a protagonist when in the same moment and vein we could very easily become an instrument of peace and healing and of hope in their lives.

It is therefore the best and only way of Christian discipleship with others to love them with the love that Christ loves us with which is the Father’s love for Christ himself.

You may ask what about the truth? Sometimes we need to love people with the truth. Of course, we do. What I suggest is an equal blend of love and truth, to the measure that truth is honoured, and love is not betrayed, is an ‘equal’ mix of 49% truth with 51% love. See how not all things when being equal are equal?

A truth honoured where love is not betrayed is a firmly gentle communication, characterised by patience and perseverance. If a truth were to burn the person, we ratchet back. We don’t always get it right, of course. So, having burned a person, we go back and make amends.

Sometimes I’ve sought to love people with the truth and gotten the mix wrong—perhaps it was 51% truth, or 60%, or 90%. When love was minimised and truth appeared too strong, truth wasn’t appreciated. It’s not to say there can’t be eventual or overall benefit, but we need to recall Jesus’ final command wasn’t, “Truth one another,” but “Love one another.” Yet, in all this we need to acknowledge just how much speaking the truth IS love.

We MUST love others simply because there is already too much pain in this world; there is already too much grief, too much existential confusion, too much lack of meaning and purpose. There are weary people everywhere. None of us can assume that others are impenetrable and resilient. The safer assumption is that they aren’t. 

Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash