John 13:31-35
Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (vv. 34-35) It would not be true for me to say that I do not like these verses. (My, what an opening line…!!) HOWEVER, these verses always take me back to 2003, when I was an Assistant Treasurer for the Diocese of Lexington; Stacy Sauls was the bishop; the triennial Convention of the Episcopal Church was that August; and I was second alternate in the Diocese to attend the Convention. I did not attend, but I was active in the Diocesan events and discussions leading up to the Convention.
You may recall that a major issue before the Episcopal Church at that Convention was the confirmation of Gene Robinson, an actively practicing gay man, as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire. Although Bishop Sauls never formally announced his position on this issue, from what he said in our meetings it was abundantly clear to me that he was in favor of confirming Robinson as bishop (and he later voted to do so). As I recall, his “mantra” in these discussions was essentially to cite the essence of these two verses, as in something like “Whatever else is going on, we are called to love one another.” Further, it’s not difficult to go online and find the essence of these verses in support of gay marriage and other LGBT issues.
These two verses are simple enough and provide guidance for all of us as to how we are to live. Love one another. Period. Many in the church obey this commandment, but add the admonition, “Love the sinner, hate the sin…” or “We are a welcoming church, but…”.
In reading these verses anew I asked myself if maybe Jesus was speaking these words only to those at the Last Supper table with Him. So I went online and typed in “love one another 12 apostles”. One reference in particular was telling. It listed nearly 100 New Testament verses on “Love one another” (https://www.openbible.info/topics/love_one_another). Most of the Gospel verses listed were from John, but there were at least seven from the Synoptics. To me it’s clear that Jesus was not speaking only to the 12. Check it out yourself.
So where do I stand? I’d like to think that I am in line with traditional, historical Christian teaching on these issues. Specifically I think I can make two statements: (1) I am opposed to gay marriage; (2) I am opposed to having practicing homosexuals in positions of church leadership. There are probably other statements I could make if we were to have a longer discussion (like sex-change operations).
Beyond all that, we have another Biblical guideline given to us by Jesus: Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2, ESV)
Your comments…?
Slava Bohu!
All this is fine, but seems to lack the crux of the issue—what am I doing to “love one another” in the face of Jesus’ commandment? How are we to love? That includes many others in our lives, not just gays—what are we actively doing?
Love, according to Jesus’ model, is sacrificial actions, not how you feel. I have been thinking of this because of dear friends who are probably facing divorce. Do they love each other? My sense is neither of them feel love for the other. The question is how to proceed in the face of their commitment to marriage—can they live in harmony and not hurt each other and trust that joy will come by continuing with each other more than by being apart?
So how do we love in this situation? What do we say? Do?
I confess that I don’t really care about the gay issue right now; I regularly come in contact with few gays on a weekly basis (I operate on the principle that they need Jesus, not judgement), so your response to Jesus’ command to “love one another” is background, but seems to lack application. Actions now—that is the challenge for me.
I tend to agree with Carol, though I do have friends, coworkers in the past and relatives who are gay. As I see my job, it is to love them though that may include questions to help me to understand. Jesus landed on hypocrites, not adulterers, (There were gays back then too.) though he definitely said that Moses allowed divorce because hearts were hard. He wants to transform us, but he starts with where we are.
I daresay that Stacy Sauls et al did not (and do not) quote the essence of John 13:34, 35. Rather, they distort the definition of “love” to mean something utterly foreign to the actual meaning of the word. Love is doing what is truly best for people, leading them away from sin and to the Lord. Love does not mean condoning the very sin that pulls people away from the Lord.
When Jesus confronted the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, was He failing to love them? Or was He loving them less than everyone else? Clearly not. Rather, His condemnation of their hypocrisy confirmed His love for them, urging them to repent in order to recognize Him as the way from death to life.
Let’s not continue to get sucked into false arguments based on twisted language. Seek the truth.