If God is love….
By Curtis on Oct 16, 2009 in Motivational
His reasoning seemed too simple. Kind of like adding one plus one. A young boy was given an opportunity to ask the leader of the free world a question. I can imagine as everyone watched him come up to the microphone, most were probably expecting something much different than the question he posed. As he took the microphone his question was “Why do people hate you?”
If his question had stopped there we could have formulated the obvious answers around advanced intellectual reasoning that takes into account the political ramifications of policies relating to the office of the president. But his question didn’t stop there.
If his question had stopped there we might have been able to discuss in great lengths the deep racial divide that still plagues our nation. We could have heard many passionate arguments for seemingly justifiable animosity between races and cultures. But his question didn’t stop there.
If his question had stopped there we could have shone a light on the fear of the unknown that makes us cling to the known even if the known does not work for us. Maybe we could have had a group therapy session that highlighted irrational fears or our irrational strategies to deal with real fears. But his question didn’t stop there.
His continued question showed the simple reasoning of a child; “If God is love….”
To this young child things were just not adding up. His question implied that If God is love and we say that we love God how then can we in turn hate someone else. The apostle John stated this long ago “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20, 21 NIV
Simple reasoning by a child is a quality that should be cherished. “He (Jesus) called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-4 NIV
Today, the needs all around us are great. So many people are holding out their hands desperately seeking help, strength and guidance from anyone who can help them solve their problems. We have no time to get involved in wasteful arguments that are only a cloak for darker feelings and sentiments that will only make us less loving and less helpful.
We’ve got much work to do and it will take the qualities of a little child to keep everything in the right perspective. When it comes to the question on how we should view and treat other people, even those we strongly disagree with, we can simply do the math: If God is love…
4 Comment(s)
By Millicent St.Claire on Oct 16, 2009 | Reply
Once again, you’ve done it Curtis. Who can argue with the simple, pure reasoning of a child who has been untarnished by the world? The point in my blog today is that Racism is Simply Ridiculous and that includes hate and any form of separation, which even a child identify. Love is the only cure for this madness and mental illness.
By Jeni on Oct 16, 2009 | Reply
Well…. I think I am too far from a childs heart and thinking. The young lad makes a great point, but our present leader is not hated for just the color of his skin. Every president has been hated. Our nation has put a wall up by choosing to be one political party or another. We just have to pray that whoever is in office is who God knows should be there for whatever reason.
The question is a good question from the boy and I ask the same thing of many things. I just pray He comes back soon.
By Lawguy on Oct 18, 2009 | Reply
Curtis when read this one I simply said wow! The author is is right if the boy had stopped with the first part of his question we could talk about racism or politics or a million different other intellectual things. But he didn’t he added “if God is love”. So let me attempt to bring his question to its natural conclusive inquiry: If God is love, why do we hate, why do we sin, why do we doubt or question God at times? If God is love then we are called upon to do better, think better, be better. Thanks for this inspiring message.
By Jonathan Hall on Oct 20, 2009 | Reply
I have to share this with facebook! Another wonderful well put message! If God is Love….