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By Raymond D. Sopp
January / February 1998
If I had to title this article it would be titled; A Lost Love, because I have trouble finding this love in the Church today. As I look to the horizon of the future, I do not receive any encouragement of it getting better. Perhaps if we can begin to see the problem, and begin to cry out to God we will once again find this lost love. My intention is not to judge, but to define this lost LOVE according to the Scripture. In essence to place before all of us a higher goal to race toward, the finish line, to finish the race, so as with Paul we can say I have kept the faith II Timothy 4:6-8.
The lost love is found in John 21:15-22 as we see a side by side comparison of two very different kinds of love; namely agapao, and phileo. Throughout this passage of Scripture except at verse 17 Jesus uses agapao, and Peter uses phileo for the word love. In verse 17 it appears that Peter just does not get it. Jesus finally say's phileo also. However, Jesus continues with Peter saying a time will come when you will stretch out your hands, and go where you do not want to go. Peter still thinking phileo states, but what about this other disciple. Now comes the time to define the two different loves; phileo is man's love, a love that depends solely on common interests. For example, as long as you do things that are in my interest, and you can bring me joy; I then will love you. On the other hand there is agapao which comes ONLY from God which is a love which never wavers with the circumstances. Do you now see that Jesus was trying to get Peter to understand; there is coming a time Peter, when having phileo will not be enough when you go where you do not want to go. Peter, do not worry about anyone else's cross, you follow me. Is not Jesus asking the same question today, and receiving the same response? Do you love (agapao) Me? Yes Jesus, you know I love You (phileo)!
When we fall short of the mark, and we all will, or in other words sin, God's love for us never wavers. He covers us, He forgives us, and helps us in our weaknesses. Even in the giving of the law God meant it to help us, not to hurt us. God gave us the law so that we could be saved. For through the law sin became utterly sinful to drive us to Jesus, our ONLY hope. On the other hand I see in the Church today faultfinding not to help the person, but to satisfy our own pettiness. Jesus knowing our faults set out to save us even unto the laying down of His own life. He gave His life not only to the people who loved Him, but also to the people that hated Him. I know of a Pastor that the Church would criticize the way that he would speak, how he was not thoughtful enough about their needs, or not speaking enough on what Jesus would do for them. Surely their love was based only on common interests. If you would do these things for me then I will love you. I did not see the agapao that covers, forgives, and helps. The world does good, and loves those who they can benefit from. In the Church today I see the largest churches preaching on how Jesus can give you all of your desires, and how He can make you happy. What would happen to that Church body if Jesus gave to them a course in life that they did not want to follow? Would they turn their back on Him? No, you say, but is it not true that whatever you do to His body, you do to Him? I fear that when the common interests are no longer there, they would be gone. Another sign of the lost love is the fact that divorce today is as high in the Church as it is in the world. What is the reason for most of the divorces? You don't make me happy anymore. Our interests are no longer in common. You hurt me, and I will not forgive you. It is all centered around I, and not what God thinks. I will decide between right, and wrong; sound familiar, it should Genesis 3:4-5. We will not stand up for the truth any more if it brings along with it some discomfort. The lost love syndrome continues. Sorry Jesus, I would forgive, but it just hurt ME too much. Sorry Jesus, it is no longer in my interest to speak the truth it may hold me back, or keep "my" church from growing. Sorry Jesus, I will be unpopular if I speak about sin even if it means hell for the people sinning. If I don't look after myself who will? It is all motivated from self interests or phileo. Can you hear Jesus say do you love (agapao) Me Church?
We have in the Church today a mentality that judges the evidence of God's Holy Spirit by the talking in tongues, and the performing of miracles. For some reason we have lost sight of the only true evidence of God's Holy Spirit, and the only one that cannot be counterfeited by Satan, agapao love. Is it because it is so much easier to speak in tongues than to lay down your life? Look at how popular I have become when I do miracles, when I move mountains, when I can speak of the great mysteries of God for hours, and impress people with my knowledge of the Scriptures. However, there is a real problem with that in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 if there is no evidence of agapao. It is just noise; it has no distinction of its own. It is written that if Jesus is lifted up, speaking of the cross, that He would draw men unto Himself. Is the Church drawing men by becoming like the world, or are we drawing men because they see us taking up the cross, and laying down our life through Jesus? In other words, are we laying down our life for God as Jesus did, thereby drawing men unto Him. May both you, and I take the warning before Jesus returns, and tells us; get away from Me, I never knew you Matthew 7: 13- 23. Oh that we; His body, would know the breadth, length, and height of His love so that we would be filled with the fullness of God Ephesians 3:14-19, and not be just noise.
Let us set our goals of life in the Church appropriately not with hay, wood, and stubble but with the precious gold that comes down from heaven agapao love. At the end of time let us say, we have only done that which we are suppose to do Luke 17:5-10. Then just maybe we will hear God say well done good, and faithful servant. Matthew 24:45-51.
From my
to
yours,
Raymond D. Sopp
I would like to dedicate this first article to the two people that influenced me the most in my life. First to my Mom who started me on the road of understanding God's love. Who by example defined unconditional love by giving it to me. Second my Pastor, and friend Justin T. Alfred who also by example showed me what it meant to love the truth more than yourself. To love others enough to speak the truth no matter the personal cost, which was much, in order to save some. Justin, your labor of love was not in vain! Justin is now training up others for the ministry in California.
To let me know what you think about my article write me at: [ rdsopp@aol.com ]
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