What is true Christian love? A question we ask ourselves, and is pretty hard to answer. I personally believe that true Christian love is to love one another purely, unconditionally. One of the last things Jesus ever said was to the disciples during the last supper, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12. Jesus loves everyone that has ever existed with his whole heart. Jesus laid down his life for each and every person individually.
I think that in modern Christianity today, we see a lot of judgement. Judgement for very small things about people, such as how they dress, who they love, or how they follow God. Jesus ministered to and broke bread with criminals, prostitutes, tax collectors, outcasts, immigrants, and others that were discriminated against. Many will say that in order to love someone as the father loved them, then you must judge them, as God has judged those he loves. However, God knows everything there is to know about anyone. God knows you better than you know you. When God is judging someone, he is doing it while knowing everything there is to know and more about that person.
For example, if you pass a homeless person on the street, it is easy to say that they got themselves into that situation, or their homelessness is a result of poor decisions that they made in their life. What you fail to realize is that you don’t have the whole story. They may have lost their job due to the company going bankrupt. They could have lost their house to a fire or a flood. There are many explanations for any situation that anyone could be in.
I think that when a Christian passes judgement on someone, it is easy for us to assume that they are doing so out of a place of hatred and anger. However, what is most likely happening is that it is coming from a place of wanting better for the person that they are judging. They think that they are being helpful, when really they are coming across as judgmental. What we need to do to change this is to treat everyone with unending love and kindness, and keep our personal opinions to ourselves, except for when necessary and when asked for.
If there’s anything you take away from this, please understand that Jesus loves everyone with his whole heart, and there is nothing that you can do to change that. So, to love like Jesus did, is to love others so hard, that no one can deny that you have the love of the Lord in your heart, and you carry that everywhere you go.
- A Follower Of Christ