Sacriledge

I recently had an interesting discussion with someone about heresy. Now for those of you who don't know use word I'll let you in on the discussion. Heresy when it is used with regard to Christianity it means a doctrine that varies from what is consider orthodox or true. This person is a little bit more intellectual than me (I know that doesn't take much) but I enjoyed the conversation and have been thinking about it for several days. As we talked he wanted to know what I thought was the greatest heresy in the church today. I'll give you my answer. This not original with me but it is a part of me.

I believe the greatest heresy is living in a way that violates the law of love. The New Testament makes clear again and again that loves is the greatest command ( Lk 10:27; Rom. 13:8, 10; Ja 2:8). It tells us everything else in the law hangs on our fulfilling this law (Mt 22:27-40). It tells us that love is to be placed above all else (Col 3:14; I Pet 4:8). It tells us that everything we do is to be done in love (I Cor. 16:14). It tells us that nothing has any Kingdom value apart from love, however impressive things may be in and of themselves (I Cor. 13:1-3). It tells us that the only thing that ultimately matters is faith energized by love (Gal. 5:6). It tells me that when I speak the truth I must do that in love (Eph 4:15). And it tells us that this love is to be given to all people at all times, including our enemies (Lk 6:27-35). Then it tells us what love looks like - love looks like Jesus (1 Jn 3:16).

If love is above all else and if all other commands hang on fulfilling that command then how can we deny that refusing to love anyone - including our enemies - is the greatest heresy.

Now here is what won't let me go about that discussion. If all of that is truth then - why am I so quick to point out others doctrinal error (often not with a spirit of love to bring them back but so I'll feel better about myself)? Why am I so quick to point out the faults of others (again not because I grieve over their faults but because I feel superior)? Why am I so tolerant of the faults of people that I care about (not because I'm moved in love but because I want them to feel good about me and they might not after the confrontation)? I could go on listing a hundred other things I do that violate the greatest command.

This is one of those areas where I don't need to know more. I need the strength of the Holy Spirit in me and the accountability of the church to get this done. But all too often in the church we are so concerned about other things that we allow a lack of love to go by without remark. I mean I've known many a "mature" christian who is just as bitter and unforgiving now as they were 10 years ago. There is no limit to the examples of those of us in the church that are just as angry now as we were 10 years ago, just as willing to compromise truth for tolerance not because of love but self protection.

This is what I am working on in my life. I believe this is what it means to be more fully devoted to Christ - to love like He does. It is the most difficult thing I have ever tried to do.