The Love of Christ

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus loved everyone. He did not always agree with what they were doing or how they were doing it, but he loved them as he loves each of us. Love is a central component to the Gospel message and should be a central part of our lives as Christians. Not matter what it is we are doing, we should do it out of love.

When asked the two greatest Commandments, Jesus responded with, “Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, with all your Soul and with all your mind. And the Second, love your neighbor as yourself.” Love is important. I would have to say that we will be judged more by how we loved one another than anything else. That’s how important love is in the life of a Christian.

Recently I have been engaged in several conversations on Facebook and other places of Orthodox Evangelism. How do we evangelize this world, and bring this message of love to a hurting world that is quickly turning away from all things, not only Christian, but religious.

Some engaged in this work like to confront evil by calling it evil, or confront those who disagree by calling them heretics or heterodox. This does not sound like love to me.

I read many blogs on a daily basis, or should I say I scan many blogs on a daily basis. From time to time I come across something that hits home. Today is one of those days. On the blog, Orthodox Way of Life, the author often quotes from the fathers and mothers of the Church. Today is no exception and today the quote has to do with confronting evil and how we should do it:

The way of Love taught by Eder Porphyrios avoids directly attacking evil. It is through an exclusive focus on our love for Christ that evil is defeated and not by our efforts. To do otherwise invites struggle and much effort. Elder Porphyrios says,

If evil comes to assault you, turn all you inner strength to good, to Christ. Pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

Confront evil with love… Hmmmmm

Last night I posted a video on my Facebook wall of an Orthodox priest in Egypt taking on Islam. When I say taking on, I mean taking on. (I will post the video clip at the end of this post) He has been so successful that he is now considered public enemy number 1 in many Islamic Countries. The interesting thing about his evangelizing is that he is doing it with love. He knows the Koran, and uses the Koran itself to disprove many of the dogmas, if I can use that word, of Islam. He does not call them evil, he tells them of the love of Christ. Its the old saying, “you catch more flies with honey.”

I believe that the Orthodox Church is a Church like no other. We do not need to compare ourselves to anyone. We need to preach the Love of Jesus Christ and we also need to show that Love in our actions. It is not enough just to say that Jesus loves you, we need to show that Jesus loves and how He loves.

After Communion we say, “We have found the true faith” If we really believe that, then we need to act like it. Confront evil with love, not more hate.