In June of 2003, a band called the Black Eyed Peas wrote a song titled, “Where is the love?” The purpose of this song was to speak out against various social injustices such as racism, discrimination, and many more — resolving that the true answer to extinguishing these horrible acts is through love. Without going too far into politics, love for fellow man would be a step in the right direction, but it must be the right form of love. The definition of love in today’s world has become very skewed. Today, loving someone means that we must be totally tolerant of whatever lifestyle they choose to live. However, according to scripture, love has a very different definition.

There is perhaps no greater passage to define what love is than 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” If we all showed love like these verses explain, then the world would be a much better place. We would be able to show more patience for one another, we would not take advantage of one another, and everyone would be far more selfless and looking to build each other up.

On the contrary, having true love for one another would also mean confronting others when they are not living their lives in a proper manner. There is no debate about the love that Jesus has for us, but Jesus even rebuked those in sin. Revelation 3:19 is a perfect example as Jesus tells the church in Sardis, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” Furthermore, many will tell that when raising children, one of the worst possible things to do is discipline them through corporal punishment. However, Solomon through inspiration wrote about parenting in Proverbs 13:24, “He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” Going along with rebuking for one’s actions, in the same book that Paul tells of the beauty of love, 1 Corinthians, he also condemns and reminds the brethren there also to condemn sinful lifestyles rather than accept and tolerate them.

Love has a very important and remarkable role among men. Love is what brings people together. Love shows the good parts of man. When love in its proper form is shown, it produces good work. However, love is not always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, because of our love for man, we have to be harsh and stand against the decisions people make. Many of us who are Christians know what that’s like as we have family that we love dearly, but because of the way they live, we have to withdraw from them. Many brethren have wrestled with how we could possibly be showing love through withdrawing, but we always need to remember that Christ has done, and commanded us to do, the same. As long we continue to live our life like Christ and shine our light to the world, then we are in fact showing that there is still true, honest love in the world.

Oren Caskey