Love Trumps Hate
LOVE TRUMPS HATE.
This is the rally cry of millions of women and men across America, and the world, participating in the Women’s March On Washington; A march geared against the newly elected 45th President Donald J Trump, reclaiming, “women’s rights are human rights.”
They stand for a whole slew of things women have been fighting for for many, many years around the globe, some good, some evil, including: equality, non-violence, and reproductive rights and the right to end preborn life. They march for the LGBTQIA, minorities, those with disabilities, and for environmental justice. And they do so "in love."
Now I don't know about you, but my idea of love doesn't include wearing pink "p***yhats" (excuse the newest feminist trend), sending used feminine hygiene items to men who stand against my rights, or abortions on demand for all.
So what is love, if it is in fact the center of this Women's March?
The Bible says:
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I'd say the Bible couldn't get any more clear on what love isn't, including jealous, boastful, proud, rude, egocentric and pushy, irritable, 'just,' faithless, and temperamental. So based on this apt description, what is it love then?
Love IS:
Patient and kind.
Undemanding, tolerant, humble, and permissive.
Faultless and flawless.
It is joyful.
It endures eternally, and is full of faith and hope.
It exists even in the darkest places.
With that in mind, hatred and animosity are antonyms to love, says Webster Dictionary. These words distinctly describe the exact opposite of love, and are defined as a strong dislike or disregard for something.
Hate is intolerant and pushy, proud and full of fault. It does not endure and it brings no joy and IS the darkest places of life.
And if you can believe it, God, our brilliant Creator, was FULL of hate. It's a contradicting statement, since our God is a God of love, righ? Why would our God possess this feeling of strong disregard for anything?
But the Bible says God hates the following things:
"...haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family." Proverbs 6:17-19
That's pretty clear God hates a lot of things, all which He attest are evil. Even those who aren't aware of the words of the Bible are offended when they are the center of one of the seven things above of which God hates.
So I challenge you, both those who are partaking in the Women's March on Washington to protest Mr. Trump, and those who oppose alike, what of this is agreeable to God? What of this march oozes love, under the auspice of love?
I'll let you mull that over and do research, but I want to charge Christians with this:
If you aren't being a holy example of love, extending it's enduring and hopeful qualities to your neighbors, someone else will extend their version in attempt to fill the gap. And I'm sorry to tell you, but something that looks like love, is a lot better to embrace than continuing to live without anything at all.
So be pro-love. Be pro-Jesus.
Fill the gap with the only filler that does the trick: the love of Jesus, because HE is LOVE.
He is pro-hope, pro-freedom, pro-equality, pro-rights for all people, pro-service, pro-humble, pro-kindness. He is pro-healing and wholeness. Pro-mercy and grace and righteousness.
Champion a life of pro-Jesus. It's the only pro that will make abortion obsolete, abolish sexual violence, and destroy rampant discrimination. Celebrate a life of pro-love because it's the only thing that will end terrorism, blatant harassment, and vast discord.
Christians, we can do this. We can see a world transformed, our country reigned back into unity. It just takes us, EACH of us, to rise up and play our parts. Share the Gospel, serve our neighbors even when you don't like them, and stand for righteousness in love.
BECAUSE LOVE TRUMPS HATE.