All We Need Is Love

By Jon Henegar

There seems to be a mind set in the church that is very troubling to me. Basically it goes something like this. If you speak the word of God in its entirety, and use it as a standard, you are a Pharisee. If you speak against false teaching, you are coming against men of God or the church with a judgment; therefore you are not showing love. If you stand for an absolute truth, and do not waiver, you are intolerant. This view says love must always come before anything else, including the truth. This new Christian outlook and way of thinking appears to say, truth must always be secondary to love. In reading responses to various articles on false teachers such as Rob Bell, Rick Warren and many more, many point out that it’s wrong to make these teachers accountable or to even criticize what they teach. Many come to their defense, saying things such as “how dare you call yourself a Christian and then attack these men” or “where are you showing the love of God when you publicly come against them and their ministries?” They point out perhaps, that their ministries are growing and that they are feeding the poor or digging wells in impoverished countries. They say “Here they are, doing the work of the Kingdom and you dare question them on their teachings?” They may then start to question the one who raises the questions. “Who are you to do this?” “What gives you the right to cast doubt on these ministers and pastors?” “What authority do you have to judge and who gives it to you?” “Where is your love for these men of God, who only want to bring people to Christ?” The defense given for these false teachers is based on what they term as “God’s love.” This “love” that they profess and live by however, requires that truth must take a backseat to its effect. Truth doesn’t matter; it’s the action or teaching done in love that’s important. If the motivation is right then truth can be ignored, or at least sidelined, just as long as the goal is accomplished. This “love” say’s you most avoid conflict for the sake of unity. You must be tolerant, so as not to offend. How can we show the world God’s love, if we publicly correct, reprove or rebuke one another? But is this the love that we see in the scriptures? Is this truly a Godly love?

You should know that I think it’s wonderful that’s these men and women and their ministries are doing things like feeding the poor and digging wells and providing comfort to people needing it. They are doing what all of us need to be doing and I commend them for it. In fact I have failed to do as much as I could have or should have when it comes to these things. I’m not very proud of that fact. I do not question the sincerity of some of these people. These works, however, no matter how great, cannot justify teaching a false Gospel. If a false Gospel or another Gospel is taught, this is not the love of God; this is a counterfeit love that mocks God. This is a love that is separate from truth, and without truth it cannot be of God. We have given ourselves over to an emotional, feel good theology that states “God is love” and stops there. If we leave it there, however, it is incomplete, and it falls short of true love. Love without God’s truth is not honored by God, but only by man.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Many interpret this as being in unity and accepting of one another. Jesus said “love as I have loved you.” So, how did Jesus love? Did he accept everyone for who they were and disregarded what they did? In Matthew 16: 15-19 when Peter received his revelation as to who Jesus was, he was commended by our Savior. Shortly there after Jesus rebuked Peter openly for not having the mind of God. Matt. 16:22, 23. Jesus did not overlook this error because Peter did something right beforehand. He corrected Peter because he loved him and it had to be done. Paul also loved Peter enough to correct him, when he publicly corrected Peter for his compromising with the Galatians. Paul wasn’t being cruel or hateful or mean spirited. He knew the truth was being compromised and it had to be corrected. I seem to be picking on Peter here, but Peter was rebuked and corrected and went on to become a great apostle. The motivation for correction wasn’t based on self righteous judgment. Paul wasn’t being holier than thou or legalistic. What he did was based on a love for God, Peter and the truth. We cannot separate truth from our love for each other; they must always remain as one. Real love cares enough to correct and rebuke. Jesus said, “If you are to be my disciples then you are to love as I do.” Jesus not only rebuked sin, but commanded that we do the same. Luke 17:3 (in part) If your brother sins rebuke him; Eph. 5:11 (in part) Do not have fellowship with sin, but reprove (expose) it; James 5:19, 20 (in part) we should seek to convert those who go in sin and error. There are many more passages that tell us what we all must do concerning correcting teachings that do not line up with the word of God. False teaching is a sin, and to correct it is commanded by our Lord. Exposing and rebuking a false teaching is love based on truth. It is exposed so we are not misled. It may not be nice, or sweet, or make you feel good, but this is real love. It may hurt and make you angry, but this is real love. It may not be soft, warm and fuzzy, but this is real love. I have been rebuked and corrected and believe me I did not enjoy it, but I thank God that someone loved me enough to do what needed to be done. I also thank God that he humbled me so I would accept it. God’s love corrects and restores, and being corrected and restored is not always a pleasant experience. Just because the correcting isn’t pleasant or enjoyable doesn’t make it a hateful thing, in truth and with truth it can be a very loving thing. I once read of a pastor who quoted a line from a Beatle’s song. He said “all we need is love”. I don’t know if that’s what he really believes, but I think some churches may be buying into this lie. I hope I’m wrong.

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