A Disapproving Love

Ah, yes, the obligatory post on love, even though it's a few weeks past Valentine's Day...


Love is one of the most beautiful and unique words in the Bible. Particular passages on love have crept outside the doors of the church and seemingly infiltrated most corners of even secular society. "Love is patient, love is kind..." "Love your neighbor as yourself..." "For God so loved the world..."


I'm not sure when it happened but "love" has become a trendy, hip word. It became a word that signifies "acceptance", "approval", "tolerance", regardless of the issue. If you truly love, our culture teaches, you will accept everyone for who they are and the lifestyle they choose to lead. Not only will you accept them, but you will applaud their choices, so as not to be a hater. Whether it's sexual expression, spirituality, or politics, we are implicitly and explicitly admonished to approve and applaud of all positions, decisions, and choices. After all, to disapprove means a lack of love, right?


This is not the love of the Bible. This, if I may, is not the love of Jesus. Many are quick to point out Jesus' grace on the adulterous woman in John 8. "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her...Neither do I condemn you," many are quick to point out. Jesus' command to "Go, and from now on sin no more" is less celebrated in our day and age. What is often overlooked is that the love of Jesus' is a disapproving love. What I mean is that, because of his love, Jesus disapproves of practices and beliefs that dishonor God and harm the soul of man. If we are to love the way that Jesus loved, doesn't that indicate that at times, disapproving of a lifestyle or belief may be the most loving thing we can do? Does the fellow hiker who gives a warning about a treacherous trail, or a rattlesnake on the path not warn his companion of nearby dangers out of love?


Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating a haughty, quick-to-judge, or critical mentality. But as believers, as CHRISTians, let's not be afraid to love like Jesus did- at times, that means lovingly disapproving of actions, attitudes, and beliefs that dishonor God and harm God's image-bearers. We must love this way for God's glory and for man's good.