The Issue is Always Love

I recently ran across this quote from Alan Hirsch:

"It is LOVE that is the final defense of the faith. Jesus actually expected no other kind of apologetic when he said that it is by our love that the world will know we are his disciples (Johns 13:34-35). Love is therefore the defining mark of authenticity."

One of the transformations that the church is going through is the metamorphosis into a new creation that has the motivation and ability to love with no strings attached.

Let’s be honest here, while Jesus said that his followers would be known by his love, this is frequently NOT the case.

Someone wise said:

Christians are re-discovering that the heart of the Jesus-way-of-life is not church attendance and a smug attitude toward others, rather it is truly embodying the love of Christ—anywhere and everywhere—in a world that is desperately in need of this love.  It is a type of reaching out that is marked by authentic concern for people. (Okay, I wrote this myself in Simple/House Church Revolution).

When Jesus-followers are known by their outbreaks of love towards a world in need, along with a clear Gospel message, we will again find a fertile environment for making disciples and our gatherings will be filled with vitality and excitement.

Easy to say. But it does require a transformation of our inner heart that can only happen by His grace and powerful love creating this ability and motivation in each of us.