Love and Freedom

S

(John 13:34-35) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are My disciples.

O

The "this" that Jesus referred to was His people's assimilation of God's love: (1) Receive it for yourself, (2) Give it away to everyone, (3) Own up to the new identity as being both a disciple of Jesus and a crazy-lover of people, like He is. What's even more surprising about this commandment is its context. What prompted Jesus to say that was the events that immediately preceded that command: He served the final Passover meal to his disciples (including Judas), He washed His disciples' feet (including Judas's), and He released Judas to actively betray both Him and his fellow disciples. Jesus' love included serving His betrayer, without betraying or exposing or hindering him. Respecting people's freedom to be idiots is part of agape love.

A (Personal)

I've learned long ago that God's love is to be received, experienced and enjoyed, and given away--and in that process, to discover that the more it's given it away, the more deeply and tangibly it's experienced and recognized by a watching, awestruck world. What I don't understand is how to balance that with this granting freedom to be foolish or destructive. Isn't my will ... my good intentions ... my better understanding sufficient to override your choice if mine is better?

When zealous, well-meaning crowds tried to forcibly make Jesus king--at the wrong time, with the wrong method, for the wrong purpose--Jesus foiled their plans. When jealous, malevolent crowds (perhaps some of the same people) wanted to toss Jesus over a cliff or later to stone Him--a premature murder attempt--Jesus quietly foiled their plans again. Jesus doesn't participate in evil or even foolishness, but He discerns when it's best to give us freedom to act out our idiocies. Sometimes He saves us from ourselves, but always whatever He does is love.

A (Psychological)

Preventing suicide ... preventing abuse ... preventing divorce. How much freedom do we have to impose my (our) will on someone else? How much power or control do we have against such things? How much moral authority do we have? Does the possibility of success have anything to do with whether we should attempt interventions? People who are among the few professions or individuals who have struggled to organize these ethical burdens have some idea how difficult these decisions can be in real circumstances. Like other professions, psychology is just beginning to labor through and unravel these issues, and (forgive the triteness) those who have started this struggle have equipped themselves better than those of us who haven't engaged in this struggle.

Prayer

Lord, Your love is so much greater than anything I can comprehend. Your care for Your betrayers is shocking. I want to both receive and give away Your love. I know--speaking as one of Your betrayers--I am eternally grateful for Your mercy. Without the freedom You gave me to sin, I would have never realized how dark and corrupt my heart is without Your transforming love. O Lord, teach me all over again how to love people with Your love.