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 Loving
the brethren — having the proper respect for one-another —
is essential to Christianity, but it is not consummated as a
purely personal relationship. I must love my brethren so as to
glorify God.
“Now
the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like- minded
one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That
ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one
another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”
(Rom. 15:5-7, emphasis mine. Paul also wrote the Philippians
that they “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel.” (Phil. 1:27)
Brethren
may “love one-another” in error — have a veritable “love-in”
together — and be no credit to God. On the other hand, “He
that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” “Let us not
love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1
Jn. 3: 14-18) Some fiendish spirit works in those who cry “love”
to justify union in error, or castigate (by subtle implication)
those who point out
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their error. The same spirit of the
devil works in those who insist they are chopping a brother to
bits, and spitting on the pieces, “because we love him.”
If
one brother, FIRST, loves God, and is therefore anxious to know
the will of God; and a second brother likewise, FIRST, loves
God, and is hungry for truth; the love these brethren have for
one—another will bring them together respectfully to consider
their differences in the light of God’s word. Their love for
God, and for one—another, will impel them in this direction.
I
do not want my erring brother to “compromise his
convictions” for “he that doubteth is damned if he eat.”
(Rom. 1: 22-23) I can not appreciate his asking me to compromise
my faith. Pardon me if I gag a bit at his talk of “love, love”
while he refuses to meet the issues with courtesy and manliness.
What became of character??
There
is a “love” that condemns us before Christ. (Matt. 10:37;
Lu. 14:26)
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