" And now faith, hope,
and love abide,
these three;
and the greatest of
these is love."
How many times I have used this scripture in a wedding as a sort of biblical guideline for a solid marriage. Follow these words of advice from the apostle Paul, I say, and you will live happily ever after.
Not really.
I chose this photo from a wedding, which, for the boy, gives him a new parent. Adjustments are in his future.
I imagine this would be the apostle Paul's reaction if he heard these verses used in a wedding.
That's because he was writing to the Corinthian church experiencing deep divisions because of moral and ethical issues. He wanted new life for the church based on higher righteousness and honorable principles.
He is convinced, that with holy loving at the center, people in the church could co-exist and attain these higher principles. Holy loving, Paul believed, would create, sustain, and build Christian unity among the Corinthians.
In reality, holy loving isn't easy.
Holy loving is easy to say, but a whole other thing practicing it.
The boy's face represented mine when a new worshipper offered a prayer request based, in my view, on a conspiracy theory with unintentional, inflammatory wording.
I cringed.
I also realized our church reflects society with a variety of opinions, but the same Lord.
Challenged by Paul to live by holy loving I spoke with the person after worship. I said I disagree with the prayer request, but it would be fruitful to know each other better as worshipping members of the church.
Next Sunday, even if a "conspiracy theory prayer" is offered, I will ask the person how the week went.
My prayer is that this small act of holy loving will create, sustain, and build Christian unity within our church.
How has God put this challenge to holy loving before you?
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