STOP! In the Name of Love

Diana Ross and the Supremes had many number one singles during their heydey in the 1960s. One of their most popular hits was, "Stop! In the Name of Love." The refrain of that song constantly reminded the one who was the object of affection to "think it over" before he broke her heart.

Some of us are in or have been in relationships where at least one party never really stopped to "think it over" when it came to handling conflict. Without a thought, harsh words would fly and in some cases, even fists or objects would fly, all aimed at hitting the intended target--the one whom we "loved."

Where do we get our images and notions about love? From the looks of things, not from God's Word. Somehow we have forgotten that not only is God the author and ultimate source of love, God IS love. His definition of love is THE definition of love--patient, kind, NOT jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is NOT easily provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

God knew we would be bombarded with distorted images of love, either from people we know or from the media. Why else would He give such a pinpoint description of what love is and is not?Without much effort, we often fall into doing the opposite of the things God described as love--we fly off the handle quickly, we are impatient, we think jealousy is a sign of love, we get self-absorbed and think love is all about someone making US feel good, we hold grudges.

When will we get it that we DON'T get it? When we step into the arena of love, we are walking into deep waters. We have no hope of keeping ourselves afloat without God's Word as a lifeline. Music, videos, movies, books, and TV shows cannot be our teachers with respect to love. They teach a warped version of love that is extremely sexualized, self-centered, overly-dramatic, centered on ownership and sometimes characterized by violence.

That version of "love" keeps people watching or buying whatever is being sold, but, "Kids, do not try this at home!"

When we want to know what love is, we need to be ready to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth, because God has already spelled it out for us. We might find out that what we've been calling love is really something else. In that case, we need to love God enough, and love ourselves and the object of our affection enough to "Stop! In the Name of Love" before we break God's heart any further by abnormally using, or ab-using something so integral to who God IS.

Don't worry, no matter how wrong we are or have been, God can still make us right -- if we are open. If you are in a relationship, check your love actions and characteristics against God's description in 1 Corinthians 13. Also, check your actions against the responses of the one you say you love. If you are responding to one another in fear, anger, sadness or anything that is not the fruit of the Spirit--Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control, then someone needs to Stop! In the Name of Love and let the one who's name IS love show you a more excellent way.

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen

Note: The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church is hosting a Domestic Violence Summit, "Moving Forward! Living and Loving Without Abuse" this Saturday, July 24, 2010. See my schedule for details. And yes, one of the sessions is entitled, "Stop! In the Name of Love"....