Peter, writing to first-century saints who had been scattered due to persecution, exhorted them to “love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (I Pet.1:22) Two questions come to mind when contemplating that command: (1) Do I have a pure heart? (2) How can I love others fervently?
It is possible to have a pure heart through the cleansing power of the blood of Christ. The writer of Hebrews affirmed that we can “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.” (Hebs. 10:22)
That being established, let us consider the second question: “How do I love others fervently?” God indicted the children of Israel, through the prophet Ezekiel, for having a love that was feigned: “For with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their own covetousness.” (Ezek. 33:31)
Unfeigned, fervent love. Is that what 21st century believers are characterized by? Early Christian author and apologist Tertullian (c.155-c.220 AD) wrote concerning Christians in his day: “It is our care for the helpless, our practice of lovingkindness, that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponents. ‘Look!’ they say, ‘How they love one another! Look how they are prepared to die for one another!’” (Cited by George Sweeting in Love is the Greatest, p.24)
While many assemblies of believers in this day exhibit a “fervent” love for the brethren, an honest observer of contemporary Christianity would probably admit that there are, in many local churches, evident absences of a “true heart” in action. One example is the current trend for churches to increase their numbers mainly by adding to their rolls people who transfer their membership from another church of like faith. It’s not always the case that they have moved into a new neighborhood; too often, the truth is that they have left a previous church because of unresolved conflicts with a pastor or church member. I pastored a local church in Indianapolis for 40 years and can attest that this is too often the case. This city, it has been said, is home to about 100 independent Baptist churches. With other, like-minded churches within a five- or ten-minute drive, it is not uncommon for people to just “move on,” as it is sometimes framed. And, sadly, pastors who receive these “transfer” members seldom make a courtesy call to the pastor who is losing the member to inform him of the member-in-movement’s status. It is a religious version of “musical churches.”
In this context, how can one say that there is “unfeigned” and “fervent” love for the brethren? It is too often, as God said to Ezekiel, love with one’s lips only, driven by self-interest. “He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic! Rebel! A thing to flout! But love and I had a will to win; we drew a circle that took him in!” (Edwin Markham)
“These things I command you, that ye love one another.” (Jesus, John 15:17)
YOU and GOD 