It’s a Love Problem
By Robert Wagner
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 22:37-39 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
In the wake of another mass shooting, and the death of so many young people it seems everyone is looking to find a reason to explain it. Some say the gun laws are too lax, some blame mental illness. I think the real problem comes down to a lack of love. Without coming to terms with love, every other relationship is out of harmony.
When I gave my life to Christ, I looked for a church that was close to home where I could get baptized. I only knew redemption and that baptism was the next step. Church membership wasn’t on my agenda, fellowship with other Christians certainly wasn’t on my agenda. I wasn’t aware that these were important for spiritual growth. I had withdrawn from society and as much as possible avoided people. I was a recluse. God on the other hand knew what was lacking in my life. I had been raised by strict fundamentalists, who were good at telling me what God didn’t like, but not so good at showing love.
So God put me with a congregation that was good at showing love to others as well as teaching God’s love. I didn’t know I had a love problem, but through trusting God and obeying what little bit of scripture I understood, I got more than I ever knew I so desperately needed.
When we truly experience God’s love for us, then we start to find all the other interactions we have with the people we encounter are different. We smile more, we laugh more often, we are quicker to help others, we truly want the best for them. The world is hurting and we as Christians can show them love. God is Love. If people could truly experience His love for themselves just imagine the transformation that would take place in society and this world.