It is no surprise that Peter puts love at the pinnacle of this pyramid of characteristics which make up the ideal Christian personality. He is in good company. Paul said the greatest of all Christian treasures is love. James calls it the "Royal Law", to "love your neighbor as yourself". The Hebrew writer closes his great letter with, "Keep on loving each other as brothers." John equates loving with "walking in the light", which keeps us where Jesus walks, and allows us to be cleansed continually by His shed blood. In fact, John goes so far as to say, "God IS love". Note, he does not just say, "God loves", but that the central personality of God, and His essential relationship with His creature, man, is love.
At the time the New Testament was written, it is significant that the dominant religion of the civilized world was the polytheistic religion of the
Romans. Their gods were capricious and selfish characters, who were feared by those who asked for their favors. What a contrast the Christian evangelists
presented to the pagan world: "God is love!"
Considering its importance in defining those who are God's people, I think it is very necessary for us to get a firm grasp on what this word, which is thrown
around so often, and so carelessly, by our society, really means in the context of Christian thought and action. Like many other important words in the
Christian message, this word is often received with a shrug of the shoulders, and the statement, "Oh, of course, everyone knows the Christian is supposed to love", and straight away relegates it to an incidental of Christian thought. Words like "faith" and "love" deserve much more. They are not mere verbal symbols to be intoned in the liturgy of our religion. Most people have heard them too often and thought about them too little. Actually they demand a lifetime of careful study, growing realization, and dedicated attempts to incorporate them into one's life. Only then can they transform one into a true servant of the King, or bring the blessings which nothing in this world affords.
It is not accidental that Peter precedes "love" with "brotherly kindness". To "love your neighbor as yourself" does not include the self-love of the egotist and the narcissist. Brotherly kindness demands that we be considerate of other people. If this characteristic were generally practiced, we would be more courteous on the highway and in the market place. Being considerate of others, being sensitive to their feelings, being careful not to make others feel hurt, or unhappy, is a classic trait of people of moral strength and mature natures. Unfortunately, our dress-down society, which no longer respects the age, position, or dignity of other people, is raising a new generation of young people who have no consideration for sacred traditions, moral values, appropriate dress, loyalty, or common courtesy. Without these traits of consideration, or "brotherly kindness", it will be difficult, if not impossible, to teach them Christian love.
Christian love must begin with a humility that causes one to think less of their own comfort and desires, and more of the effect their behavior is going to have on the comfort and feelings of other people. Only those who are walking in the footsteps of the humble Man of Galilee, will treat all others with the kindness and consideration they would like to be afforded themselves.
The love Peter has in mind, which is based on, and grows out of brotherly kindness, is a love that does not want anyone to be sad, to lack peace of mind, to suffer pain, or to fail in life. The same things you want for yourself. That means I must get my mind off self, and be aware of the needs of those around
me. With this awareness must come a sensitivity to their feelings and to the things which I can do to ease their burdens...and a desire to do so. This is
Christian love.
I do not love because it gives me pleasure, or because I identify with the object. I do not love because the object loves me, and I return the love. I
love not because of who they are, but because of who I am. I cannot claim, as some preachers I have known, that I love the truth, and that gives me the
right to be harsh to those who disagree with my view. To really love the Truth, is to love all men, for that is the will of the Father, and that is what
Truth is. I do not love because it is a pious obligation. I love because, if I develop the virtues Peter catalogs here, I become that kind of person. Love is not a decided action of one who feels religious. It is the normal behavior of one who has built the personality of Christ in their life.
