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1 and 2 Peter, Part 21 (Supplement 2)

NOTE: The more I think about this subject of "love", the more I feel we need to explore it a bit deeper. Hence, I am appending yet another "Supplement" for your consideration. I don't ask for agreement. Just thoughtful consideration.

Love as Brothers

After I sent out Peter 21 (Supplement), it occurred to me that sometimes it might be at least as difficult to love my brothers as it is to love my enemies. Thinking about that, I thought it might be well, while we are talking about the ultimate Christian personality trait, "love", that we include a few thoughtful words about "brotherly" love. Of course, this requires the delicate task of defining "brother". As the story of the Samaritan defined neighbor, for the one who questioned Jesus, so, perhaps, it is necessary for us to define "brother".

Many, in the religious world, instead of being citizens of the Kingdom, and therefore possessed by it, act as if they owned the Kingdom, and have the right to define its borders, and stand as guardians at the gate to keep out all unworthy ones. Here is where the command to "Judge not" is piously ignored, and the gate-keepers set up their own standards as to who can be called citizens. One may protest that he is a follower of Christ, and has accepted Him as the Lord of his life, but if he does not fit the legal description of the gate-keeper, he is not accorded the title "brother".

In the brotherhood of which I am a part, there was a widely circulated book, written in the ‘60s, which listed a number of preachers in this brotherhood who the author insisted should be "disfellowshipped". He found certain legal problems with their teaching, which did not fit his idea of what was orthodox. Unfortunately, he found many to agree, and the unity and love among brethren was seriously ruptured. We are not the only ones who have suffered this fate.

I asked a lady missionary once, "What church are you a member of"? Her answer, "Why, the same one you are. There is only one, isn't there"? What a beautiful answer. Who is my brother? Only God can answer that question. He is the only One who has the right to be in the "sheep and goat business". If a man tells me he is a Christian, no matter how much I may disagree with his religion or his life, I have no choice but to call him brother. My earthly brother and I were very, very close. But if we had not been, and one of us was a profligate reprobate, we would still have been brothers. Our standards, likes and dislikes, could not change that. I may dislike and disapprove of many in the universal family of God, but it is not my prerogative to throw them out, and as long as they are in, I have an obligation to them as "brother".

Brotherly love does NOT mean I have to agree with, nor accept the beliefs or teaching of those who do not follow the truth as I try to understand it from God’s Word. My disagreement with what I consider to be false doctrine may be very strong, but it doesn't change my personal responsibility to treat one as a brother. 

Of course, I am going to be closer to, and feel warmer toward those who share my faith in Christ and His teachings. This is as the Bible teaches, and makes for our unity and fellowship in worship, and in taking the Gospel to others. I am not saying we share, or should share, this unity and fellowship with those who believe and practice things antithetical to what we believe.

So, having said all of this, what are my obligations under "brotherly love"? Jesus said, "No man cometh unto the Father but by Me". This means there is a great difference between one who accepts Christ as the Savior, and those who reject Him. Our interpretation of Christ’s teachings may differ, and keep us apart in the things we do in His name, but we share a common Savior, and a common path to the throne of Heaven. Therefore, there is an eternal connection which no other relationship affords. 

For this reason, I must have a special love for one who has accepted God’s gift of love, through the gift of His Son. We share an access to the Heavenly Throne that no other can claim. With those who do not share this faith I will have many differences, but there is no way to resolve them, for we do not have a common standard of truth. With those who accept Christ as Lord, even though we may differ widely, if our faith is sincere, we have a common standard to which we reference truth, and that is a strong reason to care for each other. 

In our secular society we say, "Blood is thicker than water". This refers to physical kinship. We might say, "Faith is stronger than any other relationship in our spiritual world". For the sake of the universal family of God, then, we have a special obligation to help, to strengthen, to encourage, to bring into closer union those who proclaim Christ as their King. Within that fellowship, we should avoid anything which hinders unity…anything which hurts, or discourages a brother. Our actions and our speech should never do harm to those who belong to the household of faith. Unfortunately, many ignore this obligation, not only to those who do not identify with our close family ties, but even to our own close brethren, when they do not agree with or please us.

Brotherly love, in any case, would change the world, and would proclaim, as nothing else, the message of the cross. 

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