You know how at certain points in life you’re more vocal about what you’re against rather than talking about what you’re for?

Like you are passionately against certain things or expressions of things or a means of doing something, which in general means you make those who do those things enemies…

I’m that guy. I have been historically. I think it comes with loving theology and the like. Unfortunately, when a love for theology doesn’t produce a deeper love for people then it’s bad theology.

Because fundamentally speaking, theology is the study of God. Knowing about God (which doesn’t equate knowing God).

Accordingly, the deeper my knowledge of God, the deeper my love should be for the things that God loves and cares about.

Now God certainly cares about right thinking and sound doctrine. Otherwise he wouldn’t have inspired Paul and others to write about it.

But what he seems to talk about more–and more pointedly and passionately and pervasively–is love for people.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~Jesus

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” ~John

My rebuttal: “But wait, I don’t hate anyone.” Okay. How are you actively loving them? “I’m not.” Soooo……….

If I have not love, I have nothing. If love doesn’t drive what I do and why I do it and how I do it, I have nothing.

Frankly, I’ve cared more about believing the right things and having the right convictions about how things should be done–and along the way I’ve been the guy known for what he’s against rather than what he’s for.

I’m tired of being that guy. It’s easy to feel superior atop the high horse. But it’s also quite lonely.