Posted in Lecture 1: Love, the Sum of all Virtue
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And by the apostle's mentioning so many and
so high things, and then saying of them all that they profited nothing
without charity, we may justly conclude, that there is nothing at all
that avails anything without it. Let a man have what he will, and do
what he will, it signifies nothing without charity, which surely
implies that charity is the great thing, and that everything which has
not charity in some way contained or implied in it is nothing, and that
this charity is the life and soul of all religion, without which all
things that wear the name of virtues are empty and vain. In speaking to this doctrine, I would first notice the nature of this divine love, and then show the truth of the doctrine respecting it. And I. I would speak of the nature of a truly Christian love. and here I would observe 1. That all true Christian love is one and the same in its principle. It may be various in its forms and objects, and may be exercised either toward God or men, but it is the same principle in the heart that is the foundation of every exercise of a truly Christian love, whatever may be its object. It is not with the holy love in the heart of the Christian, as it is with the love of other men. Their love toward different objects, may be from different principles and motives, and with different views; but a truly Christian love is different from this. It is one as to its principle, whatever the object about which it is exercised; it is from the same spring or fountain in the heart, though it may flow out in different channels and diverse directions, and therefore it is all fitly comprehended in the one name of charity, as in the text. Cat's Q & A: 1. "...we may justly conclude, that there is nothing at all that avails anything without it." It could be argued that this is Christian snobbery. What about AIDS relief in Africa, humanitarian projects in the Middle East, or grassroots activism in North America? My response to this is to consider where these things sprang from, historically. The answer is religion. Modern humanitarian activism had its birth in the Victorian era, when the British Empire was the main vehicle for the spread of the Gospel. The path that leads to modern secular humanitarianism can be clarified by starting with conservative churches and slowly moving left-of-center through the denominations; for instance, the United Church of Canada retains strong humanitarian values, but is gutted of anything resembling Biblical theology. Secular humanism is what happens when a Christian culture decides to try being good without Christ. Even today, it is statistically those with a Christian faith of some sort who are the most dedicated humanitarians in the 10-40 Window, Africa and elsewhere. 2. "It is not with the holy love of the Christian, as it is with other men." Have you ever seen this contrasted clearly in a Christian's dealings with a non-Christian? Yep. We just got to see it again on the weekend, as the family tried to deal with an unapologetically unsaved, unsocial in-law. The relative she is married to does his best to deal with his wife in a kind and controlled fashion. But her notions of love do not include respect, compromise or consideration for others. Not only that, when he gives in for the sake of grace (basically to avoid an ugly blowout in front of the family), she assumes she is in control of the relationship and has the right to dictate to him even further. In her world, love is something to be presumed upon rather than honoured. |
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Posted by Bob in SK
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Posted by