V Day: a look at love

Grant Lord that with thy direction, “Love each other” we comply,

Aiming with unfeigned affection Thy love to exemplify;

Let our mutual love be glowing, so that all will plainly see

That we, as on one stem growing, living branches are in Thee.

---Nicholas Zinzendorf

There’s an old song by Rockwell (featuring the lovely sound of Michael Jackson’s vocals) with the line, “I always feel like somebody’s watchin’ me.” When I read this hymn, with its text dating from the 1700’s, I immediately thought of Rockwell’s line. People may be confused about (or unconcerned with) the big ideas for which the church stands. They may not understand the intricacies of Biblical interpretation or theological thinking.

They thing they do know and notice? Society, the big ‘they’ out there, know that our law is love. That our corporate life is expressed in love. That our love is the representation on earth of God’s love for us. Or, they know all of that is supposed to be true. 

And the other thing about ‘them’? 

They are watching.