An earnest prayer of confession of my sin that keeps me from being closer to God and my request to make me useful for His kingdom have led my brain to suddenly sing a song by Haddaway, which prompted the title of this entry. He asks “What is love” in the songs title followed in the lyrics almost immediately with the pleading words, “Oh, baby, don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me, no more.”

I guess I am to write to you about love. God’s? Yours for Him? The love we are commanded to have for each other, especially our enemies? I’m not sure just yet but that last one seems to have a loud spiritual gong to it.So, let’s start there.

In a world full of loud opinions and protestors who claim to be acting on everyone’s behalf, the most important question to ask is, “Are they following scripture?” If your actions are not backed with scripture, you should not be claiming to be acting under God’s authority.

In Matthew 22:37-40 KJV our Savior speaks and tells us the two highest, greatest commandments are as follows.[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Protestors tell reporters their actions are driven by loving their neighbor and taking the action they would want someone to do for them if they were unable to do it for themselves. Sounds noble and kind, right?

Another example of showing Biblical love is when Paul writes that husbands should love their wives and not be bitter towards them in Colossians 3:19 KJV. As a wife again myself, my first question is why would Paul assume all or at least most men would feel this bitterness towards their wives? We women like to think that we bring delight and beauty to men’s lives. The truth is the Collossian men Paul was writing to were shifting from living in a Greco-Roman culture, where women were subservient and could be abused without penalty to a Christ-centered life where women were to be valued and sacrificially provided for. It is very likely that it still applies to some men today.

Choosing to love instead of be bitter sounds really giving and selfless. And there are countless other examples of the Bible teaching us about love. But what if we are misinterpretting what love really looks like as well as how and when to give it? As well, there are some verses that throw a wrench in things for the most passionate of protestors who believe they are out there to bring justice to the marginalized and save democracy from evil.

In Matthew 5:43-44 KJV, Jesus says…[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Or if we read in Luke 6:27-29 KJV, Jesus told a crowd of followers…[27] But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, [28] bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. [29] And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Hold on a minute! Maybe protestors DO pray for their enemies. But it is just as important to God what they pray for those enemies? Do they show love by praying for blessings on the Trump administration and on all the I.C.E. agents? Do they do good to their enemies when they yell, spit, curse, throw things, or block traffic? Those actions do not seem to be spreading goodness. Do they not only give the Trump administration what they want (the example in scripture above is a cloke, what we consider a coat or outer garment) but also their coat (which would be considered your clothing underneath the coat)? In other words, are “Christian” protestors helping the administration accomplish their goals? I can say with a large amount of certainty that is not happening.

But, God would want us to stand up for those in a foreign land because of Exodus 22:21-22 KJV[21] Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. [22] Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

And you are correct, but do you know what vex means Biblically speaking? When I looked it up, it means to harass orllĺorment someone beyond minor irritation. The Bible gives the example of when His followers were slaves in Egypt. I interpret this to basically be saying, “Don’t be racist.” The Trump administration is not singling out just a few groups of only melonated immigrants to deport, their criteria is based on the law. Have there been problems in their execution of enforcing the law? Certainly, because people are human. AND it is important to note that only about 62% of Americans claim to be Christians. That means a number of people employed to do various jobs do not use God or Jesus as their moral compass – some having no moral compass at all. Given that information, nothing will ever be carried out perfectly.

Another wrench in the protestor argument is that scripture also tells us to follow the laws we live under as long as they do not come between us and God. His people lived under Egyptian law AS SLAVES but were not to worship Egyptian gods. The Israelites were not allowed to go vote to change the laws to suit them or demand that Egyptians treat them as equals instead of slaves. While I in no way support or condone slavery, I’m trying to show you that God’s power is bigger than any circumstances we get ourselves into – and that includes when politicians we don’t like get elected.

Romans 13:1-7 KJV[1] Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. [2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. [3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: [4] for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. [5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. [6] For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. [7] Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

To fully understand the level of trust God asks us to have in Him, you gotta understand the verse above and know the reason for the disciple Judas Iscariot.Do you believe the God you serve is more powerful and sovereign than any other person or other Religion’s god? If not, you need to seek Him more and build your faith.

If your answer is yes, then that’s where the talk of your faith must mirror the action of it. It is time for you and me to prove it. Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot with a kiss. Jesus knew it was going to happen and He knew who would do it. He did not distance Himself from Judas or expose him to the others because Judas had a purpose. Based on the scripture from Romans above, all political and cultural leaders have a purpose, even when their actions are driven by evil. That is a hard, bitter pill to swallow and most people chose to reject that premise because God is good, all the time. And He is.

Yes, both things can be true because evil leaders will never be God and God will never be evil. He knows our motivations and our thoughts. If we truly love Him, God ALWAYS uses our devastations of any and all size for our good. It is a promise from Him that NEVER fails, even though it feels painful in the muck of our consequences before the blessing.

Heres the promise in Romans 8:27-28 KJV[27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

If evil never gained power in government or in culture, none of us would fully understand the goodness of God or His mercies on us every single day. Plus, our sovereign Lord knows that judgement day is coming and while He wants us all with Him, there will be those who adamantly and actively refuse.

Judgement day and those times leading to it will be filled with evil here on earth. Why? Because He gives us free will and is allowing each of us multiple opportunities to prove whether we trust Him enough to do as He says and bless our enemies or whether we think we know more than His perfect omniscience.

Jesus didn’t turn Judas away at the last supper. He washed his feet and fed him the first communion, despite knowing Judas had already become His enemy.

“What is love?”

Our humanity vehemently hates pain. We often run from it.

“Baby, don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me. No more.”

But love instead in its purest and most perfect form was beaten, crowned with thorns, nailed to a cross, suffered physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish that we hope we will hopefully never know.

Why would he take the place of us sinners who deserve every bit of that pain?

Because He alone is God and God is love.