Impractical Love

With the current events that are happening in our world, the injustice, conflict, hateful rhetoric which often incites harm against others, and erupting violence, the way of Jesus is truly being tested. Many will find it wanting. Those who seek a pragmatic strategy will dismiss it as ineffectual and impractical. Everyone agrees that love is a wonderful way to live, but once evil looms out into the open, the use of force suddenly looks like a savior and not the demon that spawned what threatens us. Love is too loving, gentle, kind, hopeful, and selfless to bring real change or to be of any use.

In times as these the temptation has always been to become pragmatic, in others words, to do “what works”. The love of Christ, love for neighbor and enemy, irrespective of who they are, not simply a sentimental notion but the love of positive action of their benefit and not our own, seems inadequate when others are employing destructive force. Love seems puny against hate, and hardly a means to change the world.

The misuse of power is evident when those who are sworn to serve and protect inflict casual but deadly cruelty, and also when those who feel powerless against the prevalence of systemic injustice, seize the opportunity to exercise a vengeance through senseless destruction and chaos. How does love, in a real way, overcome systemic evil that corrupts our society and the siren call to reactive destructive anger?

I am not talking about restoring order, but what happens next. I am not talking about the immediate, but the long-term. The hot war becomes a cold war, until a spark ignites it again. The opposing sides entrench, ready to launch new salvos at one another. The racially prejudiced will be even more confirmed in their fear and feel justified in being suspicious of minorities. They will be all the more ready to call authorities on someone walking, running, or simply being in a park. People who live with the constant pressure of systemic injustice will be even more convinced that only a forceful rising up will bring any change.

But love, as taught by Christ (though he is not the only teacher of it) can begin to bring real change. Violence of any sort incites more of the same. Someone has to lay down arms, or stretch them out on a cross, be a peacemaker, and refuse to continue the cycle of reprisals. Some will say this burden is on minorities, and others on those in positions of power and authority. Because we are Christians, we should say that this is on us, no matter who we are. We are the disciples of Jesus, the peacemakers who pledge ourselves to the redeeming love of Jesus and salvation of the world. We are the imitators of Christ. We do not tell others that they need to imitate Jesus, but know we must do it ourselves.

I am not listing here the many actual ways that we should practice Christ’s love, but emphasizing that we scrutinize all that is being said and to look for the specifics that embody selfless love for others. Beware of those who recommend more “practical” means, courses of action which compromise on love. Though they may claim that these will lead to good ends, only love brings peace. Injustice cannot give birth to justice, and violence never brings peace. But the way of love will be widely criticized as foolishly impractical.