I have a mixed CD on which the last song is “Deathbed” by Relient K and the first song is “Where Is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas. It’s kind of a weird coincidence that the songs fall in this order actually, and I’ll tell you why. The last few lines of “Deathbed” are as follows:
And I am the Light
And for Me you’ll live again
For I am Love
I am Love
I, I am Love.
And they are immediately followed by a song that remarks
What’s wrong with the world, mama
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas…
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’…
Where is the love
The love, the love?
I know, right? That’s why I’m gonna talk about it.
The Peas raise an interesting question and it’s one I frequently find myself asking. It’s probably because we’re tight like that. Matter of not-so-much fact, I just hung out with Fergie last night (I call her Stace, but that’s beside the point). Anyway, they note that all the violence, societal fracturing, inter-group hatred, pain, and suffering present in out world is fundamentally the result of a lack of love. And I couldn’t agree more. Our world would be a much more peaceful, safe, and happy place if we would just treat others with love. But, as the Peas put it, “instead of love we’re spreading animosity.” Fortunately, there’s hope. And that’s where Relient K comes in.
Part of what I believe in as a Christian is the vast love of God to humanity manifested in myriad ways but most potently through Jesus Christ. In Scripture, God defines Himself as Love and the greatest commands Jesus gave to those who would follow Him were to love God and others. Love was such a defining part of Jesus’ ministry that He stated people would know His followers by their love. So, if the major problems that are in our world are here basically due to a lack of love and if Jesus is love, then I conclude that “what the world needs now is love, sweet love” in it’s ultimate expression through Jesus Christ. If were to accept the gospel of Jesus, not just His offer of salvation and forgiveness, but also the “kingdom principles” of peace, grace, and love, we wouldn’t have to imagine with Lennon the utopian society he describes. It would be a reality.
However, the sequencing of these songs helped me realize another issue. If Jesus is love and he said his followers would be known by love, why can’t the Black Eyed Peas find it? Are those of us who claim to follow Jesus and His teachings actively and consistently demonstrating the love of Christ to those around us? I don’t think so. Because if we were, there would be less pain and suffering, or at the very least, people would turn to Christians to help ease their ills. I think if we were living out Christ’s love, we would be more vested in helping the poor and underrepresented in society; that we would strive to give the social outcasts and undesirables a place where they belong and are accepted, because that’s how Jesus feels about them. I think if we operated out of love, there’d be a lot less yelling, name-calling, and exaggerated accusations at our protest and rallies. And we’d be more eager to be more eager to be involved in causes for environmental and social justice, because we want to love out neighbor as Christ commanded. If love permeated our beings like it did Christ’s, we’d realize that Christianity isn’t just about living for Heaven but also about enhancing our life and the lives of those around us.
Let’s change our mindsets and our actions so the next time anyone listens to that song, they can answer that Christians have the love. And we can tell them it’s only because Christ is love.
