our doctrine IS love

I've been thinking quite a bit about the conversation in the comments that followed this post.  Thanks to all who joined in the conversation; anyone is welcome to comment on this blog whether you agree with me or not. (Although I do customarily edit out blatant abuse, along with all spam and marketing.)

I've gone on thinking about that conversation, and it was focussed for me by Sunday morning's readings. Often when there is a disagreement in the Church over some issue or other, whether theological or ethical, there is a thread of the conversation that seems to set doctrine and love against one another. Something like this, if you'll forgive the caricature:
person A: "We may disagree, but the important thing is not what we believe, but that we love one another.
person B: "That's nonsense, we aren't called to be "nice", we are called to the Truth! Love won't get you anywhere if you don't have correct doctrine."

I think that pitching Love against Doctrine is itself false. Why? Because "Love one another" IS a major point of our doctrine. Christian teaching starts and ends with the dictum that God IS love; salvation is described by John as being becuase "God so loved the world"; yesterday's lectionary readings told us that the good shepherd lasy down his life for his sheep, and that just as Christ laid down his life for us in love, so we should love one another.

But surely there is never, in reality, a need to choose between love and doctrine. For if doctrine leads us to act in a way that is contrary to the love of God, that doctrine is either false or mis-applied. And love is not against truth, but the fulfilment of it. We live - if we are Christians - in the belief that God is love, and all that we do or think or say- including not only the application of doctrine, but the doctrine itself -  must therefore be grounded in love. 

Some time ago I wrote this in a post about disagreements and good manners:

'Love one another,' said Jesus, 'Love one another as I have loved you... This is how people will know that you are my followers - that you love one another.' I'm well aware that Jesus was by no means saccharine. I don't think he's calling us to be 'nice', and there's nothing wrong with honesty and edge. But he's surely not calling us to be at war with each other. Good manners don't cost anything.

Being "nice" in a saccharine, fluffy, Kum-ba-ya and holding hands way is nothing to do with it. But love is not a soft and fluffy alternative to doctrine, love - true love - is our doctrine.   

Comments

[Mike]

Amen! Preach it, Maggi!

I am reminded of CS Lewis's comment that, "Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness." (The Problem of Pain)

He also said memorably of angels that, "Pure, spiritual, intellectual love shot from their faces like barbed lightning. It was so unlike the love we experience that its expression could easily be mistaken for ferocity." (Perelandra)

Saccharine? Fluffy? Did St John find the Risen Lord on the beach at Patmos "fluffy"?

[Kathryn]

Go for it...specially apposite today, when we remember Julian of Norwich
"Would you know your Lord's meaning in this thing? Know it well, love was his meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. What did he show you? Love. Why did he show it? For love. Keep yourself therein and you shall know and understand more in the same. But you shall never know nor understand any other thing, forever."
Definitely not an either/or.

[Mike Croghan]

Spot on, Maggi! Great post. Thanks for this.

[Ali Tucker]

Sobering thoughts... thank you. I have recently been ashamed of my own behaviour in debating doctrinal issues, and therefore resolved to be silent in all cases where I cannot speak 'in love'.

[Sivin]

Thanks Maggi, we're continuing our series based on 1 John this week. What you said here is helpful

[Nigel]

Thanks for this post - extra power was given to yesterday evenings daily office reading from Ephesians 4 - "We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine...But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ..." as a result of your post. Thank you.

[Kester]

Was it 'loving' of Jesus to speak to so harshly to the Pharisees? 'Speaking the truth in love' is, as you rightly point out, so difficult. When I scream at my boy when he's running into the road, it's difficult for him to see it's an act of love... And for some, doctrinal arguements seem to get that fierce. Which, if you've got a certain view on damnation, might seem appropriate.

[John]

Interesting thoughts, Maggi. I guess it repeats that old story of John the Apostle, who (when old) was carried around churches. He would say simply, "Love one another", over and over. When asked why, he said, "If you do this, it is enough." Christian doctrine is the outworking of the great Love; Christian love must work within the will of God.

pax et bonum

[steve]

i said this to mike on his link to your post, but in fairness i should say it to you as well.

having heard now hundreds of "its all about love" sermons i have to sound a word of caution everytime i see love being lifted up above all else. mainly because our working definition of love is so weak in western/nothern culture. there are times when loving someone means saying no or holding them accountable to the light of Christ.

that being said, in light of the current debates in ECUSA and the Anglican Communion i applaud you for your willingness to call us back to a holy tenor of conversation.

[Alan]

I've often thought that there cannot be any ultimate conflict between truth and love because they both find their fullest expression in Christ himself.