I remember one of our church members describing her early experience in the church. She was speaking to another member of the church, and this other member was telling her, you have to do this, and you have to do that. You won't get to heaven if you don't. She said, what about love?. The older church member said, Love has nothing to do with it.

Now I don't know about you, but it seems to me that the Bible has much to say on the subject of love. How should it influence our actions, and attitudes? Let's start with 1 Corinthians 13, which many call the love chapter.

In the first 3 verses, we are told of all sorts of things we can do, but without love, these works, wonderful as they might be, are worthless. Speaking in other languages, giving to the poor, wisdom, understanding, and martyrdom, all are worth nothing without love. Then it goes on to describe what love looks like in our attitudes. Love is not proud, it is patient, kind, longsuffering (which is different from patience). It would seem then, that love has everything to do with being a christian.

So, who are we to love? Jesus said By this shall all men know that your are my diciples, that you have love one for another. He also said if we love those who love us, we do as the world does. But we are also to love our enemys, and be kind to those who hurt us. I don't know about you, but if someone hurts me, I feel like retaliating. We are not to follow our feelings, but take what we know to be the loving action, regardless of our hurt. If we are following Jesus' example, then we will show love to others, even as they kill us.