Love is a central theme in scripture, especially in the New Testament. The love of God is the greatest command of the Bible, followed by love for fellow human beings as the second greatest command (Matthew 22:37- 40). We are even commanded to love our enemies and to leave vengeance to God, as it is His prerogative (Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:17-21). However, does this imply that we should love everyone and everything without question or discernment? Is this truly what Scripture intends by Christian love? Can we love in such a way without risking anything? Many sermons and Bible teachings in our society tend to emphasize a presumptuous and open-ended love, often neglecting the need for scriptural and spiritual discernment.
It is a misinterpretation and misapplication of Scripture to promote the idea of unconditional love without proper consideration. When Jesus commands us to love even our enemies, it does not imply that we should accept them as they are or condone their wrongdoing; such an approach would only lead to compromise. This is a misunderstanding that many contemporary Christians hold. For instance, Jesus loved the Pharisees and, in fact, He died for them; we can hear Him praying for them on the Cross just before His last breath (Luke 23:34). However, throughout His ministry, Jesus never condoned the actions of the Pharisees. Instead, He consistently taught and warned against their teachings and way of life (Matthew 23).
The apostles of Jesus underscored the significance of Jesus' teachings on love and exemplified this love to their followers (Romans 12:17-21; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). At the same time, they spoke out against participating in activities associated with darkness. To condone or tolerate evil is to partake in it (2 John 9-11) They were also unafraid to name specific individuals who posed a threat to the Gospel and the church (2 Timothy 4:9-10, 14-15; John 9-10).
The apostolic Church never leave chance for evil to thrive like the contemporary church. All in the name of "love" evil is allowed to thrive in the church. Righteous love does not accommodates evil rather, it corrects, rebuke and discipline to godliness. Presumptous love has not only lead to the accommodation of evil in the church but even celebration of wickedness. The moral standards and spiritual values have been wrecked so badly in the church as wicked people have become domicile in the church and even in its leadership.
Understanding the scriptural concept of love is vital for a contemporary Christian and church, as there can be confusion surrounding its true meaning. In many cases, Christian love is interpreted as unconditional acceptance of all beliefs and actions, often lacking discernment. This misconception is often been influenced by well-placed individuals in church leadership who, in their carftiness, deliberately advocate for simple unity in the church and thereby encourage the church to lower its standards of discernment in favor of inclusivity.
However, the church is called to embrace love while firmly upholding the truth and light of the gospel. It is essential to love the sinner while also maintaining a clear stance against evil. By fostering an environment that encourages both love and discernment, we can build a stronger, more faithful community that reflects the heart of the gospel.
The generation we live in where evil and deception are so prevalent, so much wisdom and discernment is required of us for life. Many Christians have been taken advantage of by Satan through his agents to wreck unimaginable damage in people’s life as a result of this indiscernible kind of Christian "love".