Philadelphia

My daughter is spending part of the week in Philadelphia this week, looking into a local Christian community there to see how they live out their faith. Philadelphia- the city of brotherly love. During her stay she has sent back additional information about what she’s done during her free time, which is taking historical tours of the city. I just love history and it is awe inspiring to see pictures of the vast array of places where people gave their all so we could be free.

“Philadelphia”- what a fitting word for a city where love of country and freedom was strong enough that people chose to band together to work together on their cause. In this city, American’s love and affection for each other was countered by their hatred of the perceived evils that King George III had perpetrated against them. I guess “brotherly love” only went so far.

The word “Philadelphia” also reminds me of another situation where the meaning of the word “love” should have seemed quite clear and serve as a type of call-to-arms, but yet it caused a bit of frustration.

In John 21:15-19, the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples on the seashore while they were fishing. After they came to the shore, they shared a meal together. Jesus then asked Peter, “…do you love me more than these?” and used the Greek “agape” for the word “love.” Jesus was asking Peter if he would love with all that he was. Peter answered, “…you know I love you” using the word “philia”, a virtuous love toward family, friends, and community. Peter was saying that he would love people with an affection that would stop before loving with a self-sacrificial love given to both friends and enemies. This conversation continued with Peter never offering “agape”, but with Jesus still expecting that Peter, and all of us, show that great love for one another.

How often do we qualify love? Love for one another… “I’d help her if…”, “I’d be nicer if…”, “If they weren’t so boring/mean/weird I would…” The same goes for Christ. “If I weren’t so busy I would pray/serve/study” “If I had more money I would give to the poor/tithe.” We’ve all done it… that is justify our shortcomings to the One who justified us. But glory to God for his unending love and his soul-cleansing forgiveness.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I think it behooves us to remember be thankful for Christ’s great love for us. It is a season to stop and allow Christ to convict us of letting go of our preconceived ideas about what WE think love is, and instead dive into our Bibles to read (and live out) what CHRIST says that love is.