Genuine

 

Hey, Cobblestone,

     We like it simple, so here are four simple words from Scripture by which we may live our lives:

    Let love be genuine (Romans 12:9).

     Ready? Go!

………………………. What are you waiting for? What part of “let love be genuine” don’t you understand? Oh, all the parts? Yeah, me too. Apparently, we need a bit more instruction – not to make the task more complex, but to uncover the simple. Here are the same four words in their immediate context:

    Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality (verses 9-13).

    I find myself quickly suspicious of instructors who rank being higher than doing, saying, “Remember, we’re human be-ings, not human do-ings” – as if it’s even possible to separate the two. Being and doing are linked forever; Romans 12:1 says presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is spiritual worship. And so the fact remains: what we be is proven by what we do. God doesn’t separate his being from his doing. Why should we, his image-bearers, even try?

     Love is the best invention ever, and the best thing about love is that it so definitely does. “Does what?” we might ask. Fair question. Well, among all good doings in time and eternity, love does precisely what’s described in the sentences following our simple, four-word instruction, Let love be genuine. Scroll up and take another peek. Notice the immediacy; be impressed by the bulk of opportunity no more than arm’s length away. Love is itching to be proven genuine, and won’t settle for merely being.

     Speaking of arm’s length, please allow me to introduce you to a couple terms I’ve found useful. Both are represented by the same initials: P.o.E. One is “Patch of Earth”; the other is “Points of Engagement.” The two are related thus: for every blood-bought son or daughter of God Most High, Points of Engagement are found on his or her Patch of Earth. I am, of course, obliged to unpack the P.o.E’s at this juncture.

     The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it (Genesis 2:15).  Though he was formed from dust, Adam was put in the garden; the Lord God put him there. Sin got Adam booted from the garden, and the booting also was God’s doing. Since then, every member of “Adam’s tragic race” has been working a second-best patch of earth. But please don’t forget, as it was for the first human, so also with us: the given patch is given by God. Patch of Earth, whether or not we actually hold a title deed to it, will involve our ordinary travels and people within our sphere of influence – places and persons known and seen… and loved. At times, the Lord will compel some of us to seek out and know and love far-off people and lands. Mainly, though, “local” may be the handiest term attached to Patch of Earth. Or, to describe it by the inverse: your patch of earth can’t be somewhere you’ve never been and never intend to go.

     Points of Engagement are similarly local. They involve length, width, height, and time, also the senses. The defining characteristic of this P.o.E. is that it’s so right-the-heck here, in the moment, insisting on being approved or denied, but never simply dismissed. There will be skin in the game, consequences good or ill for acting or not acting. It’s intimidating, I know, but God’s got this. As he determined your Patch of Earth, so also will he design your Points of Engagement. And at those points, Church, is where love shines brightest.

     I think we can agree that each of us will find ample points of engagement within our patch of earth. The “friend at midnight” of Luke 11 can’t pound on your door from a thousand miles away; neither could you hand over the loaves of bread in the exact moment of his need. The “persistent widow” of Luke 18 could sufficiently pester the judge only by being in his face. Empathy is an arm’s-length proposition. Love is so very local.  

     In due time, we will inhabit the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). In due time, the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Romans 8:21).  In due time, Adam’s colossal boo-boo will be undone, and whatever second-best P.o.E’s we’re working at present can be traded in – or perhaps made first-best right where they sit. Meanwhile, we let love do, wherever we are.

     In recognizing my limitations, I’m going to choose just one of the several exhortations in Romans 12:9-13 and make it the focus for today. Hmm, let’s see. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good looks like a juicy one, but instead, I’m picking Outdo one another in showing honor. That ought to shiver-me-timbers, and shake me out of self-centeredness. That ought to make room for love to be proven genuine. “Oh, Lord, you know how much of your help I’ll need with this!” To borrow the question from Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant: What’s your favorite thing?

     Let love be genuine. OK, now go!

 

Grace and Peace (in being and doing),

 

John