Hidden Love
See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1 NASB
For this reason – Did you notice that John claims the world doesn’t know us because we have experienced the love of the Father? Does this call into question most of what we have been taught about God’s love? Have you heard the usual claim that once God’s love takes over in your life, the world will see it and want to know more? Doesn’t John imply just the opposite? How do we make sense of this backwards statement?
It seems to me that we must first recognize what John says is true – regardless of our theological platitudes. When God’s great love saturates our lives, we become unexplainable oddities in the world. We just don’t fit anymore. We act against expectations. We think in different ways. We stand outside the paradigm and are outlaws to the world’s economy. It is God’s love that makes us strange – so strange that we often appear insanely fanatical and are written off because of this. Yeshua said much the same thing when he warned his followers not to expect any sympathy from the world. In fact, the world is our enemy.
And that is precisely the basis for our insanity. Because we love our enemies.
Adin Steinsaltz says, “Love begins when this caring is not only an objective appraisal, but becomes a personal attachment, when the object is not just ‘a thing’ or ‘a person’ that is judged by itself, but when one becomes involved in the relationship.”[1] And relationships require involvement and time – lots of time. “Love is something that people have to learn,” says Steinsaltz. He notes that any relationship that provides gainful benefit to the subject (the one loving) is not selfless love. Such love, common to most of our involvements, actually functions as a means for enhancing our own image. If we love because we recognize the other as loveable, doesn’t that mean that we gain something of personal value from the arrangement? Steinsaltz remarks, “What matters is the relationship, not the benefits derived from it. My beloved exists, and therefore all is well.”[2]
My observation is that most people love in order to be loved. It is the mutual equation of gratification that matters. But this certainly isn’t true of God. God loves – and in His relationship with the creation, all is right with the world. God loves us – and it is the relationship that matters, nothing more or less.
Perhaps we have missed the point entirely. Perhaps our attempts to love our enemies are not based in the joy of their very existence but rather in our desire to “bring them into the fold.” The transparency of our exchange equation causes them to recognize that we do not love them because they are, but rather for what we wish them to be. Can you imagine if God determined to love on such a basis?
The world does not know us when we love others simply for the joy of their existence. Such love defeats all exchange value and reflects the face of the Creator. But until this love is hidden in our hearts, we are recognized for what we really are – religiously converted exchange takers.
Topical Index: love, relationship, 1 John 3:1, for this reason, hidden
Adonai loves by nature. We love by cause. To love as Adonai loves is to act in covenant where we become the likeness of Adonai’s nature. We participate through union with Adonai’s will – that is the Shalom we receive that binds us one to the other. It is the bond that bears the fruit of Hesed in our union with Adonai and each other. As Torah perfects our lives, our will, our very deepest desires and wants become indistinguishable from that of Adonai who is now the author of every movement of our being ( שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים Šîr haŠîrîm, 4:9).
Christopher– Question 3 — for when you have time to get to it. I have no expectations of you dropping your studies to answer me. I am patient. Thank you.
(Matt 25) Are the Ten Virgins the whole nation of Israel? (10, complete) And the 5, (grace) those by faith who say ‘This is our God, we have waited for Him’ ?
Don’t want to answer for Christopher, but your suggestion has an imitation of allegory, a method used by the Church through the Middle Ages but long ago abandoned by serious students of Scripture. Of course, some Scriptures are allegorical, but they tell you that they are. Otherwise, parables are NOT allegories – unless we make them into allegories.
Thank you. Maybe I shouldn’t have ventured out, but left the question open — and simply asked what the meaning is. Naturally, you are always welcome to answer.
Just a brief explanation: the parable of the ten virgins is a typological reference to Solomon and the two prostitutes. There he threatened to split the child in half, here Adonai will do eactly that – fulfilling Jesus description of the sheep and goats in the last judgment. As such it represents (by type) the seed lines of Gen 3:15 – that of the woman and that of the Nashash. Both are described as virgins made pure by Adonai, yet one is as the darnel and the other is the wheat creating the impression of external observance versus authentic. The use of wedding typology typifies ancient hebraic marriage practice: the son works to build the wedding suite until the father tells him it is finished. Then the son goes and gathers his friends and visits the bride’s house at night. If she is faithful she keeps an oil lamp under the bed filled and ready (cf lampstand) and a veil (cf gen 3:10, 21). Then when she hears her groom’s voice (cf shepard’s voice) she dons her veil, lights her lamp and goes out to meet him in the night. The next morning (cf judgment) they go before the people to declare their union. In the case of the 5 virgins who have no oil they have been unfaithful and therefore are rejected by the groom (cf Jesus). So to answer your question they are the seed lines of both the woman and the serpent and therefore Israel, Abraham, Noah, and Adam. All those, Jew or goyim, who have inherited the promise and either keep it, or like Esau sell it for a bowl of porridge.
Whew, now I am standing on firm ground again. I had been taught (earliest and soonest) it was wheat and tares, sheep and goats.
At some point heard a very scary interpetation, it being the saved, –divided up at the rapture according to watching for His return or becoming slothful.
Then lastly, I read the one about it representing Israel; predicting at Jesus’ return, half would receive Him and half still not ready to believe.
So, no more being tossed about by every new wind! You pointed back to the firm foundation I was first on. I’ll stay here. Thank you
“we are recognized for what we really are – religiously converted exchange takers.” —Ouch!
I can hear echoes of the money changers/exchangers in the temple.
Talking about money changers, as a student of the second temple culture, I came to learn that the Jewish church was a synagogue model, which held certain values. It was a house of hospitality, prayer, study, judgment, and commerce. As a business man concerned about the things of the kingdom which include making a living to support the family (you can support a brother with business or wait till he comes seeking alms) I wanted to see a return to this. But to promote business in the community you need a seat of judgment, a place that mediates and seeks reconciliation over disputes that will naturally arise.
I made a costly effort to try to make this happen within my church and others. Common push backs I got from the cleric where #1 no interest in mediating, too messy. Give them a bible verse and send them on their way. #2 You can’t bring commerce into the church. Quoting the money changers in the temple.
My much unappreciated come back was, the money changers is the equivalent of selling your tapes, books, trips to Israel and Jesus trinkets. Like the money changers, not inherently evil, it can serve a real purpose, but has the potential to fleece the flock. So are you serving or fleecing?
Great thoughts — especially regarding the lack of mediation in the church. How can we apply the ‘prohibition’ on lawsuits when the church has discarded it’s responsibility of judgment?
I know that the concept of church authority is rife with negative history and baggage, but like most things — UNconverted men make church authority an unbearable weight, but converted hearts in our leadership would bring peace and prosperity to our congregations.
“church authority is rife with negative history and baggage” that is the history of a paganized church.
First of all, while you find archeological sites of grand synagogues that date back circa 1st century, the majority of synagogues where small communal gathering in homes and spaces attached to homes and businesses. If my recollection is correct there were 400+ synagogues in Jerusalem alone.
The act of judgment/mediation was not adversarial but meant to bring reconciliation to the disagreeing parties and to God and maintain shalom in the community. When two people, who love the LORD but disagreed with each other, would submitted their grievances to the elders of their synagogue. The Beit Din’s decision was considered the mouth of God. Their decision was taken as if God spoke. This is an act of love and worship to God and your neighbor.
That is what Mathew 18 is all about!
Mathew 18: 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Concerning your last post, I am fully agreed. Conflictincreases within the church because of the lack of mediation available. A small sore grows into a festering wound because gossip seems the only outlet for the conflict.
~But as for me, Heaven forbid that I should boast about anything except the tslav, the execution-stake of our LORD Yeshua the Messiah! Through Him, as far as I am concerned, the world has been put to death on the stake; and through Him, as far as the world is concerned, I have been put to death on the stake. For neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised matters; what matters is being a new creation. And as many as order their lives by this rule, shalom upon them and chesed/mercy, and upon the Isra’el of God! From now on, I don’t want anyone to give me any more tsuris/trouble, because I have scars on my body to prove that I belong to Yeshua! The grace of our LORD Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit, my brothers. Amein. ~
(Galatians 6.14-18)
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
~ Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends ~
He gave His life – what more could He give?
Oh, how He loves you-
Oh- how He loves me..
Oh!- How He loves you and me..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV2zMZ-nZ7k
~ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the LORD is to be praised ~ (psalm-song 113.3)
O magnify the Lord with me,
Ye people of His choice.
Let all to whom He lendeth breath
Now in His Name rejoice.
For Love’s blest revelation,
For rest from condemnation,
For uttermost salvation,
To Him give thanks.
Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thee,
Let all the people praise Thy Name
Forever and forevermore.
O praise Him for His holiness,
His wisdom, and His grace;
Sing praises for His precious blood
Which ransomed all our race.
In tenderness He sought us;
From depths of sin He brought us;
The way of life then taught us.
To Him give thanks.
Had I a thousand tongues to sing,
The half could ne’er be told
Of love so rich, so full and free,
Of blessings manifold;
Of grace that faileth never,
Peace flowing as a river
From God, the glorious Giver.
To Him give thanks.
For Love’s blest revelation,
For rest from condemnation,
For uttermost salvation,
To Him give thanks.
~ But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere ~ (2 Corinthians 2.14)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URKg07W1zU
Listening to Leonard Cohen….connection to TW?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJRKgo7W1zU
Sorry, wrong link. Cohen’s song, “If it be your will”
Speaking of Leonard Cohen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmbQEQltOwM
“Hallelujah” by Rufus Wainwright (Irish performance)
My favorite although “If it be your will” is pretty good too
“For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1 NASB”
Hmmm
IMO another way of saying this is that way of the world and the Kingdom of God are “orthogonal”
Or at “cross purposes”
Makes me think of Melville’s “Billy Budd” and “Bartleby the Scrivener”
Not to mention Moby Dick
Orthogonal, yes!
“When God’s great love saturates our lives, we become unexplainable oddities in the world”.
Great statement, Skip.
What is love? The emotional and physical response to people and things, identified so well in the Romantic portion of the Enlightenment?
How will we ever understand John if he just uses words, and offers no explanation? Does that free us to read whatever meaning we like into the word “love”?
I love this little gem called 1 John, and its relations 2nd and 3rd john, because the writer is so crystal clear in what he says. But you have to read the whole book to get his answer to this word “love.”
In chapter 2 he says he is writing “so that you do not sin.” Sin? What does he mean? You have to keep reading way down to 3:4 to get his answer: “sin is lawlessness” (anomia, from which we get antinominanism). His meaning can’t be much clearer than that.
But along the way he keeps referring to things such as “do not love the world,” and then he seems to drop the topic and talk about knowing the truth, lies and deception. Then all of a sudden we have love back in the picture and this is why the world won’t know (is that a Greek “know” or a Hebrew “know”) God’s people, then he drops over into sin again, and provides the definition; then in chapter 4 he’s off on “do not believe (Greek believe or Hebrew believe?) every spirit, roams around concepts such as truth and false stuff, the love bit “love one another” for “God is love”. What? God is slushy, romantic, sentimentalism? Keep reading.
Like a great music composition that has its climax near the end to keep the audience’s attention, so John saves the best till last, chapter 5 (but he didn’t write in chapter and verse). How will we overcome the world? Because we are born of God. How will we know we are born of God? By the way we romantically feel about God or other people? No, we will know by the way we keep the commandments because “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (5:3).
Did you get it? Sin = lawlessness. Love, on the other hand, is keeping the commandments. So for John, sin and love are opposites. Righteousness, too, is keeping the Torah (2:29). Knowing the difference between truth and falsehood is only possible by Torah (4:1).
But here’s the killer, the tour de force: YHWH’s commandments (his Torah) are not burdensome!
Now read Skip’s selected verse again. The world doesn’t know us or Him because of the huge difference in understanding of the word “love.” Don’t you just love the way John explains it?
Wonderful!! Ian, can I steal your comments to use for Face Book post I’m doing on Torah?
No you can’t steal under any circumstances. 🙂
So my word are my gift to you, my friend. God bless.
Thank you Ian! You are a gentlemen and a scholar!
I heard it said that plagiarism is when you steal from one author, but its scholarship when you steal from many authors. Sometimes I’m a plagiarist, sometimes a scholar.
So, if I steal from Skip & Ian, am I scholar or do I need another witness?
“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”
Luis, where are your supporting witnesses for the “gentleman and a scholar” claim?
Look me up on FB sometime.
Speaking of Torah, read news out of Germany —
http://news.yahoo.com/german-court-outlaws-religious-circumcision-172728400.html
The “world” is not orthogonal but antipodal- or “anti”- Christ. The way up is down. Not to accumulate but to give away. There are so many examples or explanations of this for us in the scriptures.
1 John 2.16 tells “everything that is in the world”- Basically- these three: (an unholy “trinity!”) ~For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. ~
CARL, THE BELOW SO EXPLAINS HOW MY SPIRIT GRIEVES OVER THE WORLDLY WAYS OF PEOPLE WHO CRAVE & WALLOW IN THE WORLDS WAY & THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING GOD’S WILL. GOD/JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT’S WILL ARE NOT TO PLAY ALONG WITH THE WORLD BUT TO BE SEPARATE FROM IT. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS TAUGHT IN TODAY’S CHURCHES OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN CHRISTIANITY & SOME HAVE BOUGHT THE LIES & KEEP BELIEVING THEM. THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING WHY I FEEL/DISCERN THE WAY I DO. I KNEW BUT I DIDN’T KNOW WHY I KNEW & KNOW I KNOW WHY… ♥
The “world” is not orthogonal but antipodal- or “anti”- Christ. The way up is down. Not to accumulate but to give away. There are so many examples or explanations of this for us in the scriptures.
1 John 2.16 tells “everything that is in the world”- Basically- these three: (an unholy “trinity!”) ~For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. ~