God’s Perfect Love Drives Out All Fear

This past week, I got to attend a conference with other church leaders held in Dallas, Texas. The leaders around my table led churches that were in other denominations and some of these leaders held very different beliefs than me: from how we do Church to what we believe about Jesus, scripture, interpretation. This could be a catalyst for arguments and hurt and yet, I find incredible life in my time spent with these friends.

This conference is unique in that you have to apply to attend and only about 150 leaders are accepted. This keeps the conference small enough that the main goal can be about connection; in fact, the leader of the conference says frequently that the heroes aren’t the ones onstage, but rather the leaders around the tables.

This year, one of our main topics and sessions at the conference was around culture because… how could it not be? All of us, leaders from around the United States and around the world, arrived days after some tense, violent situations and amidst hurtful commentary everywhere. As we discussed what was happening around us, we didn’t shy away from the reality of culture, but we also didn’t get stuck there. We asked the question: Who is the Church called to be right now? What is the role of the Church in our culture?

Despite our differing beliefs and perspectives, we could all agree on this: As the world becomes darker, the Church needs to be the light. As the world tries to create such division, the Church must lead with relationship, with community, with humanity. As the world feels heavy with fear, the Church must offer hope.

I imagine that this is exactly how the apostle John was feeling as he wrote his first epistle. He was writing to a community becoming overwhelmed with confusion and division. John addresses culture by using love to expose the flaws. John wanted this community, and all communities, to know, without a doubt, that they could seek truth, find fellowship, and know what was good and right by following love. Instead of inciting fear in “the other,” love casts out fear. Instead of creating division, love builds community. Instead of driving people away from God, love makes the invisible God visible.

I want to leave all of us with these questions today: How can we, as a part of Resurrection, be the alternative? How can you, today, seek and find the love around you and inside of you? What situation might you re-think, re-frame, or solve differently when looking through a lens of love? What soundtrack might you need to change?

No matter what, I think we can all agree on what me and my fellow leaders agreed upon: Love will never fail us. If we lead with love, good will follow.