“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
These were some of the final words Jesus shared with His disciples before going to the cross. They are not suggestions. They are not optional. They are commands from the Savior Himself. Yet, in our time, this commandment is often drowned out by noise, by politics, by fear, and by pride—especially among those who call themselves His followers.
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Jesus didn’t say, “Love those who agree with you.”
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He didn’t say, “Love those who vote like you.”
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He didn’t say, “Love those who fit your moral standards.”
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He said, “Love one another. As I have loved you.”
And how did He love us? Radically. Recklessly. Sacrificially. Without condition or prequalification. He dined with sinners. He touched lepers. He forgave the woman caught in adultery. He wept with those who mourned. He was betrayed, beaten, and crucified for a world that mocked Him—and still He loved.
A Church Adrift
Somewhere along the way, many evangelicals have lost sight of this love. In the quest for moral purity, cultural dominance, or political relevance, the Church has often chosen judgment over mercy, exclusion over embrace, power over humility. The evangelical movement, once known for its zeal for the gospel, is now frequently associated with partisanship, culture wars, and a distorted witness.
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We have failed to weep with the broken.
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We have failed to listen to the marginalized.
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We have failed to love the “least of these”—the very ones Jesus identified with most.
Instead, we draw lines. We label. We fear. We idolize certainty and cast stones at those who don't measure up. But in doing so, we misrepresent Christ and defy His central command.
Love Is Not Weakness
Some argue that loving everyone—even those with whom we disagree—means compromising truth. But love and truth are not opposites. In fact, truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is sentimentality. Jesus embodied both perfectly.
To love as He loved means we lead with compassion, not condemnation. It means we see people as image-bearers first, not projects to fix or enemies to defeat. It means we get close enough to be hurt, to be misunderstood, to be stretched. It means we remember that we were all once far from God—and He still ran toward us.
Bridging the Gap
So how do we begin to heal what’s been broken? How do we live out Jesus’ command in a world divided by fear, ideology, and mistrust?
Here are a few starting points:
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Start with Listening - Not to argue, but to understand. Sit with people whose stories, identities, and struggles are different from yours. Listen with your heart, not your filter.
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Seek Reconciliation, Not Victory - Love doesn’t demand to win. It seeks peace. That means letting go of the need to be right and choosing to be in right relationship instead.
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Practice Proximity - Get close to those you’ve avoided or judged. Break bread. Share life. You cannot love well from a distance.
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Confess and Repent - The Church must own its failures—racism, nationalism, apathy, legalism, and pride. True healing begins with honest confession and a turning toward humility.
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Live the Gospel Out Loud - Show people Jesus not by shouting louder, but by loving deeper. By showing grace to the addict, kindness to the immigrant, dignity to the poor, and friendship to the outcast.
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Pray for a Heart Like Christ’s - Not a heart of stone, but of flesh. A heart broken for what breaks His.
Be Known for Love
If we are to be known for anything in this world, let it not be our voting record, our moral posturing, or our theological precision. Let it be our love.
Because when we love as Christ loved, the world sees Him.
And that is a mission worth giving our lives to.
Patrick Carden
