There we were all sitting on the boat, sharing our stories when that eight-legged monster crawled out from under the pile of life jackets sitting off to the corner.
Based on my wife’s reaction, you would think the lake just spit up the most ghoulish and terrifying monster conceivable. It turned out to be just a garden spider but she was convinced he was out to settle a score.
I immediately surveyed the area to find my spider squishing weapon of choice. Today, it was a concrete banana that was part of the permanent fruit bowl on the table.
I grabbed the concrete fruit and with a swing only likened to Thor crashing down his hammer I smashed that eight-legged monster and in the process shattered the concrete banana all over the floor.
Fruit Bowl Problems
It turned out, the fruit in this fruit bowl was hollow.
Now I knew my wife’s family had a long history and many sentimental heirlooms. I was convinced I just destroyed one in my successful but damaging attempt at pest control.
I have to admit, they all jumped on board and had me believing for a while that this concrete banana was really an heirloom that couldn’t be replaced. But, after a few minutes of pulling my leg, they shared it was just a decoration without any real meaning.
The Church And Concrete Banana’s
I think many in the church approach love with a concrete banana.
Their intention is good and they want to be helpful and protective but in the end, they just make a mess all over the floor; all because they were trying too hard.
Many in the church try too hard to make the gospel of Gods love contemporary in cultural standpoints. I’m not sure love needs to be made contemporary if it’s being done right. Love is not a cultural anchor defined by a generation however it may be interpreted.
Love is much deeper than that.
Love Is Attractive On Its Own
As Christians, we know God is the source of love and when we love as He does we don’t have to dress it up to make it pretty… it’s already attractive on it own.
People want to feel loved and cared for. When we cheese up the gospel of love we make it look like a commercial for a tv dinner. And, we all know when we buy a tv dinner it will look nothing like what is shown on the box.
When Christians try to put on a mask that looks perfect no one believes them but on the flip-side when they act like a spoiled child they believe that is what they really are.
The point is we can love people right where they are without having to attach religious baggage to it. You can love someone with the perfect love of Christ without being perfect yourself because God’s love works through you if you allow it.
Messy Love
Loving someone is tough and sometimes messy.
As the church, in many ways, we have become accustomed to clean and tidy. Love has never been clean and tidy. It sacrifices, endures, perseveres and always accomplishes what it sets out to do.
Love is messy.
And that is part of what makes it beautiful.
So, just walk in real genuine love. Care for people. It doesn’t matter if you disagree or agree on whatever. Just love one another as Christ loves you.
Genuine relationship beats fake sentimentality any day.
