Have Christians lost true affection for one another?

[Hobie]

It seems that there is a distraction from the things of God among His people, especially His love when it comes to each other, even in the family and to the children. A loss of Godly affection, true brotherly love, the caring for others and any anguish and contrition for harming one another and forgetting what we have been given, to love your neighbor.

Instead, Christians, have turned into the type of person who is beyond experiencing guilt, shame, or regret for their terrible actions against others, because all they care about is themselves and nobody else, even parents.. They have become ‘remorseless', and 'uncaring', with only the things of self.

A character defined by narcissism with an exaggerated sense of self-importance, looking for others to focus on them and give them worldly 'praise' and 'honor'. Many forget what God in His Word tells us...

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

2 Timothy 2:24-25
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

What can be done?

 

[David]

It seems that there is a distraction from the things of God among His people, especially His love when it comes to each other, even in the family and to the children. A loss of Godly affection, true brotherly love, the caring for others and any anguish and contrition for harming one another and forgetting what we have been given, to love your neighbor.

Instead, Christians, have turned into the type of person who is beyond experiencing guilt, shame, or regret for their terrible actions against others, because all they care about is themselves and nobody else, even parents.. They have become ‘remorseless', and 'uncaring', with only the things of self.

A character defined by narcissism with an exaggerated sense of self-importance, looking for others to focus on them and give them worldly 'praise' and 'honor'. Many forget what God in His Word tells us...

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

2 Timothy 2:24-25
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

What can be done?

This is a serious question, and Scripture does not treat it lightly. When love grows cold, something is wrong. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” ~John 13:35. That means biblical love is not decoration on the Christian life. It is evidence.

But we need to define love by the Bible, not by emotion, personality, or public politeness. Biblical love does not mean we ignore sin, flatter people, or avoid truth. Scripture says, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” ~Romans 12:9. Real love has backbone. It hates evil while holding fast to what is good.

The problem today is not that people do not know the word “love.” The problem is that many have divorced love from holiness, truth, repentance, and obedience. They want affection without correction, kindness without conviction, and fellowship without righteousness. But God never separates those things.

John said, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” ~1 John 3:18. That means love is not just something we say when the room is calm. Love shows up when we forgive, when we bear burdens, when we refuse bitterness, when we speak truth without pride, and when we repent after we have sinned against someone.

And yes, Scripture warned us this day would come. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves” ~2 Timothy 3:1-2. When self becomes the throne, love gets pushed out of the house. A self-centered heart cannot love like Christ while bowing to itself.

So what can be done? We start where Scripture tells us to start. Not by pointing across the room first, but by getting before God ourselves. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” ~Psalm 139:23. Revival does not begin with accusing everybody else. It begins when the Word of God lays us open before the Lord.

If we have grown cold, repent. If we have wounded others, confess it. If we are bitter, forgive. If we are proud, humble ourselves. If we claim to love God while hating a brother, Scripture cuts through the talk: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar” ~1 John 4:20.

That is plain Bible. No varnish. No loophole. No soft chair for sin.

The answer is not worldly therapy words dressed up in religious clothes. The answer is the cross, the Word, repentance, and walking in the Spirit. “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” ~Galatians 5:16.

A church, a home, or a heart that loses biblical love does not need a new slogan. It needs to return to Christ. Because where Christ rules, selfishness has to bow, bitterness has to leave, pride has to be crucified, and love has to become more than talk.

 

[bobinfaith]

It seems that there is a distraction from the things of God among His people, especially His love when it comes to each other, even in the family and to the children. A loss of Godly affection, true brotherly love, the caring for others and any anguish and contrition for harming one another and forgetting what we have been given, to love your neighbor.

Instead, Christians, have turned into the type of person who is beyond experiencing guilt, shame, or regret for their terrible actions against others, because all they care about is themselves and nobody else, even parents.. They have become ‘remorseless', and 'uncaring', with only the things of self.

A character defined by narcissism with an exaggerated sense of self-importance, looking for others to focus on them and give them worldly 'praise' and 'honor'. Many forget what God in His Word tells us...

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 John 4:7&version=KJV

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
2 Timothy 2:24-25, 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

What can be done?

Hello Hobie;

Your first 3 points are a grave concern for the whole Christian community.

What can be done?

Starting with ourselves in our own backyards, community and around the world, 1 John 4:7 and 2 Timothy 2:24-25 are good starts by the renewing of our hearts, existing human relationships and submitting back to God's unconditional love followed by Him speaking to us through Biblical teaching.

This has to be a constant. Otherwise we see what happens when we stray even for a moment.

God bless you, Hobie.

Bob

 

[Mason]

As for what can be done. If we submit to Jesus we can be an example to the believers.
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12).
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

Let's give them love because God loved us.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:7-11)