On dorm room doors, car bumpers, binders, Bibles… a simple black sticker with white letters proclaiming “LOVE WINS.” Inspired by a sermon by popular pastor Rob Bell and distributed by members of his congregation at Mars Hill Bible Church, the phrase has caught on among many young Christians, especially those who identify with the emergent church movement—people who are dissatisfied with traditional Evangelical Christianity.
The phrase is reflective of the reactionary nature of the emergent church movement, which was birthed out of disillusionment with organized and institutionalized church. Although not all who identify with or are sympathetic to the movement are easily categorized, most emergents call for a shift from modernism to postmodernism in the church.
Many perceive that the traditional church has been too angry, too judgmental, too legalistic, too political (i.e., too Republican and not Democratic enough), too institutional, too rigid doctrinally, too dogmatic, too propositional, etc. Phrases such as “LOVE WINS.” are then birthed in reaction to the legalism of our parents’ churches.
In many ways, the phrase “LOVE WINS.” does ring true. It was indeed the love of God the Father that caused him to send God the Son, and that very love conquered sin and death and indwells us with God the Spirit. God is love, love is the foundation of all that God does, and rightly understood, love indeed wins. However, it is imperative that love be rightly understood, and therein lies the problem with the popular phrase.
The way that many use the phrase sets up false dichotomies, pitting love against many things that actually are traits of God. It is too simplistic to set up God as being one or the other, instead of being both.
Love does not equal the absence of anger. Scripture never says God is not a God of anger, but rather slow to anger. Time and time again Scripture tells of God’s anger, an anger driven by his deep, immeasurable love for his people. Because God knows that his way is what’s best for his people, he displays anger when his people stray from the right way.
Love does not equal the absence of consequences. There are consequences (many of them “built-in”) for sin, for disobedience, for folly. If not for these consequences, sinful Man has little reason to do what is right. These consequences deter us from continuing destructive behavior.
Love does not equal the absence of correction. Yes, God accepts us as we are. But that initial acceptance is followed by conformity to his being. It is the love of God that calls us to conform to his image, so that we will be more of who were meant to be.
Love does not equal the absence of responsibility. Because actions have consequences, and more specifically sin has consequences, we must then accept correction and accept responsibility for our sin. God, in his love, in his graciousness, corrects to invite a response. But there must be due response: the sustained relationship of sanctification.
Love does not equal the absence of standards. How else can we understand grace if we do not first learn of how much we fall short of God’s holiness? Does not the grace of God lose its meaning when nothing becomes deserving of penalty?
A permissive love is no love at all. It is unavoidable that we will sin, but that does not mean God ought to put his stamp of approval on our actions. A permissive love is too simplistic. Is it not easier to either call sin as sin and shun sinners or engage sinners but fail to call sin as sin? True love invites. True love wrestles. True love engages. True love calls sin for what it is, but does not fail to engage sinners. Understanding the weight of the love of Christ comes only when we understand the weight of our sin. Love wins.
