Sunday, September 11, 2011

Morality Vs. Love

Recently I have listened to several people say that they deny the Christian faith because it unreasonably emphasizes morality and rules. These same people often tell me that we should love others and worry less about rules. I wonder if these people have really thought through the relationship between morality and love. How do we love and not at the same time avoid doing things that harm the one we are loving. If I love some one I shouldn't steal from them, lie to them, murder them, curse them, take their wife, or cheat them. So what is the relationship between love and morality? Christianity is not about morality for the sake of morality. It is not about rules for the sake of rules. Christianity is about honoring rules and living morally for the sake of love. Because we love, we understand that we should not murder, lie, steal, lust, etc. Morality is only onerous to the extent love is onerous. They go hand in hand.