The other day someone gave me a book that has gotten my attention. It’s called, Love Revolution: Rediscovering the Lost Command of Jesus by Gaylord Enns.
I was skeptical at first. Expected a predictable rehash of a subject we’ve all heard a lot about.
But the author told his own story of brokenness in a way that drew me in… until I began to understand his enthusiasm for a discovery that he says changed his life.
In short, Enns suggests that, although our Lord taught us many things, he gave special emphasis, and New Testament focus, to one commandment: “To love one another as he has loved us” (John 13:34; 15:12).
Enns goes on to say that the additional pattern he finds repeated in the New Testament is actually two commands: (1) believe in the name of the Son of God, and (2) love one another (1John 3:23).
In addition, the author goes on to say that he was surprised to discover that in light of the emphasis that Jesus gave to loving one another as he loved us, he does not find that same focus or emphasis in the historic confessions of the church, nor in the writings of the early church Fathers.
Am finding that the book is an easy read… and surprisingly provocative…
PS As I see it, this is the kind of simplicity of focus that is helpful in light of complexity– rather than without consideration for complexity (whether in the details of Scripture or the difficult issues of life.)
“One” more thought. Also have in my office a notebook that lists all of the “Commands of Christ”. In this case the author combs the Gospels for everything Jesus said that amounts to an imperative. The author of this project refers, as Enns does, to the fact that Jesus told us to teach “everything he commanded us to do”.
Reminds me of something Paul wrote. While emphasizing the wisdom and value of the whole counsel of God– he also seems to say that behind everything– there are really only a couple of things… “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul Gal 5:14
Question: Who is our neighbor? The one who shares our faith? or…
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