Love is not rude (v.5)

“Love is not rude.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

.

Secular society delights to dismiss Christianity as a myth that we need to be liberated from, in order to get back to being tolerant people. Yet if that is progress, why is it that there is so much rudeness in our society today? When we discard the Christian view that men and women are made in the image of God, created to have a loving relationship with him and with others, then human dignity and respect is lost. The result will be rudeness both to God and to people.

.

The antidote to this is love, which transforms the everyday way in which we live. “Christians are not rude... they are polite, respectful, caring, thoughtful, well-mannered” (Sinclair Ferguson). This may not be “cool” but such counter-cultural behaviour models the example of Jesus.

.

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy, “My servant will not quarrel... A bruised reed he will not break” (Matt.12:18-20). “Gracious words” came from his mouth (Luke 4:22). He described himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt.11:29). And when he said that, he also invited us to come and be joined with him, in order to be like him in the way we live and speak.