Romans 12:9 says, "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them."
If you serve in any sort of leadership--as a paid servant or an unpaid one--I can't imagine a more potent "horizontal" instruction from scripture.
I confess: I have often pretended to love others. I think I most often pretend to myself, not to them. But still, for most of my career I don't think I've loved people very well.
Now, lest you think me more of a jerk than I really am, I have certainly loved some people. You know, those that were quick to support me personally or my ministry... I loved them really well. The more they loved the songs I picked, the more I loved them. Not just the songs, but those who played and sang and led and served. You get the idea.
I'll spare you the psycho-babble and circular reasoning. You're welcome to speculate about my past on your own. I'm more concerned with what God is showing me now. And what that means for the future.
I'm hopeful that what I'm seeing might serve your journey as well. These things seem to be true for those in my ministry, but also for those in my circle of friends and--more importantly--in my family.
When I really love people, I ask them to do things because it is best for them, not for me.
When I really love people, I speak encouragement to them rather than expect it from them.
When I really love people, I ask how they are doing. I pray for their needs and check in with them--not so they think much of me, but because I think much of them.
When I really love people, I speak truth into their lives. But only with and in great love. I do so because it serves them, not because it makes me feel better.
When I really love people, I am for them. I'm on their side, regardless of whether or not they're on my side.
Perhaps more practically, when I really love people I choose songs they love as well as songs I love--even if I don't love their songs.
Similarly, when I really love people, I ask people to do things because they feel compelled by the love of Christ to do them, not because I want them to do them.
Those last two are where the rubber really meets the road for those of us in worship leader positions.
It makes so much sense when I read it from The Message: "Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it."
You see, that's the difference in a Christ-follower and a "nice person." We who follow Jesus have the same power coursing through our veins that raised Jesus from the dead. That power makes it possible to love people because of who we are, not because of who they are. And we love them because it's what we do, not because of what they do.
I'm learning. Feels like little tiny baby steps, but I'm learning.
How are you doing at loving people from the center of who you are? Any other places where the rubber meets the road that I've left out?
