Today’s reading deals specifically with this human tendency to prefer abstract to concrete especially dealing with the core of the Christian life.
This tendency of staying in the abstract is deadly to our spiritual life. This is why John reacts so strongly in these two verses.
It is dealing with the Great Commandment- “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
In the abstract, We all on board with this - even the Pharisees.
It is when we get into the details, to the concrete that it gets a little more confusing.
This is what is great about today’s reading. John does not allow us to stay in the abstract. He very bluntly calls us out. He calls out our hypocrisy.
Look at the wording of verse 20: If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar;
(That is some strong words!) This is not ambiguous. John does not want us to wonder exactly what he means. He says it very clear.
John does not allow us to deceive ourselves into thinking that it is somehow possible to claim to love God and hate our brother. If we do this, John, inspired the Holy Spirit says that we are liars!
Now (loving your brother) this is not the totality of what it means to love God, but it is an aspect - a very important aspect. So much so that if you do not love your brother, you CANNOT claim to love God.
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