Love -- The Truth
Loving the brethren — having the proper respect for one-another — is essential to Christianity, but it is not consummated as a purely personal relationship. I must love my brethren so as to glorify God.
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like- minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. (Rom. 15:5-7, emphasis mine. Paul also wrote the Philippians that they stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Phil. 1:27)
Brethren may love one-another in error — have a veritable love-in together — and be no credit to God. On the other hand, He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 Jn. 3: 14-18) Some fiendish spirit works in those who cry love to justify union in error, or castigate (by subtle implication) those who point out their error. The same spirit of the devil works in those who insist they are chopping a brother to bits, and spitting on the pieces, because we love him.
If one brother, FIRST, loves God, and is therefore anxious to know the will of God; and a second brother likewise, FIRST, loves God, and is hungry for truth; the love these brethren have for one—another will bring them together respectfully to consider their differences in the light of Gods word. Their love for God, and for one—another, will impel them in this direction.
I do not want my erring brother to compromise his convictions for he that doubteth is damned if he eat. (Rom. 1: 22-23) I can not appreciate his asking me to compromise my faith. Pardon me if I gag a bit at his talk of love, love while he refuses to meet the issues with courtesy and manliness. What became of character??
There is a love that condemns us before Christ. (Matt. 10:37; Lu. 14:26)