Note: This is a guest post written by Will Platnick, husband to The Christian Minimalist.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Contemporary Christian Music lately, and I’ve noticed something. If you listen to K-LOVE, or another Christian radio station, you’d think the biggest problem in the Christian life is being afraid.

It’s usually vague and amorphous what we’re afraid OF, but no matter what, the message is don’t be afraid. But I don’t really think that being scared is our biggest problem. 

Our Biggest Problem

As Christian Minimalists, we aim to get rid of the distractions that prevent us from focusing on the most important things in life. When a man asked Jesus what the greatest commandment of the Law was, Jesus said:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

I think our biggest problem as Christians is that we don’t actually love each other. I’m reminded of a joke that Nicky Gumbel tells in his Alpha course:

I was standing in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge, admiring the view, when another tourist walked up alongside me to do the same. I heard him say quietly as he took in the beauty of the view: ‘What an awesome God!’ I turned to him and I said, `Oh, are you a Christian?’ He said, `Yes, I am a Christian.’ I said, `So am I,’ and we shook hands. 

I said, `Are you a liberal or a fundamental Christian?’ He said, `I’m a fundamental Christian.’ I said, `So am I,’ and we smiled and nodded to each other. 

I said, `Are you a covenant or dispensational fundamental Christian?’ He said, `I’m a dispensational fundamental Christian.’ I said, `So am I,’ and we slapped one another on the back. 

I said, `Are you an early Acts, mid Acts, or late Acts dispensational fundamental Christian?’ He said, `I’m a mid Acts dispensational fundamental Christian.’ I said, `So am I,’ and we agreed to exchange Christmas cards each year. 

I said, `Are you an Acts 9 or 13 mid Acts dispensational fundamental Christian?’ He said, `I’m an Acts 9 mid Acts dispensational fundamental Christian.’ I said, `So am I,’ and we hugged one another right there on the bridge.

I said, `Are you a pre-Trib or post-Trib Acts 9 mid Acts dispensational fundamental Christian?’ He said, `I’m a pre-Trib Acts 9 mid Acts dispensational fundamental Christian.’ I said, `So am I,’ and we agreed to exchange our kids for the summer.

I said, `Are you a twelve-in or twelve-out pre-Trib Acts 9 mid Acts dispensational fundamental Christian?’ He said, `I’m a twelve-in pre-Trib Acts 9 mid Acts dispensational fundamental Christian.’ I said, `You heretic!’ –and I pushed him off the bridge.

And that’s how we often treat other Christians! If one thing is for sure, if you were to ask people what Christians are known for, “their love” would not be anywhere near the top of the list. 

Practicing Loving Others

We don’t give people the benefit of the doubt. If someone thinks differently than we do, every year that goes by, we hate them more than we did before. We scramble to put other people in boxes and label them as something, so we can treat them poorly.

I don’t think our inability to love each other is because of fear of others. I think it’s because we have no idea how to do it. 

It feels like we need to figure out how to practice loving others. More than anything, we need to incorporate love into our inner-most being. Instead, we tend to keep building idols and fixate on things that aren’t really the most important thing.

So, this year I’m on a quest to figure out how to love other people better. Will you join me? What do you think practicing loving others should look like? 

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