In the Cross-Hairs of Love

IN THE CROSS-HAIRS OF LOVE

by Jonathan Allbaugh

I am no hunter. But, if I were, I would certainly need the assistance of a scope on my rifle to take aim with accuracy. With this metaphor in mind, I ponder the intentions of Jesus as He sought to offer clarity in what was necessary of people to fulfill God’s requirements in Mark 12:30-31: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” – the vertical cross-hair of love. “Love your neighbor as yourself ” – the horizontal cross-hair of love. It is only through the concurrent alignment of our love toward God and our love toward others that we can be on target.

C.S. Lewis, in his book The Four Loves, sheds light on the power of friendship by describing the connection he experienced with a small group of friends that were selfnamed “The Inklings.” Along with Lewis, the famous author J.R.R. Tolkien (author of the Lord of the Rings) and Charles Williams were part of this group of close companions. Lewis described how the unexpected death of Williams revealed the deep essence of brotherly love.

“In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that

As a community of believers, the pursuit of love for one another through friendship and love for everyone as our neighbor will bring us into a horizontal alignment that cross-sects the vertical love we have for God.

Charles is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s [Tolkien’s] reaction to a specifically Charles joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself ” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald…In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God. For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “Holy, Holy, Holy” to one another (Isaiah 6:3). The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have.”

As a community of believers, the pursuit of love for one another through friendship and love for everyone as our neighbor will bring us into a horizontal alignment that crosssects the vertical love we have for God. As the Apostle Paul explained, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:10-11).” There is something so beautiful about the manifold love that exudes from the community of believers. Through one another, we have a clearer picture of the nature of our Lord.

Jonathan Allbaugh, Dean of Missional Effectiveness at Vanguard University of Southern California

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