The FISHERS Magazine (Issue 193)

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another. (Rom 12:9-10)

What is brotherly love?

It is a very special spiritual affection we cultivate between and among God’s children which the world will never understand or experience. We cannot be Christians without having this unique bond of love with other believers of Jesus Christ, because we are all bound together by the common bond of adoption into God’s family.

How do I know if I possess this ‘brotherly love’ towards other believers?

Ask yourself these questions:

Do I relish their company, miss them when I do not see them for some time, long to have fellowship with them and enjoy their presence?

Do I admire Christ’s working power in their lives; rejoice to see them grow spiritually, thank God for their gifts and ministries among the saints?

Do I wish them well physically and spiritually?

Do I know them well enough to pray specifically for their needs?

Do I seek their good by rendering practical help when they are in need, ease their sufferings as best as I know how and encourage them when they are downcast?

If your answer is a resounding “Yes!” then you certainly love them.

Why is it so important that ‘brotherly love’ should exist among Christians?

First, it is a delight to God the Father to see His children showing love one for another because this act is the product of His own grace. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1) Which father in his right mind does not delight in seeing his children having harmonious and loving relationships?

Second, it is the command of God the Son that we should love one another: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) To love one another was required by the Law in the Old Testament: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Lev 19:18); but why does Jesus say that it is a ‘new commandment’? When this command is repeated in the Gospel under the New Covenant, it is counted as a ‘new’ one because it requires us to love one another the way Christ loves us. It is enforced by new motives following a new pattern. The Lord is most joyful to see His followers keeping His commandment.

Third, it is most satisfying for God the Spirit to see believers loving one another because ‘love’ is the chief characteristic of the fruit of His Divine activity: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love...” (Gal 5:22)

Fourth, showing love towards brethren is one of the evidences to Christians themselves of their regeneration: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” (I John 3:14) One of the indications that you are born again is your love for God and His people.

Fifth, the spiritual growth and the revival of a church hang heavily on Christian love and unity among the members. If Christians fight among themselves and divide themselves into different camps within a church, the spiritual growth of the members will be severely hampered. But when ‘brotherly love’ continues to flow out from the members, spiritual blessings will come to the church and the believers will be greatly encouraged to serve the Lord in unity. Thus the Name of God will be highly honoured both inside and outside of the church.

Sixth, the best testimony to the world that our profession of faith is genuine is by showing love one for another. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) The Gospel we preach will be highly honoured and accepted because the world does not know God and the best testimony we have for those in the world is to manifest that special brotherly affection towards one another.
Therefore ‘brotherly love’ must continue in our midst for it is vital to the spiritual life of every believer.

What are some of the hindrances and obstacles to ‘brotherly love’?

Selfishness is one of the hindrances to ‘brotherly love’. When a person is preoccupied with self-love he will lose sight of the interests of others around him. All that God has blessed him with is used for his own benefit and he never learns how to minister to others with all the riches he has received from God. If ‘brotherly love’ were to continue in the church, self-love must be denied.

Pride is another hindrance to ‘brotherly love’. Do you realise that most of the petty grievances among Christians have their roots in pride? Let us examine some of the characteristics of love and how pride can destroy them.

“Love suffers long” but pride is terribly impatient towards the weaknesses of others.

“Love does not envy” but pride is intensely jealous when someone possesses something that I covet.

“Love seeks not her own” but pride desires and demands constant attention to my selfish needs.

“Love bears all things” but pride is resentful of the slightest injury inflicted upon my feelings.

“Love endures all things” but pride is offended when a brother neglects to greet me at the door on the Lord’s Day!

Unless we learn to graciously ignore all these petty grievances we will never be able to enjoy a loving and blessed body life.

Brotherly love is easily destroyed by overly emphasising certain matters which do not make any difference to our faith; salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone. Every local congregation has her unique practices and traditions and we must not use these as tests of fellowship with brethren from different churches. We show brotherly love to a believer not because he agrees with us 100% on all the practices, but for Christ’s sake and for what we can see of Christ in him. We are obliged to show brotherly love to a person who has the image of Christ stamped upon him as that is how God loves us too.

Impatience or lack of forbearance can easily stop the flow of love among Christians. We often allow other people’s ignorance, temperament, stubbornness, carelessness and all kinds of shortcomings to keep us from loving them. We must never forget that even the most spiritual saints on earth are full of infirmities. The process of perfecting our lives will never end until we are called by God to enter into our heavenly home. The best way to endure the shortcomings of others is to remind ourselves that we, too, are full of faults and failings.

Conclusion
We must be watchful against anything that will break the bond of Christian love in the church. When any misunderstanding or unhappiness against anyone in the community of God’s people exists, we must nip it in the bud and not allow it to blossom since by then, it might be too late to mend the relationship. May we constantly pray to God to shower upon us His grace so that we may be deliberate in performing our moral duty to our fellow Christians in loving each other without hypocrisy and being kind and affectionate to one another with brotherly love.

Dixie Chua
- Dixie is a deaconess of the ‘Fisherman of Christ’ Fellowship and an editor of Fishers.

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