Greater love declaration

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). This verse reveals to us the very essence of Christianity. For at its heart is a self-denying, self-sacrificial love.

It is demonstrated in history by the Lord Jesus. He did not lay down His life for friends only, but for His enemies! As our pioneer, we His followers are called to show this sacrificial love in our marriages, in singleness, in friendship, in family, in the church and towards wider society.

It is a quality of love that reflects something of the joyful, self-giving, sacrificial love of the Trinity, where the Father, the Son, and the Spirit willingly and mutually love and take delight in each other. It is a love that is far and away superior to all other forms.

Yet, all around us, people are being sold the lie that true love is found in self-fulfilment and self-satisfaction. This is the story of the sexual revolution, which claimed it was offering ‘free love’ that would remove the outdated, puritanical shackles of the past so people were free to love how they wanted, when they wanted.

Even secular writers are now admitting the fatal flaws in this philosophy. The results of it are all around us. Marriage has been undermined. People’s identity has become wrapped up in their sexuality. Leading politicians cannot say who a woman is. At its heart, the sexual revolution was a rejection of God and the promotion of a philosophy rooted in paganism.

What we’ve ended up with is a selfrighteous relativism. But it is superficially relative. The same voices who say ‘it’s your truth that matters’ also insist you must agree with their own version of morality. It has fuelled the rise and triumph of the modern self, as Carl Truman so helpfully explains in his recent book. We live in a ‘me first’ culture. Self-fulfilment and self-satisfaction are the governing principles of our time.

One of the tragic results of all this is that the true Christian sexual ethic is now even viewed as harmful by some. And the UK Government is actively considering introducing laws to ban so called ‘conversion therapy’, which threaten to stop Christians teaching what the Bible says about marriage, sex, and identity.

Prepared to speak out

Set against this background, there are those ministers and church leaders who are prepared to speak out. Last year, more than 2,500 leaders signed a letter to the Secretary of State about the prospect of a conversion therapy ban. In it, they graciously but clearly articulated an orthodox Christian view.

Now, some of the authors of that letter have helped launch the Greater Love Declaration. It is a series of statements, reflecting the Christian teaching on the inherent goodness of what God’s word says about marriage, sexuality, and identity. The authors are aiming to unite church leaders and pastoral workers behind the Declaration.

Part of the group’s plan to mobilise the church is holding a conference on 16 November from 10am to 3pm, most likely at the East London Tabernacle in Mile End, London. Speakers will take up the theme of the greater love Christ calls us into. Can I urge you to attend?

My prayer is that many leaders will not only sign the Declaration, but also commit to teaching their churches on these vital issues. It’s no longer enough to simply articulate what the Bible says. We need to expound our culture’s story, show its weaknesses, and persuade people that God’s design and purposes are the better story our society desperately needs to hear.

The Greater Love Declaration can be found here: www.greaterlove.org.uk