Called to Love
My normal blog posts are scheduled for Sundays and Wednesdays, but I needed to write about this. My heart is hurting. The world feels so heavy right now. Everywhere we look, headlines are filled with violence, division, and heartbreak. We witnessed the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, a husband, father, and unapologetic Christian leader. Iryna Zarutska was murdered simply for existing in the wrong place at the wrong time. Both of which were caught on video and released online for all of us to watch. And once again, our country mourns yet another school shooting in Colorado, where innocent lives were shaken in a place that should have been safe. These tragedies aren’t random dots on a timeline. They are the loud echoes of a world that has lost sight of God’s command: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Instead of love, hate is boiling over. In politics, in our schools, in our neighborhoods, in our homes, and even in the church.
As followers of Jesus, our call is clear. We are not called to match the world’s hate with hate of our own. We are not called to retreat into silence or fear. We are called to love anyway. Hate is easy. It demands nothing but raw emotion and reaction. It thrives on division and fear. It spreads like wildfire through social media comments, headlines, and conversations. Right now, hate feels like it’s everywhere. The enemy would love for us to believe that hate is stronger than love. That evil always wins. That the pain of this world will drown out the goodness of God, but all of that is a lie. The truth is that love is the harder road, but it is also the higher one.
Loving our enemies doesn’t mean agreeing with them. Extending grace doesn’t mean tolerating evil. Jesus never condoned sin, but He did meet sinners with compassion. He dined with tax collectors, healed Roman oppressors’ children, and even prayed forgiveness over the soldiers nailing Him to a cross. That’s not weakness. That’s radical strength. So how we do love in a world that feels consumed by hate? We pray. We lift up the families of Charlie Kirk, Iryna Zarutska, the children and parents in Colorado. Prayer isn’t a cop-out. It’s our direct line to the only One who can heal broken hearts and restore hope. We show up. Love means checking on our neighbors, comforting those who grieve, and serving where we can. It means being present when the world wants us distracted. We speak truth with love. We cannot fight hate with silence, but we also cannot fight hate with more hate. Our voices must point to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the One who offers eternal hope. We live different. When the world expects anger, we respond with grace. When culture says “cancel,” we forgive. When hate rages, we become peacemakers.
Love matters now more than ever. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. We don’t know whose names will be next in the headlines, but we do know that hate will not have the final word. Scripture promises that love is eternal: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). As Christians, we must be people marked by love. Not just in words, not just when it’s easy, but especially when it costs us something. Love may not erase tragedy or undo violence, but love is the only force that can heal, redeem, and push back the darkness. If there’s ever been a time for the Church to rise up in Christ-like love, it’s now. Not love that is watered down or shallow, but love that stands firm in truth, yet overflows with compassion. We cannot afford to look like the world. We cannot join in the shouting matches and finger-pointing. We cannot allow hate to harden our hearts. Instead, let’s commit to being known for the way we love. Let our lives testify that Jesus is still the answer in a world gasping for hope.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the murder of Iryna Zarutska, and the families in Colorado are painful reminders of the brokenness around us, but they are also a wake-up call to the Church. We are not powerless. We are not without hope and we are not without marching orders. Jesus has already told us what to do: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
So let’s be people who choose love, even when the world tells us to hate. Let’s pray, let’s serve, let’s forgive, and let’s live like Christ. Because in the end, love wins.
With those final thoughts… I’m going to end this with a prayer instead of my usual “grace and gratitude” sign off.
Heavenly Father,
Our hearts are heavy as we look at the brokenness around us. The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the murder of Iryna Zarutska, the lives shaken by yet another school shooting. We grieve, Lord. We cry out for justice, for healing, and for peace, but more than anything, we ask You to fill us with Your love. Remind us that hate does not get the final word. You do. Teach us how to live differently, how to show grace when it’s undeserved, how to forgive when it feels impossible, and how to be light in a dark world. Give comfort to the families who mourn. Wrap Your arms around every friend, spouse, child, and community touched by these tragedies. Strengthen Your Church to be bold in truth, unshakable in faith, and overflowing with compassion. Lord, prepare us for what’s ahead. The world may grow darker, but we know You are still sovereign. Make us ready. Not with fear, but with faith. Not with anger, but with courage. Not with hate, but with love.
In Jesus’ powerful name we pray,
Amen.
