Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 5
William Law’s line, “It is not Christian love until it is the love of all,” pushes beyond loving fellow believers; which categories of people do you instinctively exclude from “all,” and how does that exclusion reveal what kind of God you assume God is toward them?
Another way to ask: William Law says it’s not Christian love unless it includes everyone. Who do you tend to leave out of “everyone,” and what does that show about how you think God feels toward them?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript pushes “all” to include not only brothers and neighbors but also personal enemies and even “enemies of our nation.” When we instinctively exclude any group, the speaker would say it reveals we may not really believe God shows goodness broadly (sun and rain) or that Jesus truly commands love for everyone.
- William Law: “It is not Christian love until it is the love of all.”
- The speaker applies “brother” widely: if someone “hates his brother…neighbor…[or] enemy…he is a liar,” quoting 1 John’s logic.
- He explicitly extends it: love “our personal enemy… and… the enemies of our nation,” saying “we’re supposed to love everybody.”
- Matthew 5:43–47 is central: “Love your enemy…Bless those who curse you…pray for those who spitefully use you.”
- He argues God’s character is shown in common grace: God “makes the sun rise on the evil…sends rain on the just and the unjust,” even on those who “openly…worship a false God.”