Understanding Love as the Heart of Faith and Ethics
The law of love in the Bible refers to the concept that loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself fulfills all the other commandments. This principle is established by Jesus in the Gospels and expanded upon by the Apostle Paul, who stated in Romans 13:8-10 that love is the sum of the law because it prevents harm to others.
If you’ve ever wondered what it truly means to live by the “law of love,” you’re tapping into a core idea found in the heart of Christianity and many other ethical systems: love your neighbor as yourself. At its root, this “law” is about selfless, unconditional love—caring about the well-being of others, offering support and healing, and treating everyone with respect, simply because it’s the right thing to do.
Let’s break down how this principle stands in contrast to things like slavery, Christian nationalism, and certain forms of conservative politics.
What Is the Law of Love?
The law of love is simple but profound: love God, and love others as yourself. Jesus summed up the commandments with these words, and the apostle Paul echoed them, saying that love fulfills all laws—if you’re truly loving your neighbor, you won’t harm them in any way.
· Selfless action: Doing good for others without expecting something in return.
· Healing and support: Looking out for others and helping them flourish.
· Non-transactional: Love isn’t about what you get back—it’s about giving freely.
Why Slavery Goes Against the Law of Love
Slavery is the exact opposite of loving your neighbor. It’s about owning, controlling, and abusing others for personal benefit. It treats people as property, not as fellow humans with dignity and worth. In practice, slavery inflicts immense suffering, divides societies, and ignores the basic call to see every person as a neighbor to be loved.
When Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you,” there’s no exception for people of a certain skin color, language, or background. The law of love means upholding the freedom, dignity, and well-being of all—slavery does the opposite.
Christian Nationalism and the Law of Love
Christian nationalism is the idea of blending Christian identity with national identity, often insisting that a country should privilege one religion over others. This mindset divides people into “us” and “them”—insiders and outsiders—based on faith, nationality, or ethnicity.
But the law of love tears down those walls. Jesus taught that “neighbor” includes everyone, even people who are different from us or whom society might call outsiders. When policies or attitudes encourage exclusion, discrimination, or superiority, they stand in stark contrast to the inclusive, boundary-breaking nature of the law of love.
Conservative Politics and the Law of Love
Conservative politics covers a wide spectrum, and not all conservative ideas are inherently opposed to love. However, some policies or attitudes that become associated with conservative politics—such as restricting help to the poor, resisting reforms that would support marginalized groups, or prioritizing tradition over compassion—can run counter to the law of love.
The law of love calls people to put the well-being of others at the center, especially those who are vulnerable or suffering. When political actions or beliefs lead to the neglect or harm of others, they stray from the path Jesus describes.
What Living the Law of Love Looks Like
Living out the law of love isn’t just a religious idea—it’s a way of being in the world that:
· Guides us to treat everyone with kindness, honesty, and respect.
· Helps us see people, not as threats or problems, but as worthy of compassion and support.
· Encourages us to grow spiritually by expanding our love beyond our comfort zones.
In Summary
The law of love stands against anything that dehumanizes, divides, or neglects others—whether that’s slavery, exclusionary nationalism, or unkind policies. It’s a call to radical compassion and self-giving, seeing every person as a neighbor and acting for their good without concern for personal gain.
If we truly want to follow the law of love, we’ll find ourselves working toward a world where everyone is free, valued, and included.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 