The Zone of Love in Sex, Politics, Money, and Religion

Sex first, of course. It can be one of God's easy-to-have-fun-with creations. When a man and woman properly married to each other make love to each other, they're in the zone of love. They can have fun AND do good to each other, as God meant it to be. Love is more than fun; love does good. Any other sex at BEST offers a distorted, limited form of love. Sex outside marriage, instead of saying "I love you," says "You're not worth keeping." Love includes respect. Perverted sex says "The human race is not worth keeping." Sex that breaks marriage vows says "You can't trust me, I can't trust you, and my spouse can't trust me." Divorce, and refusal of sex within marriage (except for reasons such as adultery or attempted murder) refuses love; it breaks promises. If someone sold you a car, and later took back the engine, would he be loving you? Godly marriage puts sex inside a much wider zone of love, doing good in many ways.

People who have wrecked sex can "repent" and get back into the zone of love; read on.

Christians argue about what "love" in politics may mean, but if you look at Jesus I think it's pretty clear. Jesus himself paid for His own program, giving even His life; He DIED to pay for HIS OWN good ideas. So when politicians 'crucify' taxpayers for fancy programs, they're doing the opposite of what Jesus did; they're outside the zone of love. Plenty of good Christians disagree, but that's what I think. As with sex, those in politics who sin against love can "repent" and get back into the zone of love.

The zone of love in money and moneymaking? When I do a good job and my boss pays me, or my customers pay me, we're helping--loving--each other. When I find a good deal on a burger or a car, I'm helping the seller with money and the seller is helping me get what I want. But stealing, defrauding (getting money by lying and breaking agreements), slavery (forcing someone else to work for you), even high taxes (political slavery), are outside the zone of love. When two people agree to help each other in a good way, or when one freely helps another without getting paid for it, they can be in the zone of love; but when one person steals good things from another, the thief is NOT loving his victim.

The zone of love in religion? Look at Jesus Christ. Jesus "died for our sins;" can you imagine volunteering to be executed in the place of a guilty criminal? He loves us so much he died for us. Marx and Mohammed, Buddha and Gandhi, Rand and Rockefeller simply died; but Jesus died for us, loving us. And they all stayed dead, but Jesus rose up alive from the dead; the grave where folks buried him is empty. That's love with power. They all came like anyone else, but God promised the coming of Jesus thousands of years before he was born. They were born and lived like other people, but until Jesus was born his mother was a virgin, and Jesus did "miracles"--healed sick people without medicine. That's love with power, the power of God the Creator of heavens and earth. Whoever lines up with Jesus Christ lives and works in the zone of love. Follow Jesus. Start now. Press on if you have started. Let your love be like His.

People who do wrong, who have not yet lined up with Jesus, "repent"--stop doing wrong, and ask Jesus to forgive your wrongdoing, make things as right as you can for the people you've hurt, and do right instead of wrong. Where the love of God in Jesus is really at work, people really love each other. Churches that worship Jesus are supposed to show this. Since churches are full of people, we don't always live perfectly in the zone of love; but churches do show and teach love, so join one. (Or two or three.) There's much more to learn about God's love for us in Jesus Christ, and our love for one another by God's Holy Spirit, than this little paper can tell you. (The Bible tells more.) Make a good Christian group teach you.