I watch a lot of motorsports. I watch several racing championships around the globe and have a favorite driver or few in each one. Yet, of all my favorite drivers, Scott Dixon is my favorite. Why? He is a modest New Zealander that showed an immense turn of speed in a car, and now he is in 2nd place on the all-time wins list and championship list of IndyCar. The first-place guy retired, so Scott still has a chance to take the number 1 spot away from him. At any rate, in this generation, Scott Dixon is the greatest to set foot in an IndyCar! He seldom makes a mistake; he thinks through a race, and he knows when to save fuel, when to save tires, and when to push. He's the best at saving fuel of anyone. Scott also knows when to attempt to pass another driver and when to patiently sit behind him and wait for the other driver to make a mistake.
Off the track, he's a gentleman, has a nice family, and is devoted to his wife and children. He takes time for the fans and appreciates their support. One time after a terrifying accident he was involved in, a little girl wrote IndyCar thanking them for making the car safe, so Scott survived. Scott visited her home and gave her several gifts as a thank-you. Also, he's so chill; in the accident the girl wrote about, his car went upside down and landed on a wall; the wall missed his head by only a few feet; we so nearly lost him that day; it was terrifying to watch. He calmly climbed out, and when he was given a clean bill of health, he agreed to do an interview, and calmly with his Kiwi accent, said, "I'm so gutted for my team; they built me such a fast car." He's also humble; when you ask why he's so good, he says something like, "It's the team! They do so well, and I'm the lucky guy who gets to drive the car." If you ask the team, they respond, "It's Scott; he's absolutely incredible!"
Why did I tell you all this? Because I wanted to, I love Scott Dixon, but not with great love. Just a fanboy love. Ultimately, fanboy love is very shallow. When Dixon retires, if I'm still watching Indycar, I will probably pick a new driver and not give him that much thought other than the occasional nostalgic memory of how good he was. It's more based on what he can do for me than anything else.
I love my customers! No matter what they believe or what kind of sin they are in, I want to accept them just like they are and sell them whatever they want. I'm not here to tell them how to live; I'm here to sell them what they want. Ok, I exaggerate a little to make a point. Obviously, we will not be a party to anything illegal in business. This is tolerant love. It informs me that the most loving thing I can do for another person is to let them come and stay as they are.
There's one problem, though, this kind of love doesn't call a person to transcend to their fullest potential in this life or the next. So, how loving is it actually? Are we sure it's a good idea for churches to compromise Jesus' teachings on how to live and what sin is to accept more people? Is it worth being seeker-friendly or tolerant if it means that a person stays stuck in whatever deformed version of themselves they are? Is it worth being seeker friendly if the person's eternal well-being is compromised? Either on the treasures in Heaven that Jesus said to "lay up for yourselves" (Matthew 6:20) or, even worse, missing Heaven? Is tolerance worth it? Are we sure?
I love my wife and daughter! I won't necessarily give them everything they want. Still, I want to do my best to provide them the best. My wife reciprocates this and is better at it than I am, but we both pale compared to God's ability to love like this. This is unselfish love. It's what God has given us; not only are the laws of God the way he wants us to live, it is the best, most fulfilling, and most peaceful way to live. As if the laws weren't enough of a gift, he saved us and sent his Spirit to help us live the best life.
So, three kinds of love...
The fanboy: I love what Jesus does for me.
The tolerant: I accept Jesus because I think he will accept me too.
The unselfish: No matter what the cost, I will be a disciple of Jesus.
What kind of love is best?
-Loren
