#75: What is Love?
You may be familiar with Ms. Rachel’s controversial comments last year during the United States’ 2024 Gay Pride month. This month I share Tim Barnett’s response. For those who don’t know Tim or Ms. Rachel, let me briefly tell you who they are.
Tim is a Christian apologist with the ministry Stand to Reason (str.org). I shared some of his videos in the past. For example, earlier this year we examined his response to a skeptic’s belief that all religions are true (pluralism). I like Tim’s approach (and short video format!) because he starts with a skeptic’s claim, listens to what the person says, and then responds in a respectful manner. Is this not what we should all do . . . listen, be sure we understand the claim, and then respond with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15)?
For those of you who do not have little children or reside outside the U.S., you may not know Ms. Rachel. She is a popular YouTuber. She stars in toddler and pre-school learning videos. [1] For those of us who were toddlers “last century”, she is the modern-day Mr. Rogers. Her audience is large, very large. The video provided in the footnote has almost 75 million views during the last three months. She has an enormous parental following and wields huge influence on our youngest generation.
I do not know Ms. Rachel’s worldview or religious beliefs. She says she shares prayers on social media because “my faith is really important to me” and cites Matthew 22 in the video we are about to watch. Perhaps she claims to be Christian.
However, the message she posted last summer on TikTok concerning her love of neighbor [2] is not consistent with Scripture. She said, “Happy pride to all of our wonderful families and friends. I’m so glad you’re exactly who you are . . . God bless . . . I’m standing strong in love.”
It is not surprising that many of her Christian viewers objected. Ms. Rachel then responded to the criticism. It is her reaction that Tim examines. His response is in this video entitled, “Ms Rachel Gets THIS Wrong about Biblical Love” (~3 minutes):
Once again, I believe Tim responds respectively, but firmly (unlike, unfortunately, too many other self-professed Christians on social media). He listens and then focuses on her view of love. He appears to assume that she is Christian based on her Matthew 22 citation. Whether she is or not, the points that Tim makes about the Scriptural view of love are worth repeating and remembering.
• To follow Jesus’ command to love your neighbor . . . of course, includes your LGBT neighbor.
• Rachel seems to think, [though], that loving your neighbor somehow trumps God’s other moral commands and this a huge mistake.
• After Jesus gave the two great commandments to love God and to love your neighbor, he says this, “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:40).
• The command to love God and to love your neighbor summarizes what the Law and the Prophets were all about.
• John said, “and this is love: that we walk according to his commandments” (2 John 1:6).
• John also said, “we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments” (1 John 5:2).
• Real love for neighbor . . . doesn’t compromise truth. [As] Paul says, “love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor 13:6).
The fundamental difference between Christians who agree with Tim and self-professed Christians who side with Ms. Rachel, involves understanding and belief in the authority of Scripture. Some Christians, like skeptics, are often selective in their choice of Biblical citations and fail to recognize the context or comprehensive moral teaching reflected throughout the Bible.
The fundamental difference between genuine Christians and skeptics on this issue involves our differing worldviews. We Christians see the world through the lens of Scripture and revere our Lord and Savior above any worldly idol or moral standard; skeptics claim the source of truth lies elsewhere . . . usually within themselves.
Tim concludes: Real love for neighbor . . . doesn’t compromise truth. Rather it lets our neighbor live in harmony with the truth.
In Christ, Doug
Academic & Military Outreach Director
“Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect . . .” 1 Peter 3:15
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[1] A recent example of Ms. Rachel’s teaching videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_Aq4H03Nm4
[2] Ms. Rachel’s video message to her LGTBQ viewers: https://www.tiktok.com/@msrachelforlittles/video/7375545766976294186?lang=en