You probably know the song that begins:

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world! (Lyrics by Herbert Woolston)

I sometimes hear the lyrics as "God loves the children, all the children of the world," and then as, "God loves the people, all the people of the world." The love of God is not conditional. It is transformational and love can be heartbreaking as well. To love so fully leaves us, and God, vulnerable to loss, grief, and even betrayal.

            People who espouse love as fundamental to life-who see love as the most accurate description of God-face a challenge. How seriously are we going to take this image that "God so loves the world" (from John 3:16) and all the people? What will we do with that way of seeing life and of seeing God?

If we're serious about seeing God as unconditional love, then we need to do something about the labels that divide us. Let's get rid of the divisions that result in intolerance between Christians and Muslims and Jews, and Buddhists and Hindus, and atheists. If God really is love, then God loves us primarily in our humanity and not so much because of our religiosity or our philosophy. That's the secret of the incarnation of God in Jesus, and in us-in all of us

            That which was unique in Jesus-that led his followers to call him Son of God and then, later, God the Son-was fully present in his humanity. His divinity cannot separate him from us, but rather can only draw us to him--not limited by our religious language, but empowered by our common humanity.

Thanks for continuing to bless me as we journey together.  

--Jack F. Price

To read more by Jack, be sure to order your copy of Finding Faith: Honest Answers about God, the Bible, and the Church Today at:  www.findingfaithnow.com or www.lulu.com/buy (download available)

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