We are compelled by Love.

The core of our ethic as Christians is Love.

We confess that God is Love (1 John 3:16). Jesus said, “For God so loved the world He gave his only Son (John 3:16). We know that we are to love because we have first been loved (1 John 4:19). Jesus makes it clear that the world will know us by our love (John 13:35). “The love of Christ compels me…” St. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:14, and he also tell us that the law is summed up in love (Gal 5:14), and he says in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Jesus tells us to love God, love our neighbour, and to love our enemies, to do what is good, want what is good, and to do to others what you would have them do to you.

The point is that Love is central to our faith. The life of Jesus is the life of self-giving love from the incarnation to the cross, to even now pouring out His love into our hearts by the Spirit (Romans 5:5), and if we are not marked by love then we are missing something. St. Paul says that if we don’t have love, it is all just noise (1 Cor 13:2).

Love isn't sentimentalism, good feelings, blanket tolerance, and acceptance. Love is desiring what God calls good for all. It is desiring God’s definition of the best and working towards that. It is meeting the needs of the total person: body, mind, and soul. Love is mission and justice. It is living a life that aims at not just at avoiding harm but proactively producing good. Love is willing and working for the good of another.

Love begins first in the Church and then moves out. It starts in how we act towards our Christian brothers and sisters as St Pauls tells us in Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Those of the household of faith: that is the church. Our love is directed here first and then to the world. We must take care of our people; we bear the burdens of each other in love and disciple each other. It is love that should compel us to be odd compared to the world in our level of care,  in showing up, in LoveKW. Without love, we miss the point.

Other Distinctives: Rooted in History, Formed in the Disciplines, Empowered by the Spirit, Charismatic in Expression