The highest value in the Christian faith is loving relationships. This is difficult to understand when peering into the faith today because so many people love to hate people which they hate. In other words, people can't stand each other in and out of the faith. This is sad because Jesus taught his followers to go the second mile and love the people they hate. We are commanded to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44-46), which, if applied correctly, will produce a character trait known as "creativity" where Christian Character Counts.
It's ironic to see people who are considered creative in our world today. Typically, we call people who are over or underachievers creative. Underachievers are often identified as visionary, imaginative, and revolutionary in their theoretical or fantasy posture. Perhaps creative, but with no action, they quickly become loafers. In opposition, the overachievers are seen as workaholics, workhorses, and busy bees in their acting and performing stance. They are also possibly creative; however, with wrong beliefs and menacing tactics, in their wake, people are left as shark bait and often hurt. Too many Christians have lost sight of creativity, suffer unnecessarily from the world's interpretation, and have lost the Love that follows.
Jesus, with his straightforward command, "Love your enemy," invites all Christ-followers to be creative in their newfound life. Because all people are created in God's image, they all have abilities that can be used in various roles—not just in the so-called creative positions the world deems feasible. Creativity in God's reality enables and empowers people to generate new or innovative ideas that bring God's truth into existence, even into our enemies' lives. Just like God, we get to turn dreams into reality which everyone benefits from His Love (1 John 4:8). As most can surmise, creativity invites us, our neighbors and enemies, into God's radical Love.
Creativity is a virtue of Christ. Therefore, we must seek the things Jesus sought after to create the trait of creativity. What are they? They include wisdom, justice, temperance, and courage, to name a few. For example, to integrate understanding and wisdom into our lives, we must intentionally go after knowledge to become creative. Wisdom begins with God as "The fear of the LORD." which creates a learning and open attitude to lead, align, and move a person in God's Spirit of Love. This Love then allows us to love not only our neighbor but our enemy as well.
Today choose to bridge the gap between belief and action with creativity to love the world as God loves it (John 3:16). Love is the only thing that fuels true creativity and increases the goodness of God. If creativity is missing from your reality, perhaps it's time to stop how you think about it, dispute it, and induct God's way of loving into your existence. It's guaranteed if you do, life will get better, reflecting more of Christ and increasing Love by loving those you hate where Christian Character Counts.
With Love,