Hollywood Love? I Think Not
By Melissa Maakestad
A short drive from the glitz and glam of the Hollywood hills is a church.
It’s a small church but a church driven by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The church does not have celebrities among its congregation. It is made up of people who are searching – yearning for more to this life than anything Hollywood has to offer.
But they can and will learn about the most important relationship they will ever have.
In this church people will be confronted by the truth but they will also be welcomed and loved for who they are.
No one here will boast about million dollar movie contracts or an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show.
The paparazzi eagerly walk up and down Rodeo Drive waiting to capture a shot of a celebrity. But across town you will find Pastor Bruce Callahan on his knees crying out to God for those in his church or witnessing on a college campus to students who believe that the answers to success in life lie in education.
This to me is an example of biblical love.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 says: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
In other words, love is sacrificial and humble. Love is not buying your way through life and into people’s lives and hearts.
Love is not about having the latest and greatest of everything.
Love is supporting your husband or wife. Love is providing for your children’s needs.
Love is living within your means. Love is picking up the single mother with two kids for church.
No, the paparazzi will never follow the Callahans around trying to capture their every move and shopping trip.
But someone far greater is watching their every move and ours, to see if we are living out that First Corinthians love.
God is not looking for us to become rich and famous, or to live as if we are rich and famous.
God has simply called us to love others with a biblical love.
To be patient, kind, humble, truthful and trusting with the family of God and with those who come into the family of God. And, of course, with our own families.
What version of love are you displaying for the world to see?
It may seem simplistic and basic but we all need a reminder about living out God’s version of biblical love.
It’s far too easy to become ensnared with wanting all the materialistic things the world has to offer us as its version of love.
Love is not found in having things like money and fame. It’s found in how we live our lives.