If we cannot give love, then we have not yet fully received God’s love. We cannot separate love for neighbor from love for God. It is of the same piece. If we are being unloving toward our neighbor, then we are being unloving toward God. To reject our brothers or sisters is to reject God. Compartmentalized love is the sanctuary of the hypocrite. It is a duplicity that denies our full embrace of God’s love for us. We have not discovered it, do not understand it, do not appreciate it, until we practice love for all.
Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20 (NRSV)
