Love Corinthians Style: Rejoice in Truth Not in Wrong Doing

Written By Melvin Jones

So far we have looked at a couple of aspects of Love. We have determined that it is patient and it is not arrogant. And while this one doesn't sound nearly as exciting as some of the other qualities of love, we're going to look at the fact that Love does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6).

So what exactly does this somewhat nebulous phrase mean? Let's take a look at it and see what we might see.

The word "rejoice" is pretty obvious. It means to be glad, or to have joy because of something. It goes on to say that love does not rejoice in wrong doing. So what are we talking about here?

Let's go back in history a little bit. The state of Alabama had a governor by the name of George Wallace. He was, as far as anyone could tell, one mean fellow. When Blacks were marching in the various cities of Alabama, he made it clear that he did not want anything to do with integration. He called Blacks names, he approved of them getting blasted with water from fire hoses, and he had no problem with them being attacked by police dogs. And these were people who were peacefully insisting on their rights as citizens.

Fast-forward about fifteen years. George Wallace is now running for president. While campaigning, a would-be assassin slips in close, and fires several rounds into Wallace's body. Should we, as Christians, whether we are Black or White, have rejoiced when we heard the news? Or should we have prayed for him?

Unfortunately many of us rejoiced that he had gotten his "comeuppance." And that is only human.

But God calls us to more than simply giving in to our human nature. According to this section of 1 Corinthians, we should not have rejoiced. Rather we should have been saddened by the horrendous act committed by his assassin and the difficulties inflicted on Wallace.

Yes, he was a mean man. But as a Christian, I am called to love those who would persecute others. That love is not based on my approval or disapproval of the subject's behavior, just as God's love was not based on Paul's behavior (remember, he rounded up Christians, threw them in jail and had some of them killed - Acts 9:1), and just as God's love for us is not based on our behavior (Romans 5:8).

And when Governor Wallace professed faith in Jesus Christ, how many within the church rejoiced at that, even when his behavior changed, and stayed changed until the day he died? 1 Corinthians 13:6 says that we should rejoice in the truth. And if the truth was that he accepted Jesus Christ, then we, even as the angels do, should rejoice in that. But many of us did just the opposite.

And we do the same in our everyday lives. Perhaps I know someone who is particularly obnoxious. They get a really nice car and insist on bragging about it. I resent them and the car God has seen fit to allow them to possess.

Later on, I hear that the car was stolen and stripped for parts. The only thing left was the chassis, part of the transmission, and the axle. What's my reaction? Am I glad because bozo boy's car was stolen because it serves him right? Or am I concerned because a thief took the car? If I am practicing love, and if God's Spirit is taking more and more control of me, I will be saddened at the loss. In fact, if God's Spirit had been controlling me when my friend got the car, I could have been genuinely happy for him, even if he behaved like something of a jerk.

Love rejoices in the truth. But what does it mean to rejoice in the truth? Going back to George Wallace, the Governor of Alabama, was I happier when he was put in a wheelchair, or when he professed Jesus as his Savior? Guess which one the Bible says I should have been happy about? That's right. It says I should have been happy when he professed Jesus Christ as his savior. If nothing else, if the profession was sincere, that means there is one less soul that will spend an eternity in hell. It's one more demonstration of God's ability to save what some would consider even the worst of sinners.