Hymns about Christian Love

Christian love is the grace-formed affection and holy action that flows from God's love toward us in Christ. It is more than sentiment: it bears, believes, hopes, and endures; it seeks the good of neighbor and brother; it forgives as we have been forgiven. Theologically, love is the fulfilling of the law and the mark by which disciples are known. It begins with the love of God shed abroad in the heart and expresses itself in patience, kindness, purity, and truth. Without love, even impressive gifts and zeal become empty noise.

Hymns of Christian love plead for warmer affection toward God and more sincere charity toward others. They may meditate on the love that sought us when we were lost, or exhort the church to walk in love as Christ loved us. Themes of unity, mercy, reconciliation, and self-denial appear often, for love is tested in ordinary relationships as much as in grand deeds. Some hymns are intimate prayers; others are congregational vows to prefer one another. Because love can be misunderstood as mere niceness, the best texts keep love joined to holiness and to the Cross, where love is defined by sacrifice rather than by ease.

In worship these songs prepare for Communion, for peacemaking, and for sending the church into works of mercy. They challenge cold orthodoxy and shallow emotion alike. In devotion they become examinations of conscience: Am I longsuffering? Am I envious? Do I rejoice in truth? Teachers use them to open the great love chapter and the new commandment. Sung honestly, Christian-love hymns ask for the Spirit's fruit and point again to the Savior whose love constrains us.