Love Humanity?

Song of Solomon 5:10, “My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.”

Have you ever thought about the statement that we should love humanity? Where does this come from? This blog is a process of figuring it out; a rambling of my thoughts about the statement. If anyone has answers or suggestions to add or take away then please comment.

Isn’t our love for an individual? Do we not love the individual and not “humans” in general? We can give our love to our family, to our friends, and to our neighbors through actions and words. How do you do this for humanity? True love is individualistic, just as Christ has a personal relationship with each of us.

When we get jealous, is it because of humanity or an individual? I know for me it is an individual and I want attention from an individual, and not from humanity. If we started to teach people about the great commandment it would change the world. It tells us to love our neighbors, and not “humanity.” If we took care of our neighbors, there would be no need to love “humanity.” No where in Scripture do I find a commandment telling us to love humanity, but you can search and find many that tell us to love one another as neighbors.

Dr. Peter Kreeft puts it this way, “How comfortable “humanity” is! “Humanity” never shows up at your door at the most inconvenient time. “Humanity” is not quarrelsome, alcoholic, or fanatical. “Humanity” never has the wrong political, religious, and sexual opinions. “Humanity” is never slimy, swarmy, smarmy, smelly, or smutty. “Humanity” is so ideal that one could easily die for it. But to die for your neighbor, to die for Sam Slug or Mehetibel Crotchit—unthinkable. Except for love.”

Take this concept and apply it to the political race or current Christian fads. They both focus on humanity, race or a large group of people and not true personal compassion that comes from loving your neighbor with all their flaws, personality defects, and eccentricities. One is easy to fake or send a dollar to support and feel good about, thinking you are helping the human race. The other takes real personal sacrifice, because you know that you may not receive the appreciation one expects, or some fancy recognition in a plaque for all your donations.

Christ demonstrated this by dying on the cross for each of us. He desires a personal relationship with you and me, individually. He does not treat us as some informal group of people, “humanity,” but as an individual sinner in need of salvation that is offered to each of us as a person and not as a group. When you accept Christ it is for you and not a group of people.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34).