How Deep Is Your Love?

"Part of it has to do with trying to get beyond the labels. What we're really talking about, I think, is a certain kind of moral clarity and a certain kind of moral courage, and a certain kind of genuine moral compassion. And it comes from a variety of different traditions, so that we don't want to get too obscure in our discourse, and not really just put on the table something that's very simple. How deep is your love? What is the quality of your service to others? Are you concerned about those on the margins, or do we define a catastrophe only when it relates to investment bankers and Wall Street elites, as opposed to the precious children in chocolate cities? Or white children in Appalachia? Or red children in Navajo reservations? What are we going to do? What are we willing to risk? What costs are we willing to actually undergo? You can't be a Christian, if you're not willing to pick up your cross. And, in the end, be crucified on it. That's the bottom line. The rest of it just sounding brass and tinkling symbols. How deep is your love?"
-- Cornel West

I was listening to Bill Moyer's Journal this morning while riding my bike. This is probably an unsafe activity, but it helps me be a more informed person. Listening to Dr. West talk about what makes a Christian is truly inspiring and is pushing me back toward religion. I hope it's not as fleeting as most things that pass through my head.

In a lot of ways, I feel like religious justification for love and justice were easier. This is because religious folks tend to just buy what you are selling without much question. If you can convince someone that God wants this or that, there is no more need for argument. There is much less heartbreak and frustration. But, that's not how the world works. People have beliefs and if we are going to fight for love and justice, then we need to engage with and challenge those beliefs, as much as we might not like to.

One of the things that Dr. West talks about often is this notion of sacrifice. How much are you willing to give for love? I think the question is about authenticity. You claim to love, but do you really? Would you give up an hour a week? Would you give up a month? Would you give up your life? Ultimately, isn't that the story of Jesus? Sacrifice and selflessness is the antithesis to capitalistic greed. How deep is my love?