Loveless Christianity is lifeless. Although it’s spiritually powerless, its focus on pride and self-righteousness can effectively coerce people into compliance and blind allegiance.

Historically, loveless Christianity and other forms of loveless religion have been used to justify all types of evil and cruelty. Some examples are manipulation, lying, bullying, unproven accusations, insults, revenge, bitterness, hatefulness, human rights violations, prejudice, human trafficking known as slavery, genocide, violent conquest and colonialism, segregation known as apartheid or Jim Crow, torture, massacres, gas chambers, the Ku Klux Klan, burning people at the stake, lynching, voter suppression, the Crusades, targeting civilians in war, and on and on.

The Pharisees even used their loveless religion to attempt to justify their efforts to have Jesus crucified. Jesus said: “What you do to the least of these you do unto Me.” Throughout the centuries, loveless Christianity has abused and mistreated Jesus in far too many ways to count.

Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, put it this way: “Without love, I am nothing.” Love is tested the most when you are being mistreated. That’s why Jesus said: “Love your enemies; bless those who curse you.” That’s why He emphasized mercy, forgiveness, forgiveness and turning the other cheek. However, it’s much easier to settle for and hide behind powerless religion.