John is known for writing about love. He expresses what love is in many ways. Love for Jesus is shown by obeying his commands (John 14:15). If someone is in authority over you, then you love them by obeying commands that they have the authority to give. He also says that there is no greater love than laying down your life for your friends (John 15:13). If you give of yourself for your friends, even if it hurts you, is loving your friends. You have given up something precious and put others ahead of yourself. This is also love.
After the resurrection, when Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him, he told Peter to feed his lambs (John 21:25). So love is shown to a person by taking care of people for whom the person cares also. You can love a person by loving their children or parents or someone else they care about.
Love is also expressed by taking care of a persons needs (1 John 3:17). One may express love by giving food or clothing to someone who is needy, or by listening to someone who needs to talk or is lonely.
It is clear that John believes that love is shown through actions. It is shown through obeying, feeding, listening, or whatever action is called for to love a person in a particular situation. He also says it explicitly here:
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1John 3:18
It struck me today while reading 2John that while he is known for writing about love, he is very stern about correct doctrine. We're fed the lie that love is shown by accepting everyone without arguing over doctrine; it is exclusionary and discriminatory to judge the beliefs of others. Read what John says in 2 John 9:
Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God. 2 John 9
Wow. If you don't continue in the proper teaching then you do not have God. If you don't have God then your sins are not forgiven and you are going to hell. Doesn't really fit into the modern concept of love, does it?
