All You Need Is Love 你需要的就是愛
When John Lennon wrote this famous song for The Beatles in 1967 it was born out of a growing young hippy movement that was sweeping America. Although many would see this sentiment as just the unrealistic idealistic expression of the ‘flower power’ movement, it was seen by others as a statement reacting strongly against the politics of power and the Vietnam War in particular. We can easily dismiss this particular idea of ‘love’ as no more than an emotional response to the situations current at that time, but when even this basic type of ‘eros’ love is suggested as an alternative politic to the politics of power and force it should prompt us to think more seriously about the unique expression of ‘agape’ love in Christianity as an alternative politic and its relationship to power
When we appreciate the meta-narrative of God’s plans and purposes for the earth and humanity right from his declaration at creation to its final fulfilment in Revelation 21/22 we can begin to understand that God’s mission is far-reaching. He is concerned with how the world and its nations can be saved. It is not a small rescue mission to save the righteous few but a ‘tour de force’ to renew and restore the world. But right at the centre of this alternative politic is agape love in the work of the cross. And it is here at the cross that the whole politics is revealed as a reversal and defeat of the politics of power by love. It is not a rebellious uprising of righteous anger against injustice creating a bloody power struggle but a powerful defeating and disarming of the powers of darkness. It is on the fragile hinge of Christ’s struggle on the cross that the whole future of the world turns. It is the power of God’s love in Christ that keeps him nailed there in this agonising bloody battle. It was in the end a supreme act of strength and victory disguised to the watching world as weakness and defeat, To the Jewish and Roman authorities it must have seemed like ‘Job done; problem solved’ on Friday night. But Monday morning revealed the true cosmic force of what had really taken place. The good news of the kingdom of God had been released on earth in power and the alternative politics of love began to take shape in the church.
The politics of Jesus are the politics of love, but let’s forget about the emotional and idealistic versions of ‘eros’ and ‘phileo’ love. Instead, let’s consider a love that struggles to turn the other cheek and pray for our enemies in the face of injustice. One that maintains a firm assurance of faith and hopefulness when faced with adversity and controlling spirits. One that aspires to non-violence and truthfulness when faced with political correctness and dogma. One that suffers and laments with the world of sin in its brokenness. Yes, Christianity is an alternative politic that speaks to power but it is also non-partisan and not ‘up for grabs’ to any modern-day zealot who would want to manipulate it for their own cause. It is Christ’s and Christ’s alone. He paid the ransom price and he alone speaks for it.
約翰．連儂（John Lennon）在1967年為披頭四（The Beatles）寫下這首名曲《你需要的就是愛》（All You Need Is Love），當時正值美國掀起的一陣嬉皮風潮。不少人認為這嬉皮風潮其實是「權力歸花兒運動」（flower power movement）某種不現實的理想化表達，但也有人認為嬉皮風潮是源於人們對越南戰爭之權力政治的強烈反對。我們可能會以為這裏所談的「愛」（love），只是一種對當時處境的情感回應，但若然連這種基本的愛慾（eros）也能成為對抗政治權力的一種可能，那麼，我們怎能不去更認真想想，基督教那獨特的神聖之愛（agape），可以成為一種怎樣的可能，以及其與權力的關係？
由上帝在創造時的宣告，一直到啟示錄的終局，在這宏大敍事中，我們能看到祂創造世界的計劃和目的，而且也會明白到祂的使命是影響深遠的。祂關注世界和其中的各國可以怎樣得到救贖。這不是一個小小的拯救計劃，只救義人，而是一個要更新和恢復世界的壯舉。而這另一種的政治的核心，就正是釘十架的神聖之愛。正是在這十字架上，顯明了一種顛覆，因為愛勝過了權力的政治。這不是造反，不是起義，不是為對抗不義而引發血淋淋的權力鬥爭；而是有力地擊敗那黑暗的權勢。正是基督在十字架上的掙扎，這個不堪一擊的舉動，使得全世界的整個未來給翻轉過來。正是上帝愛的力量，在基督裏支持著祂，使祂能忍耐這被釘的過程，這痛苦萬分、血淋淋的戰場。旁觀一切的人，或會認為這個舉動很軟弱、是基督被打敗了；而然這背後卻隱藏著上帝行動的力量和勝利。對猶太和羅馬的權貴而言，星期五晚上看來「已將問題解決了」，然而到了星期一早上，他們才赫然發現真正發生的是甚麼事。神國度的好消息已然臨到地上，而「愛」這另一種的政治可能也已開始在教會裏成形。
耶穌的政治就是愛的政治，但讓我們先放下關於「愛慾」和「友愛」（phileo）這些情感和理想主義的愛。試想像一種掙扎的愛——面對不公義，但我們願意將另一邊臉也轉過來，為仇敵禱告。即使面對逆境和操控的靈，這種愛仍帶著確信，帶著盼望。面對政治正確的需要和教條之時，這種愛指向非暴力和真理。面對世界的罪惡和破碎，這種愛也同樣受苦，一同哀悼。是的，基督教是另一種與權勢對話的可能，但它不是一個黨派，亦不是一種任由現今的奮銳黨操控以達到自己目的之工具。這只關乎基督，祂付了贖價，只有祂能作主。
