The contrast between militarized police responses and community police responses could not be more stark. The cities with militarized responses are burning, by and large. The cities with police chiefs who JOINED the protests and talked with people are not, by and large.

The simple affirmation of humanity, dignity, legitimate complaint and hurt has potential to transform potential conflict into powerful community. Love does that. And love was always meant to be married to authority, guiding authority by its redemptive vision.

Among the many challenges and questions that face our troubled nation and works today, the most urgent and fundamentalist this: Will we find courage, strength and faith to love one another—especially those in authority? We’re doomed with love. We have a chance at survival with it

We have an administration fluent in the language of power but mute and deaf to the language of love. We have local government leaders and agencies intoxicated with power and displays of death, but too weak to love. We desperately need a radical embrace of neighbor love.

By “neighbor love” I do not mean sentimentality and cliche. I mean what Jesus and the apostles meant—give your coat, meet a material need, lay down your life for others. THAT kind of love is redemptive and transformative whether it’s a mother’s love or a police chief’s.

THAT kind of love is as far from sentimentality and lip service as east is from west. It’s strong, enduring, gentle and restoring. It’s costly, sacrifice, empathetic and listening. It walks a mile or maybe two. It bears no grudges and takes no advantage. It’s self-giving.

When all is said and done, when “the country re-opens,” will we find love in the earth? Because if we don’t find love, we won’t find life. If we don’t find the strength to love one another we won’t find the strength to live with one another—not in the city and not in the church.

But if we find a way to love, we will find a way to life together and to justice. For make no mistake: love and justice are conjoined twins, inseparable, each strengthening and producing the other. We don’t do justice b/c we dint love. We don’t love b/c we don’t value justice.

We need a revolution, but a revolution built on love. Everything else is a house of cards.