What is L.O.V.E.? (Matthew 22:36-40)

[GosDontez]

this is exactly why God called me to full time study of Biblical Love and as a result to teach it, because Christians have no real understanding (by and large) of what it is or why it's important.

James 3:1, comes to mind:

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Someone Once Said, "the most dangerous job on planet earth is a pastor. Because they're the ones who feed the soul of the people. And 'God help you' if you're doing it wrong."

 

[razzelflabben]

James 3:1, comes to mind:

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Someone Once Said, "the most dangerous job on planet earth is a pastor. Because they're the ones who feed the soul of the people. And 'God help you' if you're doing it wrong."

amen, not enough people take the warning seriously...

 

[GosDontez]

actually you were told the same thing this poster is saying and you aren't listening. Biblical Love is beyond noun, verb, adjective, adverb etc. distinctions. It's a category all on it's own so to speak. So to Speak! Because Biblical Love is supernatural it does NOT fit the natural way of doing things including but not limited to defining it.

Thanks.

 

[GosDontez]

I like it. But it's not a verb, nor a combination of noun and verb. It is just a noun. Biblical love is not a noun alone, my friend

Alrighty, then.

So, Zoey....as I have done with my study, tell me...

What is love to you in 3 words or less?

(And feel free to question my method. It's madness is the 2nd cousin to the logic of a psycho. Hence.....psychological. )

 

[GosDontez]

3.....is a magic number. (School House Rock)

So here are 3 "sayings" related to the purpose for my study.

1. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

2. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
- Albert Einstein -

3. Someone Once Said, "the fusion of the con is already in abundant supply. Therefore, strive for clarity.....and simplicity because the glass is always half full."

"And may the Schwartz be with you!"

 

[razzelflabben]

3.....is a magic number. (School House Rock)

So here are 3 "sayings" related to the purpose for my study.

1. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

2. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
- Albert Einstein -

3. Someone Once Said, "the fusion of the con is already in abundant supply. Therefore, strive for clarity.....and simplicity because the glass is always half full."

"And may the Schwartz be with you!"

how would you describe God in relation to these three quotes? The first is easy...fits everything God does including Love but what about the other two? Can you really explain God? Is God clear and simple given this passage...1 Corinthians 13:12?

 

[GosDontez]

The core of Love is humility. Start with Philippians 2:3. Putting others above yourself is where Love begins and that can only happen if we are truly humble.

C.S. Lewis says this about humility...humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. This is the example Christ gave and is the very core of Love. Think of it as a wheel. The center of the wheel is humility and all the other things that are Love, the characteristics, the emotion, etc. are the spokes of the wheel. Without humility the other things are meaningless.

Now don't confuse that with the source of Love which is God, in the analogy God is the power that turns the wheel.

So humility is not performed out affection?

 

[razzelflabben]

So humility is not performed out affection?

yes and no like most of the questions you ask about Love. If you humble yourself out of Love for God it involves some emotion but it is more times than not according to scripture something that God has to do in us despite ourselves. In addition, humbling ourselves is an act of obedience and not emotion. I really think you are too hung up on emotions to see what is being said to you.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The ambiguity? I understand VERY well. Even as I wrote my reply asking if I were close, I was smack dab in the middle of it.

If there is one thing I realized as I began making a habit out of looking up words to verify their meaning, it's learning about the multiple definitions for so many words. Not to mention the horror of the ones that contradict.

This is one of the problems I mentioned earlier, which, to me, explains our constant quagmiring into ambiguity. How do you pick the right word when they often "mean" at least two different things?

A...thesaurus? (Dont' mind me, I just had to get a little quip in there at least once...)

As far as the study goes, three places:

1. At the place where it's already been settled by God who came up with the concept, at least in understanding the definition. Which is why I maintain that it's not hard to define.

2. Still on the journey to "perfect" love in action where fear doesn't rule and not even part of the equation. Which is why I maintain that it's harder to do because it's often painful, but not impossible.

3. Trapped.......in two middle places. Between God's version of love and humanity's version (which doesn't bother me as much). But also in the frustration stemming from the war of Christian vs Christian. The arrogant Christians vs the humble Christians.

Morpheus, from the Matrix movie, said it best:

"Neo, sooner or later you're going to realize, just as I did, that there's a difference between knowing the path....and walking the path."

Yes, Morpheus was on to something ...

It reminds me of what James said about being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.

Because it is so hard to DO Christian love, that in itself should make one humble and focus on doing it.

But when I see arrogant Christians lauding themselves, essentially boasting, yet then I look at the world and how so much rage consumes, I find myself asking, "Where are the Christians? They have the answer!!"

This is when the problem hits you right between the eyes.

According to statistics, there are more Christians in America than any other believers, and more on the entire planet. So why is there more hate?

It dawned on me that there are far more arrogant Christians than there are humble Christians. Just look at how many denominations there are and I think you see my point. (Now I understand why the "harvest is ripe but the laborers are few".)

So...since love is the greatest commandment by Christ Jesus, I wanted to know what people think it is. Especially, Christians.

Because if "we" aren't doing it humbly and right, then why should the rest of the world?

So....here I am.

I don't think I can add much if anything to what you nicely [and prophetically] slapped down like a gauntlet. You've got my attention... but I'm just wondering if you have a large glass of water to give me so I can wash down that large, 'red pill.' Very good stuff, Gos!

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

 

[GosDontez]

how would you describe God in relation to these three quotes? The first is easy...fits everything God does including Love but what about the other two? Can you really explain God? Is God clear and simple given this passage...1 Corinthians 13:12?

The same way the Scriptures do:

1. Judge
2. Creator
3. Father

 

[GosDontez]

Love is many things. It is mostly beyond our comprehension.
1 John 4:8 says: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

God is love. We can love. But we cannot fully understand the vastness of it. Like God, there are some parts of love that are simply a mystery.

We feel love. We know the term by feeling. We act in love. We do what the Bible tells us to do in love.

But do we truly know what love is? Could you give me a definition for the word that is both a noun and a verb. Both of which are of equal importance.

Love is too important to be defined by humans. It is truly godly in nature. God is love.

Hey Zoey.

I wish to discuss this reply. I realized I needed to go back to it. But I don't know if you're still watching this thread.

Are you?

 

[ZoeyLouLou]

Hey Zoey.

I wish to discuss this reply. I realized I needed to go back to it. But I don't know if you're still watching this thread.

Are you?

Yes, I am still watching this thread I am unsure of what you wish for me to say, as I have already explained love.

 

[ZoeyLouLou]

It is much too complicated to explain in three words or less

 

[GosDontez]

yes and no like most of the questions you ask about Love. If you humble yourself out of Love for God it involves some emotion but it is more times than not according to scripture something that God has to do in us despite ourselves. In addition, humbling ourselves is an act of obedience and not emotion. I really think you are too hung up on emotions to see what is being said to you.

Someone Once Said, "All humans act out emotion, because we are all emotional beings. The question is...'are we stable or unstable when we act?'"

With all due respect, my obedience or disobedience to God (Lord knows I do both. ), is BASED on how I feel about and towards Him.

If you don't or can't do that.....okay.

 

[GosDontez]

A...thesaurus? (Dont' mind me, I just had to get a little quip in there at least once...)

LOL!!! I don't mind at all because I do the exact....(pause, to laugh)....same....(pause, to laugh even harder).....thing!

(Now I'm on the floor......rolling! )

 

[GosDontez]

Ok....acronym time. Let's get cheeky!!

L = Loyalty
O = Obsession
V = Values
E = ECommerce

 

[ZoeyLouLou]

Ok....acronym time. Let's get cheeky!!

L = Loyalty
O = Obsession
V = Values
E = ECommerce

Couldn't have done it better myself xD

 

[razzelflabben]

The same way the Scriptures do:

1. Judge
2. Creator
3. Father

okay, that isn't a definition nor is it concise or complete. In fact, while we are on the topic of Love, there are at least 13 different ways God shows His Love to man, these are 3 there are at least 10 more what are you going to do with them? Why should we leave them out when they are who God is?

 

[razzelflabben]

Someone Once Said, "All humans act out emotion, because we are all emotional beings. The question is...'are we stable or unstable when we act?'"

we all have emotions but we don't all act out of emotion. This is something you have yet to grasp. In each and every situation we have a choice to either act on our emotions or act toward the situation. I have taught my children and try to practice it myself that we act do not react to every situation out of emotion but rather out of Love. In fact, the believer is called to act in self control. Self control is a fruit of the Spirit and should be in every single believer. If we are acting in self control we are not acting out of emotion but rather out of obedience. See, what you are preaching is emotionalism what scripture teaches, what Love teaches is obedience.

With all due respect, my obedience or disobedience to God (Lord knows I do both. ), is BASED on how I feel about and towards Him.

If you don't or can't do that.....okay.

but you are missing the point. Our obedience should flow out of Love for God amen but it does not mean that everything I do is spurred by "love" but rather is spurred by what scripture calls "fear of the Lord". We could argue that fear is an emotion and to a point one would be right but the fear talked about here is whatever it takes to obey not fear in and of itself. Psalms 34 (I believe I got the right Psalms) teaches us how to fear the Lord and it has nothing at all to do with emotions but obedience.

The child that wants to run out in the street to chase the puppy down will be in huge trouble if he runs in front of a car because he didn't "feel" like looking for cars. In fact, when he decides he should look for cars he doesn't do so because he loves the parents who taught him to look out for cars but rather because he was taught to look for cars no matter what his emotions tell him to do. Likewise, our obedience to God though rooted in Love is not an emotional reaction but rather one that is taught and equipped by the HS within.

 

[GosDontez]

A...thesaurus? (Dont' mind me, I just had to get a little quip in there at least once...)

Yes, Morpheus was on to something ...

I don't think I can add much if anything to what you nicely [and prophetically] slapped down like a gauntlet. You've got my attention... but I'm just wondering if you have a large glass of water to give me so I can wash down that large, 'red pill.' Very good stuff, Gos!

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

(There's that smoke, again. I wonder if he's using a machine. Maybe I can find the power cord.... )