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

[GosDontez]

Personally I wish you would ask some good hard questions. The problem as I see it is that you refuse to hear what is actually answered therefore your questions are non sense because they don't reflect any understanding...so let's do this again...Just because Biblical Love is difficult to define does NOT mean that it is confusing or hard to understand or identify. Think about it this way...how would you define the color Red to a blind man, or the taste of oranges to someone who never tasted one? Defining something does not equal difficulty in understanding nor does it mean confusion but rather is simply means it's hard to define.

Do you proofread before you "send"?

Because your responses are often......."hard to define". And....."confusing".

Reread your response again and you should see what I mean.

If you don't have the "patience" (No. 1 on Paul's list.) to "carefully" reply with grammatical correctness to the best of your ability, then should you be teaching about love?

This is the most SERIOUS topic for us Christians.

I'll wait......

 

[razzelflabben]

I know it seems that way, but it just seems. Because, things are not always as they seem. I (dare I say?) loved the definition given. Assuming you're speaking of the one you and your husband came up with, you basically just said in another way what Paul describes in his list.

AND, you proved my definition is valid and thus, no problem with it.

I say this because you have been "...deep, caring, and passionate..." with your "attraction" to this thread and our "relational connection" as fellow humans and especially, fellow Christians.

But, I could be delusional....so what say you?

I say you are talking without listening. I read and understood "deep, caring, and passionate" but you failed to reflect what you were told about the problem with the definition you provided. The problem isn't with emotions, its with leaving out both action and attitude and more. Love consumes the whole man not just the emotions. In fact, emotions are fickle and Love does not rely on them to exist.

 

[razzelflabben]

Do you proofread before you "send"?

Because your responses are often......."hard to define". And....."confusing".

Reread your response again and you should see what I mean.

If you don't have the "patience" (No. 1 on Paul's list.) to "carefully" reply with grammatical correctness to the best of your ability, then should you be teaching about love?

This is the most SERIOUS topic for us Christians.

I'll wait......

I reread it and found two minor punctuation issues that most people who read for comprehension wouldn't even catch. Why don't you try to read it again, I'm confident if you want to understand what I am saying you will.

Hint: I write for a living, so sometimes I miss punctuation and such but that is why I have editors.

 

[GosDontez]

why do you restrict us to 3 words when you yourself refuse to adhere to the same?

(With tongue....in cheek.) Because it my study, my choice, and my created thread.

 

[GosDontez]

why do you restrict us to 3 words when you yourself refuse to adhere to the same?

In my initial questioning, most people became befuddled, nonplussed, and even somewhat apoplectic when I asked what love was to them.

Since I was aware of Paul's list of 14 characteristics (KJV), I realized people were having trouble just picking one word. So to make it easier, I chose 3 or less. But they weren't restricted to it. (Sooooo........stop making assumption! You appear to be an expert at that. Maybe that's what you should teach. )

(I am so glad you don't know where I live....lol Or do you......???)

And 3, because "...it's a magic number" (School House Rock), we live in a 3 dimensional world, the Trinity has 3, most words have at least 3 definitions, 3 strikes in Baseball, 3 sides to a triangle.....ok, I can go on and on, but more than all those....

3 is a Prime Number. Optimus, is a Prime, I am a Prime (firstborn), and my Prime reason for this study....is to understand what love is.

 

[razzelflabben]

(With tongue....in cheek.) Because it my study, my choice, and my created thread.

and? if you were here to study you would listen to what you are being told...so (tongue in cheek) I guess you are not being truthful about why you are here?!

 

[razzelflabben]

In my initial questioning, most people became befuddled, nonplussed, and even somewhat apoplectic when I asked what love was to them.

Since I was aware of Paul's list of 14 characteristics (KJV), I realized people were having trouble just picking one word. So to make it easier, I chose 3 or less. But they weren't restricted to it. (Sooooo........stop making assumption! You appear to be an expert at that. Maybe that's what you should teach. )

(I am so glad you don't know where I live....lol Or do you......???)

And 3, because "...it's a magic number" (School House Rock), we live in a 3 dimensional world, the Trinity has 3, most words have at least 3 definitions, 3 strikes in Baseball, 3 sides to a triangle.....ok, I can go on and on, but more than all those....

3 is a Prime Number. Optimus, is a Prime, I am a Prime (firstborn), and my Prime reason for this study....is to understand what love is.

Your jabs do nothing to me which might be part of your problem with understanding me.

Now, you were given two definitions and you refuse to address either based on my non flustered, nonplussed none apoplectic response...unfortunately you refuse to listen to anyone but yourself which is a huge problem for communication.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Requires passion? Yes! Emphatically! Here's why I think it does, and you hinted at the very reason why...

"...the various kinds of defining that can be done..."

THIS, to me is the problem. But in the immortal words of the Oracle from the Matrix movie series, "we'll get to that".

Love is an affection that requires passion because it's superfluous, obsessive, and extraordinary. Case in point, the man you mentioned. Look at what he's willing and driven to do.

It's also required because of the other side of word definitions. Meaning most, (if not all) have at least two ways to look at it.

I used 3 words, but extra-ordinary is my main focus. People do ordinary things when they are in "like" mode, but in "love" mode.....EXTRA-ordinary. This has been my observation.

This is why I used "...deep, caring, and passionate..." in my observational definition. 3 words that together are superfluous, obsessive, and extraordinary.

But....what say you?

I really like how you've laid out support for your thought on this. You definitely have a strong, philosophical sense. And I think you do give a strong case for including the concept of passion in your definition of love; I may be persuaded that something of this conceptual nature should be included.

However, one catch for me in this is that we are focusing on "Christological Love," and this kind of affection also requires that we 'love' ... even our enemies. So, I'm left wondering: How much positive passion do you think may be entailed in one person's love as it relates to dealing (or contending) with one's enemies? For instance, I just saw the movie, Get Out, a rather discomfiting Gothic thriller. How does one include passion in one's love for enemies who are of such a kind?

My example above isn't given to show that you're wrong--because on a general level, I think you're right--but rather I bring it up to point out that there are some complexities, maybe even some deep social complications, in working out a definition for Christological type love. I certainly don't have 'all' the answers on this ...

But, in the words of a profound author I've just read, "what say you"?

Peace,
2PhiloVoid

 

[GosDontez]

you missed it dear friend...I said the worldly defition not the biblical one. There are two kinds of love being discussed in this thread and you don't seem able to grasp that concept. The first is worldly love...now worldly love is easily defined as you or I either one presented a fair enough definition. But worldly love fails, it is not stable, it doesn't even come close to the Biblical Love that I and others are trying to talk to you about.

In fact, everyone is seeking Biblical Love but they don't even know or realize they are. They know it when they see it but seldom open their eyes to look for it because they already believe it does not exist. They can't or won't define it or even attempt to as you demonstrate in your posts because it is as I previously stated supernatural thus outside their understanding. I could go on but hopefully you get the picture. I did not miss anything in your post but you missed a lot in mine. Many people believe that the opposite of Love is hate which is straight up wrong. The opposite of Love (capitol to distinguish between worldly love and Biblical Love) is pride. We see that in both of the definitions I gave you for Biblical Love. So yes, Love does care and it is compassionate and a host of other things but those do not define it, they only tell us what to look for when we seek Love. Now, let me present you with a challenge. Why don't you ask some tough questions about love and Love and compare the two so that you can learn the difference? Tough questions like...where does love/Love come from? How does it change us? Why do we want it so bad? What tells me when I see it? You know, tough questions, like what is it's power? How can it make us better people? Why is Love the benchmark of Christianity and not love? Why are believers identified by their Love? How can someone Love their enemies? The list goes on and on and I would suggest to you that knowing how the two loves differ might bring clarity to what you have been told.

Me: "Oh dear God in Heaven!"
God: "What now, child?!?"

Me: "She did it again!! She said 'Love is [blah blah blah]', then turned right around and said [blah blah blah] doesn't define it. This makes no sense."
God: "Well, the sea is then ocean when it's not a drop."

Me: "What, in Cosmic Heaven, are you saying?"

No response...

Me: "HELLOOO!!!"

Strange clicks, then static, then...


Recorded Message: "If you'd like to make a call, please check the prayer frequency and call again later."

Me: "He hung up. HE HUNG UP!!! Oh, (looking up to Heaven)....you just wait 'til I get up there!"

End transmission.

 

[razzelflabben]

Me: "Oh dear God in Heaven!"
God: "What now, child?!?"

Me: "She did it again!! She said 'Love is [blah blah blah]', then turned right around and said [blah blah blah] doesn't define it. This makes no sense."
God: "Well, the sea is then ocean when it's not a drop."

Me: "What, in Cosmic Heaven, are you saying?"

No response...

Me: "HELLOOO!!!"

Strange clicks, then static, then...


Recorded Message: "If you'd like to make a call, please check the prayer frequency and call again later."

Me: "He hung up. HE HUNG UP!!! Oh, (looking up to Heaven)....you just wait 'til I get up there!"

End transmission.

like I said, when you are ready to talk AND listen rather than just talk and mock let me know we could have a great conversation if you were willing to participate.

 

[Petros2015]

Love is a funny, indefinable, limitless thing. When they say that God is Love, they are correct. You rarely know what it is, you only know what it is not. It does what it needs to do.

 

[GosDontez]

Now, let me present you with a challenge. Why don't you ask some tough questions about love and Love and compare the two so that you can learn the difference? Tough questions like...where does love/Love come from? How does it change us? Why do we want it so bad? What tells me when I see it? You know, tough questions, like what is it's power? How can it make us better people? Why is Love the benchmark of Christianity and not love? Why are believers identified by their Love? How can someone Love their enemies? The list goes on and on and I would suggest to you that knowing how the two loves differ might bring clarity to what you have been told.

When we are "on one accord" about what love is, then I will ask....

"What took you so long?"

For now, we still have work to do.

 

[razzelflabben]

Where it is painfully true that the things of the Spirit (God) cannot be understood by the things of the flesh (world) it is equally true that you would have to work hard at not understanding the basic concepts of what I have said. This willfulness makes effective communication impossible and not worth wasting time over. If you want to change your willful attempts to not understand to willingly listening and trying I'll be happy to stay otherwise I simply won't waste my time and instead will invest that time in something and/or someone willing to communicate.

 

[razzelflabben]

When we are "on one accord" about what love is, then I will ask....

"What took you so long?"

For now, we still have work to do.

since you refuse to see what is being said and I know from scripture I am right on this, we will not be in one accord until or unless you listen to what scripture tells us about Love.

 

[GosDontez]

I say you are talking without listening. I read and understood "deep, caring, and passionate" but you failed to reflect what you were told about the problem with the definition you provided. The problem isn't with emotions, its with leaving out both action and attitude and more. Love consumes the whole man not just the emotions. In fact, emotions are fickle and Love does not rely on them to exist.

You say a lot of things. Which is good, because eventually I wade through your "nonsensical", and arrive at, "oh, now that makes sense."

But then you go back to the nonsensical.

But....love is patient. Which explains hospitals.

 

[GosDontez]

Below are excerpts fron notes I've taken since beginning this study.

Critiques only, please!

"With Love and Lust as Twins of Pleasure, it seems that most people can't tell the difference between good and evil, self-less and selfish, or right and wrong." - Gos Dontez -

The Love Study. [Love vs Lust War]. The battle of an Angel vs a Demon.

LOVE and LUST.

TWINS, they are. They even sound alike 'in the beginning' of their initial prounciations:

"Looo-ve. Luuu-st."

But 'in the end', they are quite different.

Thoughts???

 

[GosDontez]

I reread it and found two minor punctuation issues that most people who read for comprehension wouldn't even catch. Why don't you try to read it again, I'm confident if you want to understand what I am saying you will.

Hint: I write for a living, so sometimes I miss punctuation and such but that is why I have editors.

Understood.

Details are like frozen chicken. Only thawed when the power's out.

 

[GosDontez]

and? if you were here to study you would listen to what you are being told...so (tongue in cheek) I guess you are not being truthful about why you are here?!

When are you gonna realize that YOU are the reason I'm here?

 

[GosDontez]

Your jabs do nothing to me which might be part of your problem with understanding me.

Now, you were given two definitions and you refuse to address either based on my non flustered, nonplussed none apoplectic response...unfortunately you refuse to listen to anyone but yourself which is a huge problem for communication.

If you really, truly believe that....

Then give up on me.

But if you will continue, you will learn that I......am.....waiting...

But I keep responding, so you'll know I'm not ignoring you.

You say I refuse to respond.....ok.

You have choices. May love guide you to make the wise one.

"Love creates patients out of patience."

 

[razzelflabben]

Below are excerpts fron notes I've taken since beginning this study.

Critiques only, please!

"With Love and Lust as Twins of Pleasure, it seems that most people can't tell the difference between good and evil, self-less and selfish, or right and wrong." - Gos Dontez -

how pray tell are Love (Biblical not worldly) and lust even in the same category? They are not...now worldly love and lust are but as I have repeatedly said it seems as if we are suppose to be talking about Biblical Love and as such there is nothing similar about the two.

In fact, another poster referenced to you that Greek has different words for different types of love...you might want to look into it further.

The Love Study. [Love vs Lust War]. The battle of an Angel vs a Demon.

LOVE and LUST.

TWINS, they are. They even sound alike 'in the beginning' of their initial prounciations:

"Looo-ve. Luuu-st."

But 'in the end', they are quite different.

Thoughts???

I don't see any similarities at all between Biblical Love and lust please explain how they share anything...