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Depends on how you define “love”

That word has about as broad a use in society as the word “Christian”!

The scope goes from the cheap “made with love” label of a mechanically manufactured biscuit, to the sublime relationship between some couples of self-giving kindness and faithfulness. In between are the rest of us with our use, or misuse, of the word…

In the past, “to make love” related to having sex, with or without the pure love component.

When “love” is really sexual immorality, combined with only impure “lust”, then could we call it false “love”?

If a short, or even longer term relationship is spoken about in the terms of love, when it really is only lust, then that would seem to be using someone for one’s own fun. The other person doesn’t matter. It’s all about me. We normally call that selfish and manipulating behaviour. 

 

 

Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash

God made love

It’s interesting the way the Bible uses the word love. In English, we have one word, but in the original Greek of the New Testament, there are 4 different words!

Storge = family-type love

Eros = sensual or romantic love

Phileo = close friend love

Agape = self-giving sacrificial love

Can love be pure? Sure can! Mostly this last one, wouldn’t you agree?

It turns out, that word is the one that’s used to describe the love of Jesus for us. In giving himself up for us on the cross, he set us up to escape the wrath of God against our rebellion. But only if we want it. He’s a true gentleman, and doesn’t force anyone to accept it, if they don’t want to…

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)