Love Definedنموونە

If we walk casually through these verses, we miss their countercultural impact when describing love – God’s love. But it should be clear to us upon closer inspection that this unrivaled description of love bears little resemblance to the love of our preferences, the love trumpeted by the world we live in, the love others demand we accept as not only valid but unable to be contradicted.    

God’s love has great kindness and humility, but don’t mistake these for weakness.  It shows no weakness, although it could be easily dismissed by someone who sees love in their own terms. This love would be a challenge; it is challenging enough for us who believe.  God’s love is almost solely other focussed, and that is the beginning of why it is so different, so demanding and yet, so powerful.  

Today, possibly more than ever, love is appealed to as the final court of appeal. It is seen as the unchallengeable principle, an inviolate right, the natural, and not to be denied response and right of humanity. In other words - anything goes. 

If it is said, ‘love can’t be denied,’ there is little room for discussion. But what kind of love is being appealed to? It is only when love is defined that this argument can be seen for the self-seeking creature it has become. I don’t deny people feel strongly, passionately, about the love of their preference, particularly as it relates to sexual variance, but strength of conviction and passionate feelings don’t always validate something. 

Be this as it may, the love defined by the apostles John and Paul is defined in terms not of this world. It is based on the action of God to us; it has different criteria, demands, and prevailing outcomes. Simply speaking – it looks very different because it is not self-seeking, and it ends better for everyone. 

This love serves us well because it serves well. This love restrains impulse from dominating and ultimately, devastating. This love is more like God because it is God-like. 

This is love defined.