Articles of interest
What is Love?
And what is Christian love?
FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE, love is central to the Christian faith
From a human point of view, love is a deep feeling of affection, care, and connection towards someone or something.
It can take many forms, including romantic love, familial love, platonic love, self-love, and even love for pets, hobbies, or activities. It can involve physical attraction, emotional attachment, and a sense of belonging or shared values.
Love can also be expressed through actions, such as caring for, supporting, and being there for someone in times of need.
From a Christian perspective, love is central to the Christian faith, and it is characterized as a selfless and sacrificial attitude toward others. In the King James Version of the Bible, the word "love" is used around 400 times, and it is often associated with the commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself.
One well-known passage in the Bible that speaks about love is found in 1 John 4:7-8, which reads:
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
Christian love
1 John 4:7-8 emphasize that love is not just a human emotion, but a divine attribute that originates from God. As believers, we are called to love one another and to show the same kind of love that God has shown to us.
These verses also indicate that love is a sign of spiritual maturity and a way to know God more deeply. They are beautiful and inspiring verses that encourages us to embrace love as the cornerstone of our faith and to share that love with others.
God so loved the world
Another well-known passage that speaks about the nature of love is found in John 3:16, which reads:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
This passage emphasizes that love is sacrificial and selfless, as God gave His only Son as a sacrifice for humanity's sins. It also emphasizes that love is not limited to a particular group of people but extends to the entire world.
LOVE: A powerful force
Love is a powerful force that can bring joy, meaning, and fulfillment to life. But it can also be complex and challenging, requiring effort, patience, and vulnerability to cultivate and maintain.
From a Christian perspective, love is characterized as selfless,
sacrificial, patient, kind, and enduring. It is exemplified by God's love for humanity, which is demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.