The Language of Love

[TSteves]

Love, what is it? Is it a feeling? A concept? A tangible object? An Action?

Websters Dictionary gives this definition:
Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love, Old English lEof dear, Latin lubEre, libEre to please
1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates> b : an assurance of love <give her my love>
2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea>
3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love> b (1) : a beloved person : DARLING -- often used as a term of endearment (2) British -- used as an informal term of address
4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God
5 : a god or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR
7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
9 capitalized, Christian Science : GOD
- at love : holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
- in love : inspired by affection

I think it’s all those things….But still, We have yet to truly defined it. The above definition deals with the term “Affection” which in itself, is still a vague emotional expression.

It is my belief that love is the predominant emotion that every single person’s actions on the face of the earth are dictated by.

Now some of you may disagree with me. And I can hear your reasoning echoing in my ears as we speak?

“What about wars? What about the Holocaust? What about the killings in Darfur? What about terrorists who blow themselves up and the innocents around them? Are they motivated by love?”

And the answer is ……….YES!!!

Now before you get all on my case, hear me out…. In each of these cases, the people committing these atrocities believed that they are acting out in “LOVE” as THEY see it…..according to their own definition.

Do you see the problem here?

The Beatles sang “All you need is Love”, and John Lennon specifically sang “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance”….They are all great songs but do you notice something? They sing about love and peace in “general” terms with no solid definition of “How” to love or “How” to have peace. These songs present vague generalities that are great in concept but have NO practical application in the real world.

So the question I ask is “What is love?”

You define that question, have everyone agree, and all the worlds problems well end…I guarantee it. Because we will all be on the same page and agree to act accordingly. If we choose not to follow the definition, then we have chosen not to love, because we have set up a baseline from which to measure an individuals actions.

The definition of love is as varied as there are people in the world. So with that in mind, no wonder the world is in the shape it’s in.

Now I’m gonna draw a correlation here between two things…The word
“LOVE’ (which is a word used to describe a vague concept ) and the word “GOD”( which is a vague word to define a spiritual creator concept)

How ever a person defines their “GOD” determines the definition of what “LOVE” is. Because the spiritual being (generic term) “GOD” ( OR OMNIPOTENT CREATOR) creates the concept of “LOVE”.

After all, The Commonly accepted definition of the generic term “GOD”
According to Websters Dictionary is:

Pronunciation: 'gäd also 'god
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German got god
1 capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe b Christian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind
2 : a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality
3 : a person or thing of supreme value
4 : a powerful ruler


The above definition gives traits of what a God is in generic terms, but
we live in a society (world wide) that is very fearful of giving a universally accepted definition and name associated with the word “GOD”.

So transversely, If the world cannot agree on the Name and definition of its “GOD” then they cannot produce a common definition of “LOVE”.
Because every culture and potentially every individual has their own name for their “GOD and how their “CREATOR” acts.

And therefore they cannot act in unity to show examples of that love THEIR CREATOR HAS INSTRUCTED THEM TO DO.

Now some in the world want to completely get rid of even the concept of “GOD” thereby, effectively removing the concept of “LOVE” by proxy.

YOU GET RID OF “GOD”, YOU GET RID OF “LOVE”…PERIOD

You give an absolute name and definition to the term “GOD” and you will have an opportunity to create an academic baseline from which to draw the absolute definition of love universally.

Until we can do that, we will continue to live in a world wide state of confusion.

I can go on, but I would be interested in hearing peoples feedback first.

[Penny73787]

A newborn baby.

When my children were born, when my grand children were born, there were simply two words to explain my joy: Love and God.

P.

[lynnmosher]

Very nice job. The whole of your article, I think, is summed up in your one paragraph:

How ever a person defines their “GOD” determines the definition of what “LOVE” is. Because the spiritual being (generic term) “GOD” ( OR OMNIPOTENT CREATOR) creates the concept of “LOVE”.

The Bible tells us that the God of creation is a God of love and that "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:8) Therefore, without the love of God, there is no love.

You've done a great job of presentation and research. Thanks for sharing this. !thumbsup!

[N10City]

It is an awesome thought that God is love and love is God. When we sit down to thing of how carelessly we use the word love in our society we must feel shame as to how carelessly we view God. The two are one in the same, without God we would have no way to know what love is or how to give it.

Great article.
Great job

[chart]

This was so timely. I began writing about this very subject yesterday. I almost started a thread on it to get other's views. I was pleasantly surprised to read your take on the subject. It's good!!thumbsup! Thank you.

Mar 12:30-31 reads; "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

The very foundation of "the way" we Love others, is determined by "the way" we love God with our mind, heart and soul. By this example, we have a good understanding as to why loving God is the first commandment. We then will be able love others the way we ourselves understand love to be.

I believe every area of our life depends on this vital foundaton: God is love. No God, no love(the way He ordains it to be, that is). Love governs our very life!
...upon these two commandments does the whole law hang. Amazing isn't it?

Blessings,C.hart

[TSteves]

Thanks. It means alot,
I find that as I grow in my walk, I kinda see the world a bit differently. When I see bad things happening in the world im not surprised anymore. I kinda have that "No Duh!" view on world tragedy anymore. If people chose to align themselves I believe alot less hardship would happen in the world.

[p0derosodios]

Amen! I agree that you can't define love without defining God. God comes first then you can look at the example of love that he set. I only wanted to add that once you have defined God and love then you must figure out the practical application of love. The best example is this

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend.
and
For God so loved the World that He gave...

In every instance love goes past the emotions. When you don't feel like your loved, how do you know that your loved?
The answer is simply look for the evidence. The corresponding action with said proclaimed love.
A simplistic example: I love my kids so even when I don't feel like it, I will watch that cartoon with them.
People's actions are motivated by love. The question we need to ask ourselves is what is it that we love? or better yet we say we love but do our actions correspond to the words?


I appreciate the opportunity to reply to this.

[DeLelysj]

Truly it has been written Who Love is, and not what. 1 John 4: 8-16 Clearly tells us WHO Love is, "God is Love." Love should have never been put in Websters Dictionary.

I did not create Love neither has anyone else; Love was here before us. We Love him, because he first Loved us.

No one has ever seen Love, we have only perceived her. 2 Cor. 4-18 "For we do not look at the things that are seen but those that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal (temporary), but the things that are Unseen Are Eternal!"

Isn't that a great thing knowing that no one at anytime has given you Love? How can you give that which you can not steal nor take away?

Knowing that sharing is a great gift and that it is our Father that gives the increase of Love, Kindness, Caring and all those of Truth, puts many lies to rest... "I don't Love you anymore, they have left you, but they died on you..." The world would have it that you Lost Love. But in Truth, (and not what the Truth is, but whom; Christ said, "I am the Truth!"), it is the world that makes you believe that you have lost Love.

But "I went through a bitter divorce" someone might say. "But they died on me." There in that Fire, lies Ones greatest opportunity. Opportunity to Love more, Understand more, Forgive more... to become like all those whom we can not see. The Ones the world and these eyes would have us believe that we can see.

Please allow me to share a story that was given to me... then I will rest.

The Fighter: There was a man standing outside a bar minding his own business, when a prideful man accompanied with his friends exited and found themselves outside also. When the man looked over at the One who was outside already, he thought within himself, how meek and what an easy push over he appears to be. Walking over with the Spirit of Pride (liar), the man desiring to exalt himself in front of his friends, began to push and beat the gentle One up. He blackened his eye, blooded his lip, and cracked his nose. The gentle man found himself upon his knees when suddenly, his wallet was lifted from his back pocket; he did not resist. But as the thief and prideful one started to walk away, he heard a voice coming from the One who appeared to be defeated, “I Love You.” At that point the prideful one turned around and laughed saying, “You are a bigger loser than I thought, what a waste!”

He walked back to his friends and opened the wallet and said, “Drinks are on me.” Before you know it (the reward for becoming a liar, “pride”) the money was spent and the drinks were all gone. However, the gentle man, the loser on the ground, is now more than he was just a few moments ago. Because he tried to spend what can not be seen; because he tried to spend that which is eternal; because he tried to spend Love, he is more!

Because he Loved, he became Understanding. Because he Understood, he became Forgiveness. Because he Forgave, he became Compassionate… He had clothed himself. Again, remember Isaiah 42: 5: states, “…and the Spirit to those who walk therein.”

It is true that we all know that we came into this world naked, yet this gentle man will not be found naked when he leaves it. For he did Love, with a sincere heart, Understand that what the prideful man tried to steal from him, he only had only stolen from himself. Matthew 26: 52: “Then said Jesus unto him, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” The Prideful one became the image of the liar. He became like the one who has a beginning and a not so pleasant end.

Please brother and sisters, the only reason I have responded so adamantly, is because of Love. No one since man (male or female) has been on this earth, has ever shed a tear or felt a pain without a LIE at the root; Lie at the root of all trouble.

But please do not think that I am being disrspectful to Trouble. Isaiah 45: 7 "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." I do not disrespect Him, because I know Trouble has a job to do... form our Light. Even Romans 13: 1 tells us that we should, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." Yes, the same ones we wrestle against in Ephesians 6: 12...

Again, you must know that it is Love that moved me to respond so. No country, no flag, no race; surely nothing of this world has set anyone free; Only the Truth may do that.

Please know that I Love You All!
FATHER BLESS your little brother....... me

PS. One more Truth, No one has ever Truly died from old age, cancers, car accidents or slipping on banana peels. The only thing that kills a person is becomin the image of a liar!

[thayes]

Perception can be a powerful thing, particularly when our perceptions are formed by what we believe and experience something to be.
Praise the Lord, our perceptions are formed by our Heavenly Father and His Word.
Loved the article. It really makes you think.

[DeLelysj]

Dear thayes,

You have no idea how much of a Blessing you are to me today.
Our FATHERs' timing as always, is perfect.

Dear thayes, I pray that you have a great day and are filled with HIS presence, within and around you everyday!

It is more than evident that you are.

Again, Thank you. WORDS expressed can not be seen nor measured. John 6:63

FATHER BLESS You and everyone you know.... your brother jim

[thayes]

Thanks Jim

I love to be a blessing!:)

[oscarin63]

Love encompasses so much. That's why it it written "love thy God with all thy... and your neibor as yourself. But what is it to love? It's caring, disciplining. hoping, training etc.. Love covers the whole gamet of life for each circmumstance that we face. It is the answer to most of our problems. Very intersting topic!!!