What’s This Thing Called ‘Love’?

 The cool, in-the-culture preacher preaches love, love, love. But what is the nature and foundation of this love? Love everyone? Yes, for we are all made in God’s image. 

     But how does God’s love manifest differently from the amorphous secular love the cool preacher preaches? God’s love is kenotic, meaning self-emptying, secular love is self righteous (look at me loving you!). God’s love is saving love, love that brings us closer to Christ. God’s love is aspirational as we struggle to achieve this same kind of kenotic, ekstasis- self emptying love in behalf of others.

 Do not leave the sinner to die in his sin by loving him as the world loves. Show him the love of Heaven that gives life! All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But we are not to remain in our sin! 

  “Each one of us carries within us the image of God. Righteousness is not legal. Righteousness is existential. Righteousness occurs when how we live and what we say agrees with the image of God within us.” ~Ezra Ham

          

       Don’t love like the world loves—superficially loving for the sake of acceptance and self righteousness. 

If we are to love, let us abide in Christ, the True Vine. By abiding in Christ, feeding of Christ, being nurtured by Christ, we are becoming more and more like God. And that, dear friends, is what this life is all about!