Post by Les Brewer on Oct 25, 2020 23:00:20 GMT
“How Would Jesus Love”
Growing older and further apart; I don’t understand all the dynamics of life! But I do understand love is the glue that bonds us together! I am asking an honest question “how would Jesus love” and “what would Jesus do” concerning everything that comes to try our faith which works through love.
Koine Greek has several definitions of love using different words to describe love. Christians are supposed to maintain agape or selfless love which is only possible through the love of Christ in operation activated by the Holy Spirit. Agape love is the prescription for our response to the hatred of the world; “love your enemies and do good to those who hate you and despitefully use you”. Without the power of agape we could never enforce this kind of love.
Then another love is “philia” or platonic love which is without “eros” which is passionate carnal and sensual love. Philia love is the stuff that bonds of friendship are made of; it is glue that makes urban societies possible.
Then you have “pragma” love which is the love of maturity developed through experience and wisdom. It is a love of endurance which is forged through commitment; using pragmatic understanding and futuristic concerning the best interest and long term goals of others.
Then there is “storge” love which concerns family relationship dynamics. It involves the natural kinship imputed feelings of family toward one another and even provokes patriotism for one’s country. Storge is all about allegiance through our love and devotion!
Agape is spiritual and divine; while philia, pragma, and storge are soulful and human! Yet when the divine agape of God; infuses a soul that soul acclimates to the spiritual and becomes intensified in the believer.
This is when; even though life has drawn us apart through different ways for different means; a Christian’s love is the glue that holds people in their hearts with a longing to see family and brethren even though miles apart. It is just like the comfort I have when I have not seen my mother; but I take so much comfort knowing she is well and among the living. When my work keeps me long distances from my wife; yet my heart is with her each moment of the day. The thing about love is that I don’t take it lightly! Love is best expressed in action and not just in words.
Love is wonderful in an ideal world; but in the real world it is a struggle to love like Jesus loves! Sometimes when we ask “What Would Jesus Do”, we’re asking for the trying of our faith which works through love. In the real world there are different nuances of love; there are difference aspects of life; and there is a myriad of different peoples, philosophies, and psychosocial infrastructures in humanity. The only perfect love is the love of Christ; yet Christ is rejected because of the flaws of societies, the tragedies of humanity, and the injustices of the human race. Many times a rejection of God or Christ is preceded by a statement or question! “How can a loving God allow all this devastation, destruction, and degradation?” The truth is that man first failed God and God never fails man; why? God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent. Humanity is the product of its own disobedience. Yet feels the need to blame someone for their own faults and failures.
God will show us through love and often times through tough love how to love others with his agape love! I for one want to be able to love others accordingly and with the right action or response the way Jesus our paradigm manifested his love towards everyone he came into contact with during his earthly administration.
Let us remember concerning physical distance; our hearts can be in perfect harmony and filled with love even though we are miles apart! Selah
Your Emissary of the Faith;
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries International)
Growing older and further apart; I don’t understand all the dynamics of life! But I do understand love is the glue that bonds us together! I am asking an honest question “how would Jesus love” and “what would Jesus do” concerning everything that comes to try our faith which works through love.
Koine Greek has several definitions of love using different words to describe love. Christians are supposed to maintain agape or selfless love which is only possible through the love of Christ in operation activated by the Holy Spirit. Agape love is the prescription for our response to the hatred of the world; “love your enemies and do good to those who hate you and despitefully use you”. Without the power of agape we could never enforce this kind of love.
Then another love is “philia” or platonic love which is without “eros” which is passionate carnal and sensual love. Philia love is the stuff that bonds of friendship are made of; it is glue that makes urban societies possible.
Then you have “pragma” love which is the love of maturity developed through experience and wisdom. It is a love of endurance which is forged through commitment; using pragmatic understanding and futuristic concerning the best interest and long term goals of others.
Then there is “storge” love which concerns family relationship dynamics. It involves the natural kinship imputed feelings of family toward one another and even provokes patriotism for one’s country. Storge is all about allegiance through our love and devotion!
Agape is spiritual and divine; while philia, pragma, and storge are soulful and human! Yet when the divine agape of God; infuses a soul that soul acclimates to the spiritual and becomes intensified in the believer.
This is when; even though life has drawn us apart through different ways for different means; a Christian’s love is the glue that holds people in their hearts with a longing to see family and brethren even though miles apart. It is just like the comfort I have when I have not seen my mother; but I take so much comfort knowing she is well and among the living. When my work keeps me long distances from my wife; yet my heart is with her each moment of the day. The thing about love is that I don’t take it lightly! Love is best expressed in action and not just in words.
Love is wonderful in an ideal world; but in the real world it is a struggle to love like Jesus loves! Sometimes when we ask “What Would Jesus Do”, we’re asking for the trying of our faith which works through love. In the real world there are different nuances of love; there are difference aspects of life; and there is a myriad of different peoples, philosophies, and psychosocial infrastructures in humanity. The only perfect love is the love of Christ; yet Christ is rejected because of the flaws of societies, the tragedies of humanity, and the injustices of the human race. Many times a rejection of God or Christ is preceded by a statement or question! “How can a loving God allow all this devastation, destruction, and degradation?” The truth is that man first failed God and God never fails man; why? God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent. Humanity is the product of its own disobedience. Yet feels the need to blame someone for their own faults and failures.
God will show us through love and often times through tough love how to love others with his agape love! I for one want to be able to love others accordingly and with the right action or response the way Jesus our paradigm manifested his love towards everyone he came into contact with during his earthly administration.
Let us remember concerning physical distance; our hearts can be in perfect harmony and filled with love even though we are miles apart! Selah
Your Emissary of the Faith;
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries International)
