THE INDISPENSABLE CHRISTIAN LOVE
The Corinthians were proud, boastful, and quarrel
some over "gifts". If they spoke in tongues, they
thought they were "something". If they could work
miracles or prophecy (inspired revelation of God's
Word, often translated "preacher" in the N.T.) But,
prophecy is also the foretelling of events to come.
In Pauls letter to this church, he addresses some
of the problems the church was having with it's
people. We also need to realize that some of
these early churches were made up of a mixed
people, most of them gentile, and many of the
converts used to pagan type ceremonies and
rituals. There were some Jewish Christians,
and some members who were community
leaders.
The best comparison I can think of is trying to
establish a church in a liberal community in
California or New York where many of the
converts were New Agers....or perhaps in India
where only 2.5% of the population is Christian
and most of the population worships several
gods and have many superstitions.
We tend to forget that the New Testament was
"the beginning" of the Christian era which had
not yet been totally established to for their
"leaders" to have complete knowledge and the
understanding of those who had been a "witness"
to the ressurection of The Son of God, Jesus,
or had been "taught" by Jesus himself.
The concept of Christian Love is from a rare and
ancient word, "agape". Others words, "eros"
and "philia" could express "physical love, but the wonderful love of God was far greater. This
"agape" love is the very nature of God that poured
itself out for the world and the sins of mankind.
This "agape" love is used about 200 times in N.T.
The word "love" has been tossed around and
misused so much in our society today, many
have no perception of what "agape" love really
is. They do not stop to examine the meaning
and nature of love, whether spiritual, emotional,
or physical.
"Love thy Neighbor" and "Love thy Enemy" and
"Love One Another" all mean the same to most.
The LOVE that Paul describes for the "church"
is the "agape" love. This is Christian Love at
it's utmost. It is the love of God toward the
world as expressed in Jesus; it is the love of our
Messiah toward his disciples and the love of the
believer toward God and his brothers and sisters
in Christ, and often overflowing to our fellowman.
If we do not have this Christian Love "in our
heart", then Paul is saying that it doesn't matter
much how many spiritual gifts we might have
been endowed with; speaking in tongues mean
nothing; our prophetic insight and knowledge of
God's Word means nothing; and even if we
can "lay hands on the sick" and heal them, it is
nothing without this Christian Love in our heart.
If this "agape" love isn't the basic motivating
factor in all of actions in giving, helping, and
caring, it doesn't reach any farther than our
"audience". It doesn't impress God at all!
We need to "search" our hearts for the motive
that prompts us to the Christian service we
seek to render.
The nature of Christian Love that Paul describes
is a mental picture and reminder of our Jesus!!
And Paul uses only verbs to describe this love.
Love is active...not passive. It is active "good
will" toward our brothers and sisters in Christ
and our fellowman. Those responding with
input on the discussion groups are "active"
participants in striving to grow in this love. The
encouraging responses I receive from those I
minister to are inspirational and lift me to a
higher level because of the "active" gesture of
Christian Love.
Many deeds come under "active"..including
stopping to help someone although you may not
have the time; giving a donation to someone who
is in need of help because of some tragedy or
accident. There are thousands of examples.
Please go to pg 2
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