This amazing video from Pastor Smokie Norful got me thinking about how difficult it is to describe LOVE? Is it a feeling, an action, a state of being, or all of the above? If you met someone who did not know what LOVE is and you had the task of explaining it, how would you? I believe it is difficult to describe, for most people, because they have never really experienced it (not referring to those in this video).
1 John 4:7-12 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Here is my questions…given the above scripture, Is it possible to, TRULY, love if you do not believe in or know God?
I have asked this question in the past and it has caused quite a stir. I am not passing judgement. I am not qualified, nor do I have a heaven or a hell to send anyone to. I am simply asking a question.
The bible is very clear that God is “LOVE“. The bible is my truth. If God is love and you do not know or believe in Him, is what you express really LOVE?
Let’s say you have never met a specific person and you have never had a conversation with them. However, someone tells you basic characteristics about them and even gives you a description of what they look like, act like, value, etc. At this point you could tell others about them, describe them, and possibly even act like them without knowing who they are. Those who do not know them might believe that you knew them, when you are really acting off of what you were told. Only the people who actually know that person and who have a relationship with that person could determine if you really know them.
I believe LOVE is the same way. If you have never actually experienced LOVE for yourself, someone could describe LOVE and tell you what it looks like, feels like, and why you should want it. You could, then, tell others about LOVE, based on someone elses experience with LOVE without ever having experienced LOVE for yourself.
I believe God is the same way. If you have never actually experienced God for yourself, someone could describe God and tell you what He looks like, feels like, and why you should want Him. You could, then, tell others about God, based on someone elses experience with God, without ever having experienced God for yourself.
I believe that the world is full of people living vicariously through others experience of LOVE, who may not have actually had an encounter with the one who is LOVE. Therefore, we have distorted God’s true essence of how to LOVE one another and created our own version of LOVE, that has conditions. We are even made to believe that everyone can LOVE differently, when we were provided a model of what LOVE is supposed to look like. Have we conformed.
What are your thoughts?
Love is…
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
If God is Love, then God is…
God is patient, God is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 God never fails.
Agree or Disagee?
theoriginalmentor 