I think the title is pretty self-explanatory. Love is not just an action, and it's not just a feeling. It's both. It's a feeling put into action. And by feeling, I'm not talking about that high you're on when you're "in love." Yes, at times in relationships there will be emotional roller coasters.
But here's the thing. You can act loving toward someone and do loving things for them without actually loving them. If you and your spouse can't stand each other, just staying together because you're "supposed to," is not a good enough reason. I'm not saying you should divorce, I'm saying you have to remember what made you love that person in the first place.
And by the way, commitment is for people who do not love. Commitment isn't even an issue if you truly love your spouse.
Yes, I know what the bible says about love in 1 Corinthians 13. But you know what? God would not have sent Jesus to die for us if he didn't feel any love for us. That is love put into action. He didn't have to do it, but he did it because he loved us. And let's not forget, Jesus was a human being with emotions, and he was sinless.
Now that we've discussed what love is, let's discuss what it's not.
"Love" is not patient when it says God will leave you if you mess up too many times.
"Love" is not kind when it says God will love us if we do good works. No, that's manipulation.
"Love" envies when it yells about God's jealousy which, by the way, is different from worldly jealousy (Which is not "Oh he's God, so he can do whatever he wants.")
"Love" boasts when it believes that all the things it doesn't do (wear jeans, listen to rock, visit the beach) makes it special.
"Love" is proud when it claims to have all the answers, even though no one truly does, and has nothing else to learn. You can be genuinely convicted theologically that women aren't equal to men or that slavery is right. Doesn't mean either one is.
"Love" dishonors others when it tells them poverty is their fault. (And I'm talking real poverty, not simply lazy people)
"Love" is self-seeking when more members mean more tithes.
"Love" is easily angered when seeing a public figure's political party is enough to raise blood pressure, before they even say anything.
"Love" keeps a record of wrongs when it shames girls who had premarital sex.
"Love" delights in evil when it laughs in response to child abuse allegations.
"Love" does not rejoice with the truth when it covers up child abuse to protect a "great" man's reputation.
"Love" does not protect when it tells a woman to stay with her abusive husband.
"Love" does not trust when it prejudges a woman's salvation because she works and sends her kids to school.
"Love" does not hope when it declares that society is going to hell in a handbasket because women vote.
"Love" does not persevere when it kicks "nonconforming" people out on the street to "protect" others.
But here's the thing. You can act loving toward someone and do loving things for them without actually loving them. If you and your spouse can't stand each other, just staying together because you're "supposed to," is not a good enough reason. I'm not saying you should divorce, I'm saying you have to remember what made you love that person in the first place.
And by the way, commitment is for people who do not love. Commitment isn't even an issue if you truly love your spouse.
Yes, I know what the bible says about love in 1 Corinthians 13. But you know what? God would not have sent Jesus to die for us if he didn't feel any love for us. That is love put into action. He didn't have to do it, but he did it because he loved us. And let's not forget, Jesus was a human being with emotions, and he was sinless.
Now that we've discussed what love is, let's discuss what it's not.
"Love" is not patient when it says God will leave you if you mess up too many times.
"Love" is not kind when it says God will love us if we do good works. No, that's manipulation.
"Love" envies when it yells about God's jealousy which, by the way, is different from worldly jealousy (Which is not "Oh he's God, so he can do whatever he wants.")
"Love" boasts when it believes that all the things it doesn't do (wear jeans, listen to rock, visit the beach) makes it special.
"Love" is proud when it claims to have all the answers, even though no one truly does, and has nothing else to learn. You can be genuinely convicted theologically that women aren't equal to men or that slavery is right. Doesn't mean either one is.
"Love" dishonors others when it tells them poverty is their fault. (And I'm talking real poverty, not simply lazy people)
"Love" is self-seeking when more members mean more tithes.
"Love" is easily angered when seeing a public figure's political party is enough to raise blood pressure, before they even say anything.
"Love" keeps a record of wrongs when it shames girls who had premarital sex.
"Love" delights in evil when it laughs in response to child abuse allegations.
"Love" does not rejoice with the truth when it covers up child abuse to protect a "great" man's reputation.
"Love" does not protect when it tells a woman to stay with her abusive husband.
"Love" does not trust when it prejudges a woman's salvation because she works and sends her kids to school.
"Love" does not hope when it declares that society is going to hell in a handbasket because women vote.
"Love" does not persevere when it kicks "nonconforming" people out on the street to "protect" others.