Love That Lasts
"I may be able
to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I have not love, my
speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging symbol.” 1 Corinthians 13:1, 2
Years ago, there was
a time when Indians communicated by drums and smoke signals. Maybe there are
places where they still do this. I know the drum is still used as a
communication instrument in many areas of Africa. Years ago, when the atomic
bomb was being tested, out on the flats of Nevada, a cartoon pictured some Indians.
They were looking across the barren wastes -- the spacious flats, when on the
horizon the mushroom smoke cloud of an atomic explosion rose dramatically. As
they looked at that wonder -- never having seen smoke like that, one Indian
said to the other, "I wish I had said that."
Many a poet, prose writer, essayist, scholar, preacher, and singer, reading Paul's magnificent hymn of love, has felt if they verbalize it: "I wish I had said that." And all of us, reading it, want to exclaim "Aha! That's it!"
Maxie Dunham wrote, “This is Paul's exposition of love expressed poetically, but leaving nothing out. Our souls resonate to it because it is truth we have experienced, or need desperately to experience. With extraordinary understanding and pristine clarity, with unmuddied sensitivity and spiritual depth, Paul has mined the very essence of the Christian Gospel. It is no wonder that whenever Christians gather to worship, wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, I Corinthians 13 is known and loved.” When it comes down to it, no matter who I am, what I believe, who I know, what I do -- if I don't have love, I am nothing at all. Love is primary.
Many a poet, prose writer, essayist, scholar, preacher, and singer, reading Paul's magnificent hymn of love, has felt if they verbalize it: "I wish I had said that." And all of us, reading it, want to exclaim "Aha! That's it!"
Maxie Dunham wrote, “This is Paul's exposition of love expressed poetically, but leaving nothing out. Our souls resonate to it because it is truth we have experienced, or need desperately to experience. With extraordinary understanding and pristine clarity, with unmuddied sensitivity and spiritual depth, Paul has mined the very essence of the Christian Gospel. It is no wonder that whenever Christians gather to worship, wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, I Corinthians 13 is known and loved.” When it comes down to it, no matter who I am, what I believe, who I know, what I do -- if I don't have love, I am nothing at all. Love is primary.
First, there are four
kinds of love.
Greek is one of the richest of all languages-- often having a whole series of
words to express different shades of meaning in one conception -- while English
will have only one. In English, we have only one to express all kinds of love.
Greek has no fewer than four.
The words are eros, storge, philia, and agape.
The words are eros, storge, philia, and agape.
1) Eros expresses
primarily physical love -- love between the sexes.
2) Storge is
primarily family affection -- the love of parents for children; children for
parents.
3) Philia is close to
storge -- but a bit more expansive. It means to look on someone with
affectionate regard. It is a beautiful word to describe a beautiful
relationship.
4) By far, the commonest New Testament word for love is agape.
4) By far, the commonest New Testament word for love is agape.
Agape is a unique New
Testament Greek word
-- and has become the key word of the New Testament in expressing love -- and
the ethics of a Christian.
All the ordinary words for love are words which express an emotion. They are words which have to do with the heart. Agape has to do with the mind: it is not simply an emotion which rises unbidden in our hearts; it is a principle by which we deliberately live. Agape has supremely to do with the will. It is a conquest, a victory, and achievement." Here it is in a picture.
All the ordinary words for love are words which express an emotion. They are words which have to do with the heart. Agape has to do with the mind: it is not simply an emotion which rises unbidden in our hearts; it is a principle by which we deliberately live. Agape has supremely to do with the will. It is a conquest, a victory, and achievement." Here it is in a picture.
Leonard Budd shared
the story. Back in April of 1988, television cameras in
Belfast, Ireland, recorded the scenes when two British soldiers were beaten and
fatally shot. It was one of the most terrible moments in that seemingly endless
series of terrible moments as a people war at each other -- covered by the
misnamed mantel of "Protestant versus Roman Catholic." Those two soldiers happened down the wrong
street at the wrong time. They died
after being brutally beaten. It was all on video tape, and thus on the evening
news around the world.
But what was not on the tape, and what did not make the evening news, was the picture of a Roman Catholic woman, a member of that area's St. Agnes Parish, who took her coat from around her shoulders and gently covered the nearly-naked body of one of the dead Protestant soldiers. Then she bowed her head and prayed for him. Later, her priest, the Reverend Tom Toler, said, "The only part the world tends to hear about Northern Ireland is the violence. But that woman was a typical St. Agnes parishioner." The newspaper continued, "These are not easy times for Father Toner and his flock. But then preaching Jesus' word and following his example have never been easy -- for Catholics or Protestants -- in a province where politics and religion can be used as a double-edged sword." (Christian Science Monitor, 4-1-88, quoted by Leonard H. Budd, "Charigma," April 9,1989.)
But what was not on the tape, and what did not make the evening news, was the picture of a Roman Catholic woman, a member of that area's St. Agnes Parish, who took her coat from around her shoulders and gently covered the nearly-naked body of one of the dead Protestant soldiers. Then she bowed her head and prayed for him. Later, her priest, the Reverend Tom Toler, said, "The only part the world tends to hear about Northern Ireland is the violence. But that woman was a typical St. Agnes parishioner." The newspaper continued, "These are not easy times for Father Toner and his flock. But then preaching Jesus' word and following his example have never been easy -- for Catholics or Protestants -- in a province where politics and religion can be used as a double-edged sword." (Christian Science Monitor, 4-1-88, quoted by Leonard H. Budd, "Charigma," April 9,1989.)
In 1 Corinthians 13,
Paul writes,
"I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I
have not love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. I
may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and
understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains --
but if I have not love I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and
even give up my body to be burned -- but if I have not love, it does me no good."
Look at the man who
wrote this hymn of love -- Paul himself. You know his story. We meet him in the book
of Acts as the fellow who was hell-bent on destroying this new movement --
these followers of Jesus. He went on a mission to Damascus to seek to stamp out
the church -- to put to death all those who, in his mind, were blaspheming God
by claiming Christ as the Messiah. That this man, Paul, could probe the essence
of divine love and express in such beautiful poetry and profound clarity --
that's one of the miracles of Christ's transforming grace and power. It’s a love that lasts…and it always will.
Terry
Risser
Reflections:
1) Why does agape love go further than other
loves?
2) Can you think of a situation in your home or
work where God is calling you to love with an unconditional love?
Consider reading the Word today:
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