I’m Cheating.
When Nathan kindly asked me to do another short piece for the Downshire website on my favourite Christian verse, I’m pretty sure he was talking about a Bible verse. I will come round to that but I am going via my favourite Carol verse (or verses).
It begins, Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine and leading into that wonderful verse;
“Love shall be our token
Love be yours and love be mine
Love to God and everyone
Love for plea and gift and sign.”
This to me sums up the whole Christian message and the whole Christmas story. It is not as simple as it might seem, however. What does it actually mean? Let’s face it, English is very poor in expressing love. I can say I love ice cream, my dog, a good book; I love my brother or sister, my parents, my wife, and I love God and Jesus. The word “love” can mean many totally different things including money which is the root of all evil.
In New Testament Greek there were FIVE words for different kinds of love;
Eros. Found in the English word Erotic, this is the most overused form of the word in our modern sex-crazy society. It is the little cherub shooting arrows all over the Valentines cards: sunset holding hands on the beach with beatings in young chests humming “I can’t stop loving you” or similar! Are you blushing at the memory...I’ll move on. The Greeks saw this as a dangerous fiery emotion that can consume us.
Philia comes next. It is family type love, between friends; we find it in that beautiful word Philadelphia meaning the city of love. It is not to be confused with any idea of erotic or sexual love whatever but can be equally strong. It was used of strong friendships or all genders and is the Holy love found in wholesome Church fellowships.
ludos. Is a kind of playful, banter, teasing sort of love between children and adults. This is a pure relationship found between teachers and pupil ( both day and Sunday School), Youth Leaders and members, parents, children and Grandparents.
Philutia. Is the love of oneself. Jesus said we are to love God and love our neighbour as ourself. So this is a God-centred love. It is the love which endures in a marriage when the hot flushes of romance are gone. It is treating others as you want to be treated.
Agape. Finally, this is the word, almost unique to Christianity, which is the self-giving, forgiving, pure and boundless love of God and Jesus. The love without thought of return. It is how we should love God and Jesus, above all and in all. That’s the AGAPE that came at Christmas. Pure love, as the world has never known before or since.
You ask me if I “love” Jesus? Yes, Liz and I have AGAPED Jesus since teenagers, we always will, God helping us.
So forgive me if I don’t answer immediately if you ask me do I “love” Jesus... I want to know what you mean by the word. Yes, yes yes - if it is “agape” and you mean respect, follow, live for, admire, sacrifice for, hero-worship, copy, reverence, leave home and even die for (if called upon). But if it is a soft soppy “look into Jesus’ eyes, my head rests on Jesus breast” expression or song, then I cringe.
So Christmas is the start of an adventure, a journey of LOVE. Christ and Downshire, one and all, invites us to join because God is AGAPE.
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8 NIV.
There, I told you I would get round to a favourite verse. I didn’t cheat really.
P.S. By mapping out the extent to which all these loves are present in your life, you might discover you’ve got a lot more “love” than you had ever imagined—I wish you a