Love in absence of itself
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Billy Howard
It is the humble opinion of this columnist that the world has, unfortunately, embraced a false narrative related to the true understanding of what constitutes the concept of love. This has to be one of the most over-used, misaligned, and misunderstood emotions known to the human species. We are inundated with verbiage concerning the bond that holds us hostage to everything from foods to possessions and people but, do we really understand the nature of what love entails?
Scripture lists the fact that Jesus is love, with it being impossible to know the feeling outside of a significant relationship with Him. 1 John 4:8 states, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” This verse establishes that the orchestrator of all things is love, and Jesus is the very manifestation of God’s love in the world. So how is it that we, as people, assume the ability to redefine the divinely established definition of the term?
Last week, a well-known celebrity was being interviewed on the set of former first lady, Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson’s, podcast. The actor/comedian spoke to the issue of his transgender daughter and the fact he has chosen to love and support her regardless. This, from a person who subscribes to the idea of being a Christian yet, dismisses the very Word as dictated by God. It is baffling to see how so-called followers of Jesus will attempt to justify being Christian outside of the fact they choose to disobey His stated regulatory covenants.
The King James Bible verse that uses the word “effeminate” is 1 Corinthians 6:9, which states, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,” The word “effeminate” in this verse is a translation of the Greek word “malakol” which refers to those who are characterized by softness, weakness, and a lack of masculine qualities The Family Research Council website, www.frc.org/blog/2021/08/docs-1-corinthians-69-really-condemn-homosexual-sex notes this verse, along with others, has been interpreted by some to condemn homosexual activity.
This interprets as a difficult revelation for many otherwise devoted Christians who have faced the obstacle of loved ones’ opening up about their attraction to people of the same gender. It is not uncommon for individuals to argue that they have no option to “choose” their sexuality as “I was born this way.” Why is it the God of all creation would condone one be born in such a state that is in direct opposition to His established standards?
As an immutable God, He does not have the ability to operate in such a manner as to be outside the very nature of His divine character. It is utter blasphemy for any individual to stake a claim that He could ever do anything contradictory to His own nature.
Just as people elect to pick and choose which of God’s commandments they want to observe and obey, many assume the liberty to redefine the terms He set forth. Oddly enough, there are those who incorrectly assume the state of love is truly about a feeling when it actually has little to do with that. In scripture, John 14:23 (KJV) says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
In short, the entire premise of Christianity rests upon the concept that God’s love is freely dispersed to all those who will accept the sacrifice of His Son. As His subjects, nowhere in scripture are we granted the right to redefine or operate outside the boundaries outlined by Him. The fact Jesus is love and does not permit same sex emotional “entanglements” certifies that if you serve the wrong God, you know the wrong love. I could be wrong but it’s just something to consider.
You can reach Howard at bg@authorbghoward.com.
