What is Christian love?

[surrendersacrifice]

What is Christian love? Christianity is more than just keeping the commandments or avoiding what is wrong or sinful or following the written words. It is about living God’s life of sacrificial and all-forgiving love. Therefore, it is not about doing the minimum requirements; rather, it is to go out of our way and give of our self completely to love and serve others, including, those who hurt and offend us. Since true love is unconditional and selfless, true love goes beyond friends and relatives. Jesus tells us to (Luke 6:27-35) love our enemies, do good deeds to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. If anyone slaps us on one cheek, we must let him hit the other one too. We must lend expecting nothing back. We must give to everyone who asks for something. We must never divorce our spouse (Mark 10:11-12) and be merciful, just as our Father is merciful (Luke 6: 35-36). If someone takes us to court to sue us for our shirt, we must let him have our coat as well. We must walk an additional mile if the occupation forces ask us to carry their pack for one mile (Matt 5; 39-41). If anyone borrows something from us we must not ask for it back (Luke 6:27-30). We must be willing to lay down our life for others, including for those who cause us grave hurt; just as God in His Divine mercy sacrificed His life for those who hurt and killed Him.

 

[jtartar]

(surrendersacrifice;59564)
What is Christian love? Christianity is more than just keeping the commandments or avoiding what is wrong or sinful or following the written words. It is about living God’s life of sacrificial and all-forgiving love. Therefore, it is not about doing the minimum requirements; rather, it is to go out of our way and give of our self completely to love and serve others, including, those who hurt and offend us. Since true love is unconditional and selfless, true love goes beyond friends and relatives. Jesus tells us to (Luke 6:27-35) love our enemies, do good deeds to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. If anyone slaps us on one cheek, we must let him hit the other one too. We must lend expecting nothing back. We must give to everyone who asks for something. We must never divorce our spouse (Mark 10:11-12) and be merciful, just as our Father is merciful (Luke 6: 35-36). If someone takes us to court to sue us for our shirt, we must let him have our coat as well. We must walk an additional mile if the occupation forces ask us to carry their pack for one mile (Matt 5; 39-41). If anyone borrows something from us we must not ask for it back (Luke 6:27-30). We must be willing to lay down our life for others, including for those who cause us grave hurt; just as God in His Divine mercy sacrificed His life for those who hurt and killed Him.
surrendersacrifice, You are very right!! Think about what Jesus said when a man versed in the Law asked him which was the greatest commandment, Matt 22:36-40. Jesus stated that the greatest is: You must love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second was: You must love you neighbor as yourself. Important was the next verse: On these two hangs the whole Law and the prophets. Paul wrote a little more on the subject at Rom 13:8-10. Here Paul reiterated some of the principles that were in the Mosaic Law that was still in effect in the New Covenant. Notice that after he also said we must love our neighbor as ourselves, he said, in verse 10. Love does not work evil to his neighbor. At 1John 4:8,16, we are told that God IS love. This kind of love is called AGAPE LOVE. This is the highest form of love. It takes in both familial but most important, it is PRINCIPLED LOVE. This is more that other kinds of love. This is the kind that a Christian should have for others, even those who hate you and persecute you. It is the kind that God has for His creation, even though the vast majority ignore His commandments, even those who call themselves Christians, but are NOT!!!