Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Jesus' Teachings On Love

It is truly and utterly amazing the number of biblically illiterate Christians who keep referencing "the teachings of Christ on love" when such teachings practically do not exist. Jesus had very little to say on the topic of love. In fact, everything He had to say in regard to the topic of love can be found in these passages:
Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Matthew 22:37-39; cf. Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-37
"But when the Pharisees heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they gathered themselves together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.""

Luke 6:27-36

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
The individual who gave the most weight to the topic of love, as far as the written word is concerned and as understood by most Christians, was the Apostle Paul. But to those individuals who call themselves "Christian" all the while belonging to a cult that teaches Paul was nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing, the entire teaching on love becomes invalidated, which leaves them with nothing to preach on the issue.

Furthermore, the individuals who repeatedly refer to "the teachings of Christ on love" have no clue what His teachings on love actually were, nor do they adhere to them the way they keep insisting others do. The "love" they are referring to, which they falsely attribute to Jesus, or even the Apostle Paul, is a false love. It is an idol in their lives that they worship. They go around spouting "love, love, love" without the faintest inkling of true biblical love. They have turned their false concept of love into a god, and their concept of love is acceptance of everyone and everything regardless of anything else God's Word has to say. Start reading your Bibles, people!