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Re: that's only one aspect of love
Posted By: Tom Schmidt, on host 128.239.208.216
Date: Monday, February 7, 2000, at 22:09:44

> On top of that, it's the biblical definition. When God said "Love thine enemies," he didn't mean "feel all gooshy inside about your enemies," he meant to place their needs above your own -- which is a goal that's actually attainable when your heart is where God wants it to be.
>

Actually, I don't think it is the biblical definition of love. Love in the bible is not about feelings, but it's not about actions, either -- for one thing, your definition doesn't seem to account for God's love for us. Does God put our needs above his own? I don't think you can say that he does -- because who can say God has needs, anyway? And even if he cares for us, it's not because he's neglecting himself -- even Jesus's sacrifice, as focused on our needs as it is, doesn't really involve a change in priorities, because in any real sense Jesus doesn't _need_ anything.

My understanding of biblical love is that it's covenant -- it's a description of a particular sort of preferential relationship. When God loves us, he doesn't want to have sex with us, and he doesn't appreciate us, like we do a car, and he doesn't put our needs above his -- he merely establishes a particular covenant relationship with us.

Tom "Procrastinating? Yes,

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