what is love?

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Love can be the biggest four lettered cliche or the most profound word of all. When we experience authentic love we get closer to the mystery of life
Just watching a movie or listening to a song that touches us deeply can remind us that life is more than what it appears.
As the Beatles said:
All you need is love.
 
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● 1Tim 5:1b . .Speak to the younger men as you would to your own kin.

In this case, the "kin" would be sort of like a man's younger siblings; viz: his
kid brothers. Young boys look up to their big brothers; who by all rights
should be setting the example as role models that a growing boy can be
proud of. Big brothers ought to be available too, and not treat their younger
siblings as excess baggage and/or uncool nerds and morons who are
beneath their dignity to be seen with.

Church officers who grew up in dysfunctional homes, where human
relationships were an ongoing cold war, are going to find that 1Tim 5:1b is
very difficult to obey in a manner that exemplifies peace, love, and
understanding. Were they to speak to the younger men in church the very
same way that they're accustomed to speaking to their own kin; it would
produce disastrous results.
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seed_time_harvest said:
When you say christians need to show love....
Click to expand...
You've made some interesting points, but where in my post did I say that, "Christians need to show love"? I am not saying that we don't, of course, but that's not the point I was trying to make in my post.

Sorry for any confusion that I may have caused in this regard.

Thanks!

~Deut
 
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● 1Tim 5:2a . . Speak to the older women as mothers

Speaking to older women as mothers means doing so in compliance with the
fourth of the Ten Commandments.

● Ex 20:12 . . Honor your mother

Honoring one's mother means giving her the respect that her age and her
maternal position deserve. It means watching your language, and it means
keeping a civil tongue in your head. It means speaking to her as a grown-up
instead of a child. It means treating her as superior and you as subordinate.
It means deferring to her wishes instead of demanding your own.
_
 
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● 1Tim 5:2a . . Speak to the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

The Greek word for "purity" is hagneia (hag-ni'-ah) which means:
cleanliness; viz: chastity

Webster's defines "chastity" as: abstention from unlawful sexual intercourse
and/or purity in conduct and intention

Church officers are sometimes admired as celebrities; ergo: they're in an
advantageous position for meeting star-struck women; thus opportunities for
trysts abound.

Officers should especially avoid speaking to the young women in church as if
hanging out in a beer joint or a bowling alley. These days it's easy to
inadvertently pick up inappropriate speech habits due to the proliferation of
vulgar language in television and Hollywood movie scripts.
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● 1Tim 5:3-4 . . Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a
widow has children or grandchildren, her kin should learn first of all to put their religion
into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and
grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

A widow in real need would be one who is unable to work and has no one of her own to
look out after her. Here in modern America that situation isn't nearly as serious as it is in
third world countries where there are no government assistance programs for senior
citizens. So you can see that in those circumstances a widow's church may be the only
thing between her and grinding poverty.

A widow's Christian progeny have a sacred obligation to provide for their aging
ancestors.

● 1Tim 5:8 . .Those who won't care for their own kin, especially those living in the same
household, have disregarded what we believe. Such people are worse than infidels.
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● 1Tim 5:5-7 . .The widow who is really in need, and left all alone, puts her
hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the
people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.

The New Testament Greek word for "pleasure" means voluptuous; which
Webster's defines as luxury and/or sensual gratification.

People who live only for the best that life has to offer generally regard
religion as a ball and chain holding them back from living their lives to the
fullest. Well; not everyone has access to either the means or the
wherewithal to live life to the fullest. For some, life offers no options other
than a tin shack, a dirt floor, and a bowl of white rice; if that.

Basic necessities aren't the issue here, rather, the goal to satisfy one's
appetite for the best that life has to offer. It's said that one cannot serve
God and money, well neither can one serve God and one's inherent cravings.
True, it's difficult to stop one's self from craving the best that life has to
offer; but one can choose whether to let the satisfaction of those cravings be
the dominant force in their life.

● Mark 4:18-19 . . Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;
but the concerns of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for
other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
_
 
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● 1Tim 5:9-10 . . No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is
over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good
deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of
the saints, helping those in trouble, and devoting herself to all kinds of good
deeds.

There are unprincipled individuals out there who love nothing better than
taking advantage of a church's good nature, and its desire to be helpful.
Following Paul's directive is a good way to avoid being victimized by one of
them. (cf. Ruth 2:11)
_
 
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● 1Tim 5:16 . . If any believing man or woman have widows, let them
relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them
that are widows indeed.

It's awful to think that a religion based upon love, has to command its
adherents to extend kindness to their own kin.

But in all fairness, I should point out that Paul's directive only impacts
believing widows rather than unbelieving, because a Christian church is
under zero obligation to support widows who fail to meet all the
requirements of a "widow indeed" as per 1Tim 5:9-10.

What we're talking about here are specifically Christian widows; so if those
among your relatives are say, Atheist, Agnostic, Muslim, Buddhist, Bahái,
Hindu, Jehovah's Witness, Scientology, or Mormon, et al; then don't even
think about asking your church to help support them. If you want to help
them, okay, but leave your church out of it.
_
 
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● 2Tim 2:14 . . Command them in God's name to stop quarrelling over
trifles.

In a Sean Connery movie titled "The Name Of The Rose" church dignitaries
assembled a meeting of the minds to reach a resolution on a theological
question which was: Did the Christ own the clothes that he wore or not?

Well, needless to say, the discussion turned into bickering wherein nothing
was resolved. Tempers flared, shouting ensued, feelings were hurt, and
people were alienated over the issue-- a rather trifling issue; which is
precisely what it means to fiddle while Rome burns down around you.
Christians are often embroiled in arguments over things that in the grand
scheme of things have almost zero importance while all around them are
weightier issues begging their attention.

It's interesting that Paul didn't want Timothy's flock instructed to avoid
quarrelling over trifles, rather, to stop quarrelling. I can't help but wonder
how many Christians think to seek absolution for the sin of quarrelling over
trifles when they go to confession.
_
 
2tim2-14-16.png


2 Timothy 2:14-16 :)
 
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● 2Tim 2:16 . . Avoid worldly, empty chatter; for it will lead to further
impiety.

What he's talking about there are bull sessions wherein people discussing
the Bible haven't a clue what they're talking about; and their perpetual
deliberations-- consisting of sophistry, conjecture, theory, and personal
opinions --never get to the bottom of anything.

Well, the Bible isn't meant to be learned by means of discussion; it's meant
to be learned by instruction, taught by someone enabled by God for that
purpose. (Eph 4:11-14)

● 1Cor 12:29 . . Are all teachers?

The answer to that is a great big NO.

Some years ago I was invited to a home Bible study. Before considering his
invitation; I asked the man if his group was led by a competent Bible
teacher. He said "No; we don't have a teacher. The group teaches itself. In
other words: we speak as the Spirit leads us to speak."

They say iron sharpeneth iron. But that doesn't work when both irons are
soft. That's why files are hardened and tempered. Well; that man's group
lacked a file, so to speak; so I declined.
_
 
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● 2Tim 2:23 . . But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that
they produce debating.

Not all speculation is forbidden; only the kind that's absurd and uneducated;
i.e. way out in the Kuiper Belt, so to speak.

I seriously doubt that 2Tim 2:23 is addressing one's IQ, but rather, the
propensity of some to shoot from the lip without really knowing what they're
talking about and/or having the slightest basis for their perspective.

So; if Christians are to refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, then they
really ought to avoid presenting them too.
_
 
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● 2Tim 2:24a . . The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome

Sometimes it's best to follow Han Solo's advice and "let the Wookie win
one". In other words; when one is wise; two are happy. Be the wise one and
pick your fights carefully. Don't expend your energies on hot button topics;
they'll just lead to anger, frustration, demeaning comments, and flaming
remarks.

Especially avoid getting into discussions with obtuse individuals driven by a
rather annoying propensity to challenge everything you say simply because
they thrive on perpetual debating that never gets to the bottom of anything.

Another thing: Do you really have to be right all the time? People are
entitled to a second opinion so let them have one. It's good diplomacy;
which can be defined as skill in handling affairs without arousing hostility,
i.e. tact.
_
 
If we only knew how to ask the right question.......

I’ve discovered over time that love is NOT a “what” but a “Who”......

By asking “Who is love......”

Now, you will find the answer to your question......or maybe not because.......

sometimes He (Love) likes to hide.......only the humble find Him, He hides from the proud....
 
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love is difficult sometimes. God challenges us. Can we dig deep? Can we discover Gods love deep within?
Yes we can. But it sure aint easy.
 
morefaithrequired said:
love is difficult sometimes. God challenges us. Can we dig deep? Can we discover Gods love deep within?
Yes we can. But it sure aint easy.
Click to expand...

No, listen.....

Love can know Love..... It is easy for Love to know, understand, recognize, feel and choose to Love...

Human reasoning can NEVER find or know Love. It is blind.
 
Lafftur said:
No, listen.....

Love can know Love..... It is easy for Love to know, understand, recognize, feel and choose to Love...

Human reasoning can NEVER find or know Love. It is blind.
Click to expand...
hey come on! Where's the love? :)
 
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● 2Tim 2:24b-26 . . The Lord's servant must . . be kind to all, apt to teach,
patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in
opposition, if perhaps God may grant them a change of heart leading to the
knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from
the snare of the Devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

The all in "be kind to all" really should be taken to mean all in Christian
congregations rather than all in the world. The reason being, according to
Eph 4:11-16, Christ doesn't dispense his servants for the world's benefit,
rather, for his body's benefit.

For the above reason; Sunday school teachers need to treat the people in
church who oppose them as they would patients in a mental hospital who
lack the faculties to know what they're doing and/or to think for themselves;
hence the instructions to be kind, gentle, and patient.
_
 
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