The Loving God

The third type of diety people perceive is a loving being.  This is the version of God that loves mankind unconditionally. Of the three versions of God this version is the most accurate. 

However, in order to understand a loving God, you have to understand what kind of love He possesses and exhibits.  I will attempt to explain what I mean in the simplest terms I can. 

In the English language there are really only two words for love. There is first the very ambiguous word "love", which can mean anything from lust, sexuality, or desiring-preferring one thing over another. It can be applied to people, possessions, foods, feelings, entertainment, etc. Then there is the word "like" which is a lesser form. The problem is these words are so ambiguous that you have to derive the meaning from the context in which it is used, and even then the meaning is often lost. 

By contrast, the Bible was written in other languages, namely Hebrew and Greek. Both languages have words for love that define specific types of love for which there are no English equivalents. Greek has four words for love. Hebrew has at least three, but we are going to focus on the Greek. In Greek three of the four words for love are natural loves which we more or less need. There are part of our natural order and in and of themselves are neither good nor evil. 

It is not my goal at this time to explore the differences in the meanings of these words. Rather we will focus on the forms used to describe the love of Christ, which is agape. Agape (pronounced agápē) is unconditional love. It is the love God has for man. It is free from pride or selfishness. A most excellent example is found in the writings of Paul. 

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not agape, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not agape, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not agape, it profiteth me nothing.

Agape suffereth long, and is kind; agape envieth not; agape vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Agape never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, agape, these three; but the greatest of these is agape.”

1st Corinthians 13:1-13

In the KJV (and other versions) this passage translates agape as charity. This is undoubtedly because the translators realized that love was too ambiguous of a word and could not convey the proper meaning. However I feel that charity does not properly convey the meaning either, since charity means to give, but that act in itself is not agape. We can give out of eros, pride, selfishness, necessity, etc. Charity on its own has no motive, but it can have either good or bad motives behind it. If I give to the poor I can do it out if a genuine compassion, or out of guilt.

Most natural lives are conditional. For example, a mothers love for her child, which some say is unconditional but it is not so, can be turned into bitterness if the child does not reciprocate that love. Likewise with romantic love which also turns into an ugliness if it is not returned. Or a friendship that crumbles into dust when a misunderstanding is introduced or trust is betrayed. Not so with agape. God loves us very deeply regardless of what mistakes we make.

“... A certain man had two sons:  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 

 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

Luke 15:11-24

In an upcoming article we can discuss the meaning of agape, forgiveness, and the atonement. But for now I just wish to show that God's love for us is not conditional, and does not diminish when we make mistakes. He values our souls and desires give us all that we desire that is good.