One of the Most Misunderstood Words in the English Language

Actually, there are lots of them, but they're too many to cover in one blog posting. So, let's talk about one. Love.

I think that one of the reasons we get into trouble regarding the meaning of this word is because unlike other languages, the English language limits us to one word to describe something so important and has so many interpretations.  Another possibility is that we have no clue what it means.

God calls us to love one another. The Apostle John delivered a stronger message saying that “Beloved let us love one another for love comes from God and whoever does not love, does not know God.” John was speaking in terms of actions. Thus, love is not a noun, but a verb.

Then, add to that, we use the word love so often as a descriptive word, the true meaning of it quite often becomes less powerful or maybe even lost. How many times have you heard someone say they really love pizza or ice cream, that they love their favorite sports team or that they just love that new dress you're wearing.

In recent weeks, our pastor at Pilgrim Church, Rev. Kirk Bruce, has been sharing some very interesting and creative sermon messages. He's titled them based on some of the most popular advertising slogans and I've marveled at how each one of them has touched my spirit in a way that I hadn't thought an ad campaign slogan could. Sure, I had fond memories of some of them, but when he put them in a Christian context, they achieved a whole new meaning.

For example, he began the sermon series with a message entitled “Have It Your Way” and has since shared interesting messages from “Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz Oh What A Relief It Is,” and “Just Do It.” Do any of these sound familiar? Just like they did for me, I'm sure simply hearing the titles evoked a whole slew of memories.

How about this one; “When You Care Enough To Send The Very Best.” Hallmark first opened its doors for business in 1910 and in 1944 the company began using this slogan which has become one of the most recognizable ad slogans of all time. As I sat in the pew the Sunday morning of this message, I knew that it was one of those that was going to take a while to sink in and take root. I call them “mullers” because I have to mull them around in my head for a while.

The scripture passage for the Sunday morning message was 1 Corinithians 13:1-13. If you were married in a church, then you're probably familiar with it because it's one of the most used scriptures for wedding ceremonies. I think because of the popular wedding usage, it's not used as much for sermon messages, but that's just a personal opinion. I like to read it often, though. It keeps loving your husband or wife in perspective. Have you ever really absorbed the words of that scripture? It's very powerful. This particular Sunday morning message, it took on a whole new spectrum of meaning.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, he wasn't really speaking of the first type of love that usually pops into our heads when we say the word love. He wasn't talking about romantic love. He was referring to the foundation of our faith which is love. Respect one another. Treat others how you wish to be treated and continue to do so even if you aren't treated as such in return. It kind of sounds like something we all learned in kindergarten called “The Golden Rule,” don't you think?

This type of love is the most difficult yet it is what is expected of us as Christians. It has nothing to do with what another person does and everything to do with our own actions. To compound matters, you don't have to like someone to love someone. That's pretty confusing, but it's also true. Just talk to any couple who's been married for a long time and they'll tell you themselves that they've always loved one another, but there were times when they didn't like one another.

Love has so many different meanings, but when put in this way, it can be quite simple. Love is not a feeling or emotion, it is not temporary, conditional, a question, or about sex. Love doesn't require the other person to be perfect because it's not about them, it's about you. Are you behaving in a loving manner today?