Monthly Archives: July 2024

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Will the Real Love Please Stand Up?

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“Love is love!” The battle cry implied that any gratifying feeling could qualify as love (ungodly sex, in this case). How can the same word reference both good and bad emotions or behaviors?

Our English language limits how we express feelings and actions, including love. We use that single word to reference emotions, lust, and charity. However, the Bible uses different words for each to ensure we understand what’s really happening when we encounter ‘love:’

  • Lust (usually sensual). Greek epithumia represents a firm intention to have something. Jesus said that someone who lusts after another’s spouse sins (Matthew 5:27-28).  Conversely, the Bible states that we should lust after the things of God.
  • Fondness (emotional love). Related Greek words begin with ‘phil’ and represent a fondness for something. For instance, ‘philadelphia’ is a fondness for brothers and sisters in Christ (Hebrews 13:1). Fondness for money is ‘philaguria’ (Hebrews 13:5). Lust and fondness are emotion-driven and, therefore, come and go. You may like me now but hate me tomorrow—especially if my articles contradict your beliefs. Neither emotion-based lust nor fondness is the unconditional love God has shown or that we must have for each other.
  • Unconditional, real Love (selfless, sacrificial). This love doesn’t come and go with an emotional or sexual wind. It’s doing the right thing for the right reason despite feelings. Greek noun agape is this love that God has for all creation, and the verb agapao is love in action. God is love (agape); God loves as we should (agapao). Let’s dig a bit deeper into this love.

God hasn’t always been happy with humanity but still loved (and loves) us so much that He gave His Son, the one we call Jesus, as an ultimate covenantal sacrifice to bring us back to Him. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) God then raised Him from the dead to assure His children that they too will be raised at the end of this world. Similarly, we do real, unconditional love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19).

We must honor God with all we are and have and be charitable with time, treasures, and talents: “… ‘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.’” (Matthew 22:37-39). Check out Matthew 25:31-46, and you’ll find that true, actionable love includes charity (feeding, housing, clothing, etc.).

Summary. Love can be a strong intent to have (often sexual lust), an emotion, or an unconditional loving action. What’s next? Let’s explore biblical perfection. In the meantime, love as God loves instead of chasing lusts and emotions.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Drain the Brain [Swamp]!

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During his 2016 campaign, President Trump pledged to “drain the swamp!” Whether the swamp is swampier now or not, I pondered, “Do others also need to be drained?” The answer? Yep—the brain/mind. Our focus is on defining, draining, and keeping it clean.

Name that brain! This organ controls all aspects of the body, from speech to movement. One of its functions is the ‘mind,’ from which everything flows. It receives input, develops thoughts, and facilitates action. Because it is central to everything, biblical writers call it the ‘heart.’ It can enable entering God’s Kingdom (Matthew 5:8). It determines what’s important to an individual (Matthew 6:21). And it processes temptations, sometimes permitting rebellion against God: “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” (Matthew 15:18-19) Is having a swampy brain/mind/heart dangerous? Absolutely!

The dangers of a swampy brain. Feeding the heart swamp is easy because we usually do what seems and feels good. Here’s the process, according to Jesus’ brother James: “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15) Feeding the swamp can produce a depraved and rebellious mind that will at least lead to spiritual death.

The apostle Paul confirmed this in Romans 1:29-31. There, he wrote that God abandoned those who rejected Him in favor of immoralities and rebellion stemming from a depraved mind. The outcome? Exclusion from God’s Kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21). How can we clean the heart and keep it swamp-free? Read on!

Draining, cleaning, and protecting the brain. The best course of action is to keep the swamp from forming in the first place by:

  • Guarding our ears and eyes (Matthew 6:22-23).
  • Walking by the Spirit God gives everyone devoted to Him (Galatians 5:16).
  • Immersing (clothing) ourselves with the things of our God and Christ instead of chasing what feels good but is immoral (Romans 13:12-14).

But what if we’ve already allowed a swampy heart to form? Repent by changing behavior because of a new heart in Christ, which leads to these things:

  • Putting aside evil things like slander and filthy speech (Colossians 3:8).
  • Transformation by renewing the heart through Bible study, discipleship, etc. (Romans 12:1-2).
  • Good habits formed through practicing physically and spiritually healthy things.

Summary. In the things of God, the mind and heart are usually synonymous. Chasing what seems or feels good can form a swampy heart that is useless to God. To drain it, don’t succumb to unhealthy temptations, avoid ungodly stuff, walk by God’s Spirit, and be transformed by renewing your mind/heart. Next time, we’ll ask, “Will the Real Love Please Stand Up?” Meanwhile,  follow Christ, not people!

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.