Getting the Greek Out
“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34 NASB
Love – It won’t be surprising to discover that the Greek word here is agapao. We would be shocked if it were anything else. Agape is the kind of love we associate with Yeshua. But we might not realize just how contrary agape is until we know a little about the history of the Greek ideas of love.
Most Greek literature and Greek philosophy uses the word eros to describe love. For the Greeks, eros captured an essential characteristic of love – the overwhelming compelling force of this very human experience. Eros is not about eroticism. It is about intoxication. The Greeks recognized that love (eros) was an almost uncontrollable power that swept up a person. Our contemporary expressions like “love sick” are really derived from this Greek idea. To be “head over heels” in love is just another way of saying that love’s power turns our world upside-down. In Greek thought, once eros has overpowered me, I simply don’t have rational control. My choices are obliterated and I am compelled to pursue this experience of ecstasy. I am drunk with the experience, addicted to its pleasure.
It only takes a moment to realize how much of our modern culture still pursues and promotes this Greek idea of love. Movies, books and television portray love like intoxication. Men and women put aside rational choices in order to follow the pull of love. “Love is blind” is another way of saying that eros takes charge of us. And many people spend their lives desiring and pursuing “love potion number 9.” They want to be drunk. When they wake up and no longer feel the intoxication, they decide that they need a new partner in order to maintain the experience.
Greek eros finds its way into religion. Eros in Greek religion is the natural impulse to lift myself out of my pedestrian life and become drunk on God. There are contemporary parallels here as well. Christian eros is that form of religion that demands, compels and urges us to experience God, to be drunk on His presence, to put aside the requirements of righteousness in favor of religious euphoria. This is the Christian desire to be transported out of ourselves and into a mystical union with God. Leave the world behind and sing love songs to the Most High. Eros is universal, undifferentiated embrace with the spiritual.
None of this is agape. Agape is a love that makes distinctions. Agape is a free and voluntary choice, not a psychic tsunami. Eros is Man’s impulse to be lifted up to God. Agape is God’s decision to reach down to Man. While eros seeks relationships in order to fulfill its own desires for ecstasy, agape exhibits itself in the uncompromising care of others for their sake. But the principle difference between eros and agape is this: agape eschews religious eroticism. Agape is love motivated by choice, eros is love motivated by desire.
When Yeshua gave this “new” commandment, He directed his followers toward deliberate choices to care for each other. He did not ask them to find euphoria in their decisions. He did not require them to experience thrilling victory or spiritual delight. He told them to demonstrate disinterested concern; disinterested because it did not depend on reciprocity, concern because it reflected the deliberate will and action of the Father.
Our culture is moving further and further along the Greek road. Everywhere we find people seeking experiences. In fact, the seeker-friendly church can only exist in a Greek world since its purpose is to present an attractive experience of God. Seeker-friendly churches provide a taste of intoxication. But only a taste. You have to join in order to pursue drunkenness.
Yeshua, on the other hand, doesn’t offer intoxication. He offers commitment to a way of life that requires deliberate, considered actions – actions that are always under the control of Torah and are redemptive.
Perhaps we need to reconsider which path we are walking. Are we looking for the next intoxicating experience with God (or with anyone else) or are we walking a path of deliberate choices that bless others?
Topical Index: love, eros, agape, John 13:34
Wow – awesome insight and word! Thank You Abba Father for what You are releasing and revealing through Your Son Skip! Amein and Amein!
Greetings and blessings from Europe. At this very moment it is exactly Greece that brought the whole European Union, the Euro and also the US$ in serious danger. Their way if thinking and acting hasn’t changed and inch since the letters of the apostles were written. We must urgently stop thinking the Greek way because it puts every single one of us on a disaster course. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Lord is using exactly Greece to deal with the unseen greed and fraudulous practices of the Western World, a lot of christian churches that are heavily intoxicated by this pagan way of behaviour included. Let us pray that in the inevitably upcoming next financial crash, this time coming from Europ, the Lord will protect His beloved and provide them with genuine spiritual food and with all that we really need!
One in Christ!
LEO – i think that is exactly what he promises in His Word(s): ” the Lord will protect His beloved and provide them with genuine spiritual food and with all that we really need!”
One in Christ!
Rule #1. “Thou shalt love the LORD thy G-d, with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. This (according to the scriptures and G-d’s instructions for life) is the greatest commandment. And as we have all read in 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter), Paul is attempting to tell us of “a more excellent way.” It (and this) is the Way of Love.
G-d SO loved the world… How many times have we read or heard of this? How deep has this penetrating our stainless steel, distracted hearts? Because G-d “so loved” the world, He gave.. “Benevolence toward another at cost to my self”- as a very wise man once said. Now, friends, who is the Giver here? And what can I possibly give to you that I myself do not first possess?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5.22,23) First (and foremost) on the list of these “good things?”- Love.
“The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” (1 Timothy 1.5) Love that flows from a pure, undivided heart. A heart that is given (in it’s entirety) to the Sovereignty of G-d and the LORDship of Christ. For Christ is not only our Savior, but He is our life’s breath, our blood-flow, our everlasting Kinsman-Redeemer, Intercessor, Master and Friend. As we draw near to Him (this is His open invitation), He has promised (He never lies) to draw near (also) unto us. We have all of G-d that we want. – How much do we want this? What is the desire of our hearts? To serve “self” or the Savior? To be selfish or to be selfless? How do we serve G-d? By serving the ones G-d loves. We are called to be servants. To serve one another in love, -just as He did.
The command of Christ is to love one another, and yes, love is a choice. I must choose to love my neighbor. I must recognize G-d loves this person near me, far more than I do, but this, His love, must be demonstrated by my thoughts, words, and actions toward my neighbor. Again, I cannot give what I do not first possess. In order for love to flow through me- it must first come to me.
Where does tHis love come from? We must go to the Source. “Ask and you will receive..” These are His instructions..
Love is spelled t-i-m-e. I must spend “quality time” with the ONE I love today. Then I will be prepared and equipped to face this day, the day which the LORD has made. If I delight myself in the LORD, and if I abide in Him and in His words- He will become unto me- the desire of my heart.
What is the desire of YHWH’s heart? What is His will? What is His good pleasure? What is would please our Kinsman-Redeemer, our heavenly Boaz? “Please, do as I ask..” Please, listen intently to and quickly, voluntarily obey my instructions..- “This is the Way- walk ye in it..” We (all) have a Guide. We (all-who are His) have a personal Trainer. We are the ones who need training. Training in the discipline of love. Do we need the chastening of the LORD, or are we giving our focused attention to Him? Our G-d is a Jealous Hunter/Lover. No seconds, no substitutes- we are to love Him with “all” our hearts, minds, souls and strengths. He doesn’t want prominence- Our Provider wants Preeminence. Then we will “see” His Providence. We will see and know, yes, experientially!- the LORD is good,-all the time, -and to everyone! -Worthy is the Lamb!
THIS WORD FROM SKIP TODAY IS SO TRUE & THERE ARE LOTS OF US THAT ALREADY KNEW IT BEFORE TODAY BUT WE JUST DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT SO ELOQUENTLY – THANK YOU SKIP FOR GIVING US SOMETHING TO TAKE HOLD OF & CONFIRM OUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE ORGANIZED EMERGENT SEEKER FRIENDLY CHURCH OF TODAY…
jano
Thanks Skip. Nineteenth Century romanticism, combined with a philosophy that has put man at the center of the universe resulted in the Beatles, “All you need is love, love, love.” With that we can all agree — provided we get our definition of love from the right source.