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Posts Tagged ‘believe’

Why Might People Reject Or Not Believe In God?

Posted in Bible, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , on September 15, 2024|

By Mike Edwards

I don’t have any polls or mass audiences to rely on to answer this question definitely. I am convinced it is important we speculate, because how we answer this question can impact how we view and talk to others about God.  It is important for God-followers to understand there are many, many reasons why someone either rejects God or hesitate to believe in a God in the first place.

What do many Christians claim about those who reject God?

The first chapter of Romans in the Bible is used to suggest all who don’t believe in God are suppressing what they know to be true. But it seems the biblical writer assumed his audience believed in God but ignored God to justify their evil ways. Let’s not accuse those who believe in a God as needing a crutch or accuse those, who question the reality of an invisible God, as being wicked and ignorant of their feelings. If wrong to doubt God exists, Christians sin if doubt God in tough times. We all have friends who don’t share our belief in God, but they are just as moral.

People reject God for good reason because of claims made about God 

Many claim that God tortures those forever in the afterlife if reject God here on earth, that God rejects women in leadership roles, and God condemn others for being attracted to the same gender. If I believed that, I may reject God also. Who can blame others for rejecting a God contrary to our moral intuitions! One’s view of God is often based on one’s interpretation of the Bible or belief that the biblical writers understood God perfectly. We can’t prove the biblical writers were always right about God, but even if the writers had perfect understanding the Bible is subject to interpretation. The truth is biblical scholars who have a deep respect for Scriptures don’t agree what the Bible says about gays, women, hell, and other moral issues. See here.  See here.  See here.

Many rightly reject God for personal reasons

A child sexually abuse by their father may struggle to accept a God betrayed as our Father in Heaven. Does God really judge them? Some are open or desperately want to believe in God but can’t get their head around why a loving God doesn’t intervene more with so much evil in the world. Does God really judge them? Why would a gay person believe in a God who supposedly condemns them for sexual attractions they no more choose than straights. The truth is many aren’t rebellious but question why God is the way God-believers claim God to be like!

There are reasonable objections to not believe in God

Some rightly can’t understand what a good God – the only God worth believing in – doesn’t intervene more in this world with evil. I have suggested a possible explanation here as espoused by biblical scholar Thomas Oord. It makes the most sense to me, but it may not satisfy you or others. People that don’t accept apologetic reasons given for God and evil are not being rebellious.

Also, why is God so hidden for those who truly want to believe in God. Many may reject God because God doesn’t reveal themselves more. This isn’t rebellion; they want to believe. Let’s condemn those who say “I don’t care if there is a God. I will treat others however the hell I want to.”

How do we treat those that do or don’t believe in God?

There are many reasons why one might believe in God or not. Let’s listen to their personal journey without judging them. Personally, believing in the possibility of a God hasn’t led to perfection but has offered a moral guide in my relationships. But I know friends who are agnostic and put to shame some Christians’ treatment of others. I have a close relationship with God perhaps due to being raised in a home that focused on God. Then again, others in my situation may go a different direction because of the difficult relationship I had with my parents. Trust me – I’m no moral giant! Scholars don’t agree the Bible definitely says those who don’t believe in God in this life will be rejected by God in the afterlife. I am convinced a loving God will have a personal conversation with all in the afterlife whether to continue in the afterlife together. I suppose character pursued in this life may influence one changing their mind.   

Why Might People Reject Or Not Believe In God?

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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Allow Each Other to Follow Their Path

Posted in Acceptance of Others, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , on July 10, 2024|

by Michael Donahoe

Is it aggravating to anyone else, or is it just me? I mean the fact that no matter what you believe, what your interpretation, someone always has a completely opposite view.

You get excited about hearing some truth that really connects, and the next thing you read an article by another Christian person that completely disagrees with what you just heard.

Even more than that, most of us Christians get mad when someone disagrees with us and is different. We get on Facebook and make ourselves look crazy because we talk about brotherly love, then we fight and argue with someone because they interpret things differently….and mostly about things we cannot prove one way or the other.

We really have to stop and think that whatever it is we believe, whatever our interpretation, not everyone is going to agree with us. There is no reason for us to get mad at someone else for being different.

Some of the things we believe in life are basically all a matter of faith. We have our opinions and beliefs, but normally we cannot prove them as fact. Yet, we will argue our point and get mad at others because they do not accept our views. Just because someone has a different viewpoint does not mean we cannot accept them and listen to their views.

We need to keep our ears open to the leading of the Spirit, and follow on our own path looking to Jesus. That does not mean any and every path is the right one, but we cannot be the judge of who is right and who is wrong.

Jeremy Myers, in his book ‘Dying to Religion and Empire’ states, “The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that while he leads us all in the same direction, there are millions of different paths he can take to get us there. His goal, of course, is to advance the Kingdom of God on earth through the people of God who are being conformed into the image of God”. We need to follow Christ as he leads us, and then be ready to love all people, no matter if they are on the same path or not.

Let’s stop arguing, fighting, and demanding that everyone agree with us, and love those we meet along the journey. Enjoy the diversity and differences in others and use it as an opportunity to learn new things and accept people who are different than us.

**********

Michael Donahoe was added as a writer as his views fit perfectly with those of Done with Religion. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/

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God Is Exactly Like Who You Think!

Posted in christian living, Jesus follower, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , on March 10, 2024|

By Mike Edwards

If you read my weekly Posts, you know I write on this topic a lot. It’s just that I believe many have a misinformed view of what God is like which drives them away from God though they wish they had a closer relationship. This misinformation often come from Christians or their institutions. Since God doesn’t speak audibly to most of us, we are free to speculate what God must truly be like. Let me try to convince you that God is what your moral conscience tells you, unless you don’t believe in treating others like you want to be treated.  

It’s not presumptuous to imagine what a loving God is like through our moral inclinations 

A Book cannot be the sole determinate of what God is like since scholars interpret the same passages differently. Also, the majority of people born in this world did not have a copy of the Bible. We are left to wonder how a Perfect God, the only God worth believing in, truly loves. If a Creator exists, it is only intuitive that a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. We all seem to know the question we ought to ask ourselves – am I loving others perfectly? Or am I loving others like I want to be loved.

Women, gays, and Hell 

A major reason many believe women can’t be leaders of men in the religion institutions or marriage is because their inspired Book says so. Many believe God condemns gays, though many of us have gay friends who feel no choice in being attracted to the same gender any more than straights can explain why attracted to the opposite gender. Many believe God orders the death of infidels, often by torture, in this life or the life to come after death. Most of us would not even do that to our worst enemies. I am convinced one of the main reasons rational folks have these beliefs is because they believe they owe their God allegiance because of a Book their God supposedly inspired. See here.

What about views we disagree on 

One main reason rational people don’t agree on many moral issues is because of their interpretation of their Holy Book. We must find ways to have conversations with one another, though we don’t have the same interpretations. There can be differences in views about God concerning women, gays, and Hell. We all must admit uncertainty in our views about what a loving God is like, unless it concerns universal morals such as sexual abuse, murder, etc. Concerning challenges such as immigration or climate actions, democratic societies have the advantage of the majority vote and who is chosen to make such decisions for us as a nation. Dictatorships of course only result in the powerful enforcing their views on the powerless.

What about those who don’t believe in a God? 

I’m convinced we all have internal “shoulds” how to treat others, whether by natural or spiritual influence. It doesn’t matter whether you believe in a Creator or not. You still expect me to treat you like I want to be treated. We all are accountable to the golden rule, whether you believe in a God or not. Extremists often believe others should be killed for being infidels, but they don’t want their loved one to be treated as such if others of different religion feel differently. 

What to believe about God?

Don’t determine your view of God according to what others believe or claim but how you think you ought to treat others unless you are an extremist. Please stop being so certain if it doesn’t involve an almost universal belief. Have open discussions, share what you have in common, and try to discover the best action for the good of most.

God Is Exactly Like Who You Think!

MikeEdwardsprofilepic125

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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What Is The Greatest Advantage Believing In God If So Inclined?

Posted in Acceptance of Others, Bible, christian living, Jesus follower, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , on July 30, 2023|

By Mike Edwards

Some may be on the fence with an inclination to believe in a God. Faith is common in life. We do our due diligence getting a babysitter, but we can’t know for sure they won’t bring harm to our child. We think getting on a plane is safe but we don’t know we will land safely. Believing isn’t always seeing as obviously we cannot prove there is a God or there isn’t a God. I am convinced belief in God and taking action on such a belief is worth the journey.

Belief in God can provide a meaning and purpose in life is the greatest advantage!

Goals are important in embarking upon an achievement. If you want a certain job, you have to purposefully get the right education and experience. If you want to make a sports team, you have to have a plan for training and getting better. What do we all hope for at the end of our life? I recently had a friend pass away. This man was an inspiration in the life he lived – not the possessions he obtained but the relationships he maintained. Pursing a long-lasting reputation in relationships leads to few regrets. This is the goal in life God’s influence can help you achieved.   

Jesus’ message for living

When Jesus was asked what were the greatest commandments or how to have eternal life, He didn’t say drop to your knees and say a certain prayer. He simply said to love God and your neighbor as yourself (Lk.10:25-37; Mt. 22:37-40). God isn’t full of themselves. A perfect, loving God – the only God worth believing in – knows loving God leads to loving others to the fullest. Strive to love others like you want to be loved. God is dying to help you have fewer relational regrets by living a purposeful life.

Don’t major on the minors

Love should be the only doctrine or creed of a church; instead, they divide over what they think the Bible teaches about women, gays, hell, heaven, the Bible, etc. They fail to realize that the Bible requires interpretation which doesn’t guarantee certainty of their stance. We should focus on loving the gays or followers of different religions as we want to be loved. That is more the discussion than what the Bible may or may not say. Have open conversations than claiming to know what God thinks according to your interpretation of a Book. I rather try that approach than cause all the divisions we have among those who supposedly believe in God.

What is a relationship with God like?

Many may not pursue a closer relationship with a God they are inclined to believe in because of what they have heard from others what God is like. Don’t believe everything you hear! God only seeks to love you like you wish you were always able to love others. We all have great parents or at least wish our parents had better loved us in certain ways. This is the God you can believe in and setting out to live a purposeful, meaningful live.

What Is The Greatest Advantage Believing In God If So Inclined?

MikeEdwardsprofilepic125

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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Are There Reasons To Pursue God Even If Skeptical?

Posted in Acceptance, Bible, christian living, Jesus follower, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , on January 15, 2023|

By Mike Edwards

National polls suggest the majority of people believe there is a God. Many seem to have a strong inclination that there is an afterlife after time here on earth. I’m all “in” with God for some reason, but we all have different journeys. I may be needy, scared to accept reality, etc., but how do you explain billions believing in a God. Many would admit they believe in God but don’t have a close relationship with God. I wrote possible reasons why  here .

I have a hunch God especially loves skeptics!

Most agree an unloving or tyrannical God isn’t worth believe in. It is only intuitive, if a Creator exist, that a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. A parent obviously loves a child who finds it easier than their others children to accept them and their ways. But we don’t unlove our skeptical children. A greater pain may be when our children ignore us. Spiritual or human parents don’t desire forced love, which isn’t genuine, but hope for consideration and to prove the possibility of a better relationship. 

Don’t believe everything you hear about God? 

Many may be skeptical about God because of claims made about God which are contrary to our deepest moral intuitions. One’s understanding of the Bible may be the reasons some Christians seems unloving. But biblical scholars who have a deep respect for Scriptures don’t agree that the God in the Bible condemns homosexuality, that God forbids women in leadership roles, or that the Bible teaches there is a literal Hell where unbelievers are tortured forever. Don’t believe everything you hear claimed about God! See here.

Do I have to believe in Jesus’ resurrection or that Jesus was both God and human? 

I am convinced Jesus’ resurrection isn’t legend but others may not. Jesus told followers He was coming back from the dead and they didn’t believe Him despite witnessing Jesus’ miracles beforehand. They only believed after witnessing or hearing Jesus resurrected. I would like to think more of us if we witness a man or woman coming back from the grave, after killed on a cross, would be convinced of their message. But none of us lived during biblical times. 

Some can’t logically wrap their heads around Jesus being both man and God. Exactly how does one do that chromosomally? Isn’t it logically impossible to be God and not God? Some may be willing to accept that Jesus was an extraordinary man who epitomized who God was. Why can’t we begin there discussing what teachings of Jesus seem to represent what a loving God is like? 

Don’t we want the Jesus story to be true? 

Jesus didn’t use His power if really God in human form. Who doesn’t respect Jesus was willing to hang out with those despised by society and take on the snobbish religious and political leaders? Jesus, when ask what was the greatest commandment, simply said love others like you want to be loved. Try it! You might have fewer relational regrets. Jesus risked being crucified by the powerful and didn’t bother to save himself from pain on the Cross, though reported capable of miracles. Maybe Jesus wanted other to consider His message. If the biblical writers were making up stuff, you don’t report your leader was crucified, rejected by your family, and followers doubted Jesus’ claims including being God in flesh. Jesus simply was not the stuff legends were made up.

What is the risk of following God?

It’s okay to be skeptical and take a leap of faith. Faith is a part of life. We still get on an airplane, not because we know but have reason to believe it is safe. A God worth believing in only desires to help you in your journey of becoming the person deep down you want to become. I am not sure there is anything to lose in beginning a journey of faith if the desire is to live life with fewer regrets. Personally, the biggest reason for being a God-follower is the inspiration and encouragement I sense in striving to be a better human being than I would be otherwise.

Are There Reasons To Pursue God Even If Skeptical?

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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What Beliefs Does God Demand To Be “In” With God?

Posted in Acceptance, Bible, christian living, Jesus follower, Love of God, religion, tagged , , , , , , , on January 1, 2023|

By Mike Edwards

What loving parent demands love. Forced love is an oxymoron. If you believe in not loving people like you want to be loved, good luck in life. I am convinced God only wishes for all to consider the possibility of a loving God who desires to help in our journey to become the person deep down we want to become. Loving, human parents don’t require certain beliefs from their children before hoping they will consider a closer relationship. Are we better lovers than God? 

Does God love skeptics? 

Most agree an unloving or tyrannical God isn’t worth believing in. It is only intuitive, if a Creator exist, that a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. A parent obviously loves a child who finds it easier than their other children to accept them and their ways. But we don’t unlove our skeptical children. A greater pain may be when our children ignore us. Spiritual or human parents are always hoping for consideration to prove the possibility of a better relationship. 

Is believing the resurrection of Jesus and Jesus is the Son of God a non-starter? 

I am convinced Jesus’ resurrection isn’t legend but others may not. Jesus told followers He was coming back from the dead and they didn’t believe Him despite witnessing Jesus’ miracles beforehand. They only believed after seeing Jesus resurrected with their own eyes. I would like to think more of us if we witness a man or woman coming back from the grave, after killed on a cross, would be convinced of their message. But none of us lived during biblical times. 

Some can’t logically wrap their heads around Jesus being both man and God. Exactly how does that happen chromosomally? Isn’t it logically impossible to be God and not God? Some may be willing to accept that Jesus was an extraordinary man who epitomized who God was. Why can’t we begin there in discussing what teachings of Jesus seem to represent what a loving God is like? 

You don’t even have to believe the Bible or what it teaches

You certainly don’t have to believe in magical trees and talking snakes. The global flood story could describe a regional flood in hyperbolic terms to convey moral, spiritual food for thought. God doesn’t require literal belief in any event in the Bible or else! Be careful thinking you have to believe what some claim the Bible teaches. Scholars disagree what the Bible teaches about many moral issues, including if there is really a literal hell. See here.  Now if God physically appears before your very eyes, you might want to consider what They claim.

What do you lose taking a leap of faith? 

No one can prove God exist or doesn’t, but billions in the past have believe in the possibility of a Creator. They couldn’t all be lunatics. Do you want to be more in with God? I am not sure there is anything to lose in beginning a journey of faith if the desire is to live life with fewer regrets. Personally, the biggest reason for being a God-follower is the inspiration and encouragement I sense in striving to be a better human being. Give God a chance to influence you positively.

What Beliefs Does God Demand To Be “In” With God?

MikeEdwardsprofilepic125

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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What Kind Of God Do You Believe In?

Posted in Acceptance, Bible, christian living, Jesus follower, Love of God, tagged , , , , , on September 18, 2022|

By Mike Edwards

A majority of people believe in God, but may not have a closer relationship with God because what they believe about God. No one can be certain what an invisible, inaudible God is like. I do know that only a perfect, loving God is worth believing in. Show me the perfect parent, or one close to it, and I suspect that is what God is like. A reason some may believe otherwise is because of what they think a Book says about God. God may be more like you expected!

Is God really that Authoritative? 

Abraham questioned and negotiated with God (Gen. 18). God listened and considered Abraham’s concern. An Authoritative God would have said: “I am God so shut your mouth.” In Exodus, Moses balked when God asked Moses to return to Egypt and liberate the Jewish people. God didn’t say “Do not question my plan or authority!” God was adaptive in working with Moses. The Apostle Paul says love is patient, kind, and does not insist on its own way (I Cor 13). Love puts up with us, has faith in us, and places hope in us. See John Sanders: It Matters If Your God Is Nurturing Or Authoritative!

Is God really that Judgmental? 

Did God create us to remind God how great they are, or we can go to Hell? Doesn’t sound like a God I can get close to. Worse is if you believe Hell is a place for unending torture where pain serves no lasting purpose. Humans wouldn’t even create such a place to torture their enemies after death.  I think the Bible agrees. See here.  Call me a fool! If my kids hated my guts or ignored me and had a genuine change of heart in this life or the afterlife, I am ready to begin a relationship. So is God! 

Is God pissed and views you as a scum bag? 

Do you not give a damn how others feel or how your actions impact others? Color me God then. Your behaviors disgust me. Does God really view us as evil from birth and has to put on Jesus-colored glasses to even look at us? Such an idea could only come from one’s interpretation of a Book. But I could point to verses such as Isaiah 54:10: “…my unfailing love for you will not be shaken…says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” A loving God can only love how an earthly parent ought to love their child. 

Maybe God is kind and relatable like the parent you always wished for 

God’s love surely is the same as supreme parents – other-directed not self-consumed. Love gets excited when we do well and make a difference in the lives of others. Love anticipates, hopes for my success, believes in me. God is pulling for me, even when failing, because I do the same for my children. We doubt God but God still loves. God may worry but still hopes. We are dependent on our children for intimate relationships. God is dependent on us. An all-powerful God would only give us uncontrolled freedom if seeking a partnership and friendship with us.

Our view of God matters!

A belief in a benevolent God makes us kinder. We often treat others the way we think God treats us. How has God’s threats of punishment helped you break away from bad habits or behaviors you long to change? Grace or authoritativeness doesn’t guarantee change, but I believe we best change because of God’s or friends’ love and acceptance. If we think God is hard to please and pissed off about sin rather than what sin is doing to us, we may stop going to God when failing. God desires perfection for our own sake but surely celebrates our victories along the way. Our image of God can dictate our beliefs about God. Imagine what you believe a perfect God is like in your life and the lives of others. You may discover God is more like what you assume a loving God is like.

What Kind Of God Do You Believe In?

MikeEdwardsprofilepic125

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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So What God Believes And Has Faith In You!

Posted in christian living, tagged , , , , , on September 27, 2020|

By Mike Edwards

When my parents, partner, or friends believe in me, respect me, hope or trust in me – I am more inspired. Does God love us in the same way? We all struggle to be the person we desire to be deep down. Many struggle with habits that they regret each time they break a promise. God surely knows such regrets. Loving parents never give up on their child becoming what they know them to be like. Is God any less loving?

Why would an all-powerful God give us freedom?   

Freedom in relationships is necessary for true love. God obviously created us with freedom because of all the evil in the world contrary to God’s desires. Controlling behaviors never lead to true intimacy desired in relationships. The truth is parents or God are dependent on others to have genuine relationships. God puts their hopes and trust in us as do loving uncontrolling parents.

God can’t know or control the future and truly love!                                      

If the future is knowable and not open, I can’t act otherwise. God controlling the future is no different than parents dictating to their older children what career or partner they must pursue. God must be uncontrolling or God is uncaring. God must have faith and be vulnerable just as our parents when having us. The Bible agrees God doesn’t know the future. God regrets (I Sam. 15:10-11); God relents (Jonah 3:10); God is surprised (Is. 5); God changes their mind (Jer. 18:8-10).

How dare you compare God’s love to human love!

We may not always know what perfect love entails but intuitively we know the question we ought to ask ourselves – am I loving others perfectly or am I loving others like our Creator loves. A Creator surely loves in ways God’s creations sense they ought to love others Even the Bible suggests God’s love is the same as perfect human love: “Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Parent is perfect” (Mt. 5:48); be imitators of God (Eph. 5:1); be merciful like God (Lk. 6:36). God is often claimed a mystery because one’s interpretation of Scriptures makes God seem evil. Such interpreters sense intuitively God and perfect human love are the same.

God is love but what does that mean? 

An unloving God isn’t worth believing in. God’s love surely is the same as supreme parents – other-directed not self-consumed. Love gets excited when we do well and make a difference in the lives of others. Love anticipates, hopes for our success, believes in us. God is pulling for me, even when failing, because I do the same for my children. We doubt God but God still loves. God may worry but still hopes. God either believes in, hopes for us, builds us up, or doesn’t love us at all.

We matter to God!

We commit to relationships not knowing how they will turn out. God too! If you claim to love someone, you suffer when things don’t turn out as you hoped. God too! Even if you don’t believe Jesus was really divine and human, many believe Jesus may have been the most perfect person in the world like God. Jesus trusted, hoped, and had faith in others. We may feel hopeless at times but not God. God believes in and loves you the same way you want to be loved by your parents!

Resource and must read: Wm. Curtis Holtzen, The God Who Trust: A Relational Theology Of Divine Faith, Hope, and Love

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Why Do People Believe Or Not Believe In God?

Posted in christian living, tagged , , , on August 24, 2020| 1 Comment »

By Mike Edwards

I have written on this topic several times. See here. There may be thousands of reasons people believe or not. One may believe just because their parents do. One may not believe because God seemingly intervenes little when there is so much evil in the world. I have decided over the years to focus my writings on one main reason people may not believe but wanna.

I am convinced many may not pursue a relationship with a Creator, that they are convinced exists, because they believe lies others claim about God. I know “lies” is a strong word, but no one can claim with certainty their view of an invisible, inaudibly God is TRUTH!

I may be wrong, but I am convinced the following beliefs perpetuated about God are not true. See here.

A God who isn’t perfect isn’t worth believing in. We can only compare God’s love to perfect human love. We all must decide what a perfect, loving God would be like and whether to pursue a relationship further.

Are we better off with God?

  • If a Creator exists, they may know a thing or two about life and purpose for living
  • Parents and friends often don’t love us for who we are but what they want us to be. God can often fill a void that humans can’t.
  • I am not the man I want to be. I have desires and thoughts that I know are wrong. I need guidance and encouragement in refusing them and knowing they are not in my best interests

Do you want to know God better? Find someone who seems to have an open relationship with their Creator and ask for help. If they want to give a lot of advice and act like they speak for God all the time – run! Challenge God to help you find answers to your questions. Seek a rational view of God rather than some pie in the sky God.

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Love Unplugged, part 3

Posted in christian living, tagged , , , , on October 18, 2019| 1 Comment »

by Rocky Glenn

What two words, when combined, mean happiness and sadness?  Good and evil?  Light and dark?  Hot and cold?  Those same two words also contain give and take, war and peace, and famine and feast.  What are those two words?  All things.  All, according to Merriam-Webster, means the whole amount or quantity of as well as every member or individual component of.  Thing, also according to Merriam-Webster, means a matter of concern or particular state of affairs.  Combining these would suggest that all things would mean the whole amount of matters of concern or every individual state of affairs.  Essentially, any thought, any emotion, any feeling, any action is part of “all things.”

Returning to our musical theme, the last tune on our 3 song unplugged love-themed set (Love Unplugged, part 1 and Love Unplugged, part 2) is all about love’s relationship with all things.  For this discussion, I changed things just a little and researched the original Greek definitions for each word listed in the final verses describing love.

1-cornithians-131 Corinthians 13:7-8 from The Amplified Bible: Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].

Love bears all things. Bear means to cover to keep off something which threatens or to roof over. According to the NIV, love always protects. What does it protect from? All things . . . any thought that intends to harm, any action meant to punish.  By bearing all things, love refuses to say or do something just to win an argument or fight and seeks instead to preserve the other person, as well as preserve the relationship.  Thoughtless words shot out in the heat of an argument are stopped before being spouted out by the bearing nature of love. Looking back at the end of verse 6 (Love Unplugged, part 1), we can see that love does not rejoice in iniquity.  When coupled with this bearing nature, it is safe to conclude that not only does it not rejoice in iniquity, if necessary love will take the iniquity, injustice, or wrong upon itself to ensure that another is protected.  This bearing nature would never seek to embarrass or disrespect another person. In fact, it will do everything possible to prevent it from occurring.  The bearing nature really magnifies the selfless nature of love. (Love Unplugged, part 1)

Love believes all things. To believe is to think to be true, to be persuaded of, or to place confidence in. In other words, love is an eternal optimist!

Love hopes all things. The word translated as hope here means to expect and confide or to trust in. Love not only trusts, it is also trustworthy.  It would be safe to conclude from this that love does not look for hidden meanings or veiled messages and because of this leaves itself open to be taken advantage of and often is.  (For more on this, refer back to the quote from C.S. Lewis in the section of love not being easily provoked in Love Unplugged, part 2).

Love endures all things. To endure means to stay under, to remain, and to persevere. This year, my high school sweetheart and I celebrate twenty years as husband and wife. At times, “all things” have been good; at other, “all things” have been not so good. By the grace of God, we have endured.  In fact, we have not only endured, but, through His grace and His constant teaching of love, we’ve not just survived, I’m very humbled to say we have thrived.

Love never fails. The original meaning of the word fail means to be driven out of one’s course.  Love maintains its course by bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things.  The Amplified Bible quite simply says it never fades or ends.

So concludes the “unplugged” discussion of these ever so famous words found in 1 Corinthians.  I pray, once again, that at the very least, these words may cause you to simply pause and possibly ponder what love truly is and if it is being displayed in your life. May your love stay on course by bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things.

Rocky

(This post originally written March 26, 2017.)

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