“Love is love.”
I bet we are all familiar with this phrase. I believe the intentions behind the phrase are good, however, have we really thought about what this statement implies? If you are a Christian and have used this phrase, may I humbly ask you to consider the following questions?
Who defines “love?”
Is the one making the statement the one defining love? What then do we say to someone who makes the same statement, but their definition of love is different? Therein lies the problem. Allow me the liberty to try to explain what I mean.
Consider this scenario. A well-meaning mom teaches her young daughter that “love is love.” She believes that everyone should be free to express love to whomever and however they choose. Sounds good, right? However, keep in mind that the mom is the one defining love the way she believes it should be defined. That raises an issue - if the mom has the right to define love, then doesn’t that right extend to everyone else?
Consider this – what about the man in his forties that defines “love” as affection and sexual attraction for young girls? Would the mom in our scenario support his right to define “love” if directed toward her young daughter?
When “love is love” is declared, love is defined by the speaker. This obviously raises countless problems because love can’t have conflicting definitions, yet that is precisely what happens when you and I define it. When we believe that we hold the power to define love, we declare ourselves an arbitrator of truth. The problem with that is, who decides who is right and who is wrong? No one gets to stand on moral high-ground when the moral high-ground itself is self-defined.
But wait, I have fantastic news. There is a true and unchanging definition of love.
Love – real, true, authentic, steadfast, unchanging, powerful, healing and forgiving love is defined by God and God alone, and was lived out in glorious color by Jesus Christ.
The phrase “love is love” is missing the definition of love. Want to know what it is?
God is love.
That’s straight out of the Bible, folks. (1 John 4:8)
God is love, and God alone gets to define love. Not you, and not me.
Here’s one of the best description of love we will ever find:
“God demonstrates His own love for us in this – while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
You want to know what true love looks like? Take an honest look at Jesus. Read His Word, and allow Him to define what love truly is. Once you understand and experience God’s love, you will never want to define it yourself again.
Fellow Christians, let’s lovingly address the statement, “Love is love.” Let’s boldly declare the truth that God is love, and then display it in a way that brings glory and honor to the One who created it and defines it.