rumitoid

Love is the full depth of caring, being wholly other-centered. Such is a blessed marriage, where both think only of the other and nurture together what they share.

oldladyfromwaco

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Giving alms to the poor is often considered an altruistic action in many cultures and religions.
Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of "others" toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism or selflessness is the opposite of selfishness.

Also, there are MANY types of love...."Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy soul, with all thy heart, and with all thy might, and thy neighbor as thyself. Sounds like we are supposed to love EVERYONE....this definition certainly goes a lot further than "romantic" love.....

Altruism can be distinguished from feelings of loyalty. Pure altruism consists of sacrificing something for someone other than the self (e.g. sacrificing time, energy or possessions) with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct, or indirect (e.g., receiving recognition for the act of giving).

Much debate exists as to whether "true" altruism is possible. The theory of psychological egoism suggests that no act of sharing, helping or sacrificing can be described as truly altruistic, as the actor may receive an intrinsic reward in the form of personal gratification. The validity of this argument depends on whether intrinsic rewards qualify as "benefits."

The term altruism may also refer to an ethical doctrine that claims that individuals are morally obliged to benefit others. Used in this sense, it's usually contrasted to egoism, which is defined as acting to the benefit of one's self.

jay-are

It is not boasting if it is the t***h.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

Not so. Love is wholly relationship centered. Marriage is a relationship. It has the appearance of selflessness, but in actuality is the fulfillment of two selves as one.

Christianity teaches love of God and love of one's neighbor is the goal. The other religions teach selflessness is the goal. They do not teach of relationships as the goal.

oldladyfromwaco

Definition: Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.

This Greek word and variations of it are found throughout the New Testament. Agape perfectly describes the kind of love Jesus Christ has for his Father and for his followers:

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. (John 14:21, NIV)

Has NOTHING to do with relationships.....

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

Really?

You don't see any relationships in the passage you quoted?

oldladyfromwaco

Relationships between ALL....not just between two heterosexuals.....to me, in my experience, it is the love of all humanity....no matter what belief, race, etc. they are.....all children of God...

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

What?

Did you read the passage you quoted?

jay-are

Here is what God says about loving everyone, no matter what belief. This doesn't sound like He considers them all to be children of God.

Romans 1
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the t***h in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the t***h of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, h**ers of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
___________________

God gave them over to degrading passions. God is clear here that degrading passions are not expressions of love. They are ways to dishonor the bodies that God gave them. Such people are not filled with love, they are filled with unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, etc. They are worthy of death, not to be children of God. That's not what I say, that is what God says.

Oldladyfromwaco, it is all right for you to express your opinion, and your preferences, but do not try to teach your beliefs and claim they are the teachings of Christianity. You are free to have your own beliefs, but you are not free to tell unt***hs about Christianity. Christianity is defined by what is in the Bible. If what you teach is not in the Bible, or is against what the Bible teaches, stop claiming that you are teaching Christianity.

oldladyfromwaco

back to the condemnation, h**e and hell......

jay-are

No, back to true Christian teaching from the Bible.

Since you give hearty approval to those who practice things which are not proper, you admit that you do not see fit to acknowledge God any longer.

Stop lying and claiming that your beliefs are based in Christianity.

oldladyfromwaco

jay---you said your were going to that class....LOL....the one that would teach you the t***h....not the t***h Constantine and the Nicean council wanted you to accept.

jay-are

The words Paul wrote, and the words Christ spoke are not written by Constantine or the Nicean council. If Constantine and the Nicean council put them in the Bible, that doesn't change the t***h that the words are inspired and written and spoken by God Himself.

I didn't quote anything written by Constantine, or the Nicean council.

oldladyfromwaco

I started to encourage you to continue studying....but you aren't. Some day you will decide you want the t***h....what God wants you to know.....

rumitoid

We are created in the image and likeness of God. God is love. Ergo, love is the "I am" but of God and man. This is agape love. And what is agape love? "Love as revealed in Jesus, seen as spiritual and selfless and a model for humanity."

Selfless does not mean without a self but without self-interest.

Self-sacrificing, which means being other-centered, putting their needs and ultimate well-being ahead of one's own. This can be done purely, no ego involved, through a complete surrender to love. Love is the very power and nature of God out of which all aspects of his character come, such as both mercy and justice.

In this complete surrender, the unique soul God created acts in its exact nature (by his image and likeness) without intent but as a perfect instrument of God as his design. All thoughts of personal reward or of particular results, of safety, of comfort, of desire, or of pleasure are gone. This is being "poor of spirit," the worldly part of our existence that usually is an obsession and focus.

Merry Christmas!