Home » The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints » Current Church Doctrine » The Greatest Attribute: LOVE (An Invitation to Share, Discuss, and Develop )
| The Greatest Attribute: LOVE [message #2235] |
Sun, 24 February 2013 16:25  |
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brrgilbert
Messages: 282
Registered: December 2012
Location: Nampa, Idaho
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The Greeks utilized four different words to categorize love. These words and types of love may be understood by their source of expressions in the following hierarchy: body, mind, heart, and soul.
EROS: Romantic Love (This word became the root to the word, "erotic." Love is a "giving" thing; whereas the perversion of EROS or "erotic" becomes a selfish or "taking" thing. I believe the Greeks intended this type of love as sharing.)
PHILEO: Brotherly Love (This word became the root of the word, "Philadelphia" or the City of Brotherly Love. It denotes "companionship" or "fellowship." I believe that this type of love is conditional, in that it depends upon the behaviors and actions of others. I think that a man is more disposed to this type of love. It very well may be the foundation of "sympathy" or "compassion.")
PIA: Nurturing Love (This type of love can best be described as the type of love that is manifest by a mother for their child. It denotes an "unconditional" love that is based upon the receiver's existence, rather than their actions. I believe that it is more prevalent among women than men. Men can learn to develop this type of love, but it is only through fatherhood. The woman is more pre-disposed to this type of love because her's is the first sacrifice given to bring a babe into existence. It is the foundation for "empathy.")
AGAPE: This is the word that is translated as "charity" in the scriptures and is the greatest of all the types of love. It involves more than the "unselfish sharing and caring" embodied in the previous forms. This type of love can only be gained by its revelation. It is the pure and perfect love of Christ and shall be examined in the remainder of this post. (Much of which will be a review for most of those in this forum.)
After Paul expounds the spiritual gifts that are given for the edification of the Saints and the Church found in 1 Corinthians 12, (bearing in mind that the chapter and verse divisions given are the constructs of the modern-day era,) he writes:
(1 Corinthians 12:31.)
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
That more excellent way is given as charity, comprising all of the next chapter:
(1 Corinthians 13:1-13.)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity
This is a remarkable treatise on this type of love. It was given by virtue of revelation and remains as one of the hallmarks and ideals of those seeking perfection in becoming like the Savior. Books upon books have been written on this topic. It is echoed in the words of Moroni:
(Moroni 7:45-48.)
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
I have found the following commentary to be very useful in aiding my understanding:
"Both Paul and Mormon described the charitable person as one who:
1. Suffers long, bears all things. He or she is endowed with a portion of the love of God and thus, to some degree, with the patience and perspective of God toward people and circumstances. That person's vision of here and now (the present) is greatly affected by his glimpse of there and then (the future). It was by means of this pure love of Christ, which followed their spiritual rebirth (see Mosiah 28:3), that Alma and the sons of Mosiah were able to bear the burdens placed upon them, even persecution and rejection.
2. Is kind. Charity motivates such people to goodness, to benevolence and sensitivity toward the needs of others. People are their business. It was by means of this pure love of Christ that Ammon, son of Mosiah, was able to extend himself, kindly and lovingly, in the service of Lamoni and his household, to win their hearts, and to be an instrument in their conversion to the truths of the gospel (see Alma 17-19).
3. Envies not. Those who love the Lord and are filled with his love are much less prone to concern themselves with the acquisitions or accolades of others. Their joy is full in Christ (see D&C 101:36). They find happiness in simple pleasures and delight in God's goodness to them. It is by means of this pure love of Christ, this anchor to the soul, that people are able to ignore- to give no heed to- the tauntings and temptations of those who chant and proselyte from the great and spacious building (see 1 Nephi 8 ).
4. Is not puffed up, seeks not his own. The charitable person seeks diligently to turn attention away from self and toward God. He or she eagerly acknowledges the hand of the Lord in all things and is hesitant to take personal credit for accomplishments. Such a one is void of pride. Mormon spoke of a time when many of the Nephites were lifted up in pride, so much so that they proved a major stumbling block to the Church, and "the church began to fail in its progress" (Alma 4:10). At the same time, in this day of inequality and wickedness there were others who, filled with the love of God, were "abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy" (Alma 4:13).
5. Is not easily provoked. Those filled with the love of Christ are meek; theirs is a quiet but pervasive poise under provocation. Because the Lord has begun to remake their hearts they do not express anger, because they do not experience anger. Because of their trust in the Almighty and the power and perspective of that love which flows from him, Alma and Amulek were able to view the hideous scene of women and children being sent to the flames because of their acceptance of the truth. As their Master would do over a century later on another hemisphere, they stood with meek majesty before the tauntings and assaults of the unholy. (See Alma 14.)
6. Thinks no evil. Such persons' minds are on things of righteousness, their desires are for that which builds and strengthens and encourages. They have no secret agenda, no private yearnings for personal aggrandizement, only a heart focused on the Lord and his kingdom. "Behold," Nephi wrote, "my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard" (2 Nephi 4:16).
7. Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. The charitable person is repulsed by sin, though anxious to fellowship and lift the sinner. He or she is pained by the waywardness of the world and labors tirelessly to extend gospel assistance to those who stray from the path of peace. At the same time this person delights in the Spirit, in goodness, in noble accomplishments and discoveries, no matter what the source. Filled with a portion of the Lord's love, this person, like the people of Benjamin, has no more disposition to do evil but rather to do good continually (see Mosiah 5:2). Though possessed with love for the wayward, he or she cannot look upon sin save it be with abhorrence (see Alma 13:12).
8. Believes all things. One possessed of charity is not naive or gullible but is simply open to truth. He or she enjoys the spiritual gift of a believing heart and has little or no difficulty in accepting the words and following the counsel of those called to direct the destiny of the Church. Because such people are believing in nature, all things work together for their good (see D&C 90:24). Like Sam, son of Lehi, the charitable person readily believes on the testimony of one who knows (see 1 Nephi 2:17; compare D&C 46:13-14).
9. Hopes all things. Such persons have a firm hope in Christ, a quiet but dynamic assurance that, even though they are imperfect, they are on course, that the Lord is pleased with their lives, that eternal life is at the end of the path. "What is it that ye shall hope for?" Mormon asked of the humble followers of Christ. "Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal" (Moroni 7:41).
10. Endures all things. No matter what the true follower of Christ is required to pass through, he or she proceeds as called. Neither the shame of the world nor the threat of physical death can deter one who is bent upon enjoying the love of God everlastingly. "If ye shall press forward," Nephi wrote, "feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20).
46. If ye have not charity, ye are nothing] Paul stated this same idea powerfully when he wrote: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all may goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3.) It is true that service sanctifies, that service is essential to salvation. But charity is more than service; it is, in fact, a manifestation of the Spirit and as such is the proper motivation for service. As discussed under verse 48, though it is vital to be endowed with charity in order to bless the lives of others through Christian service, the overriding purpose of charity is to renew our souls and make us even like our exalted Lord.
46. Charity never faileth] Though there will come a time when we will be endowed with the Knowledge and vision and powers of Good-by which time the gifts of prophecy and revelation and knowledge available on earth will have served their rightful functions-there will never be a time in all eternity when charity will not be burning brightly in the souls of the sanctified.
46. The greatest of all] Charity is the highest of all the spiritual gifts, the capstone of spiritual endowments. It is, in the language of Paul, "a more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). To be endowed with charity is to be clothed in the mantle of perfectness and peace (see D&C 88:125).
47. Charity is the pure love of Christ] This statement has two possible (and certainly related) meanings: (1) one who has charity loves others purely, just as Christ does; and (2) one who has charity loves Christ purely. Pure love comes from a pure source, from God. It is not and cannot be generated by man; it comes from heaven. It is in Christ who is symbolized by the tree of life toward which all men and women press who seek eternal life (see Commentary 1:76-77); it is the love of God which "sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men" (1 Nephi 11:22). Indeed, as Moroni explained, the love which Christ has had for the children of men is charity (see Ether 12:34).
48. Here we come to the heart of the matter. Charity is a gift of the Spirit. It is bestowed by God. One does not" work on" his charity any more than he might work on his prophecy, dreams, visions, or discernment. Charity is that "more excellent way" (see 1 Corinthians 12:31) that comes by and through the Holy Ghost as one of the gifts of God. It is true that we have a responsibility to give of ourselves in service to others as a part of our covenantal obligation as Christians (see Mosiah 18:8-10; James 2:8). It is true that service is essential to salvation. But service and charity are not necessarily the same. Charity is "the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It [the term] is never used to denote alms or deeds or benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive." (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 632.) That is, charity is that gift of the Spirit which motivates us to greater goodness, specifically greater service and compassion for others. In a manner of speaking, we can serve people without loving them; we cannot truly love them (as the Lord does) without serving them. Bruce C. Hafen has written: "Our own internally generated compassion for the needs of others is a crucial indication of our desire to be followers of the Savior. . . . For that reason, we must be reaching out to others even as we reach out to God, rather than waiting to respond to others' needs until our charitable instincts are quickened by the Spirit. But even them, charity in its full-blown sense is 'bestowed upon' Christ's righteous followers. Its source, like all other blessings of the Atonement, is the grace of God." (The Broken Heart, pp. 195-96.)
When Benjamin challenged his people (and us) to be spiritually reborn, to put off the natural man and become a saint through the atonement of Christ, he further instructed us to become as little children-"submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict" upon us (Mosiah 3:19, italics added). Likewise, Alma warned the people of Ammonihah against procrastination: "But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering"; having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest" (Alma 13:28, italics added).
We see from Mormon's profound pronouncement, then, that the purpose of charity is not just to motivate us to Christian service (as important as such is), but also to sanctify its from sin and prepare us not only to be with God but also to he like him (see Ether 12:34). In Mormon's words, those who become sons and daughters of Jesus Christ-who have applied the atoning blood of the Savior and have been born again as to the things of righteousness-are the ones upon whom the Lord bestows this gift. Bruce C. Hafen thus explained:
"The ultimate purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to cause the sons and daughters of God to become as Christ is. Those who see religions purpose only in terms of ethical service in the relationship between man and fellowmen may miss that divinely ordained possibility. It is quite possible to render charitable-even 'Christian'-service without developing deeply ingrained and permanent Christlike character. Paul understood this when he ,warned against giving all one' goods to feed the poor without true charity.... We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving. If our vertical relationship with God is complete, then, by the fruit of that relationship, the horizontal relationship with our fellow beings will also be complete. We then act charitably toward others, not merely because we think we should, but because that is the way we are.
"Service to others will surely bring us closer to God, especially when motivated by an unselfish sense of personal compassion. But even such desirable service will not of itself complete our relationship with God, because it will not by itself result in the bestowal of the complete attributes of godliness. That bestowal requires the ordinances and doctrines of the restored gospel and all the other elements of sacrifice and obedience spelled out in the scriptures. For that reason, while religions philosophies whose highest aim is social relevance may do much good, they will not ultimately lead people to achieve the highest religious purpose, which is to become as God and Christ are." (The Broken Heart, pp. 196-97.)
Joseph Smith the Prophet observed: "There is a love from God that should he exercised toward those of our faith, who walk uprightly, which is peculiar to itself, but it is without prejudice; it also gives scope to the mind, which enables us to conduct ourselves with greater liberally towards all that are not of our faith than what they exercise towards one another These principles approximate mate nearer to the mind of God, because it is like God, or God like." (Teachings, p. 147.)
48. When he shall appear we shall be like him] See 1 John 3:1-2. We speak much in the Church about one day being with our Heavenly Father. The only way we can qualify to do that is to be transformed by the blood of Christ through that healing medium we know as the Holy Ghost, so that we truly become the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ. Then we shall be like him, and shall dwell with him in comfort and with confidence. Of that glorious day the Psalmist wrote: As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" (Psalms 17:15)."
(Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1987-1992], 4: 343.)
(1 Corinthians 8:1-3.)
1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
(1 Timothy 1:5.)
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
(1 Peter 4:8.)
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
(Alma 7:24.)
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
"I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies."
The Little Prince by St. Exupery
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