Assignment Symbiosis

Lo(I am)ve

Woow, it’s always incredible to me how twisted the views on love have become. People describe it as “poo”, but anything with that definition is not love at all! In my philosophy class we studied this guy named Paul Tillich and he has this entire system of categories of love which in fact, correspond with the Bible. For Paul Tilich Love is the drive for the unity of the separated. (which also makes sense with the Bible, like our relationship with God is broken and Love is the reunion through the cross) I’d like to share what these “correct” definitions of love are.

First there is Epithymia love (which is known by Eros love by many other people) which is basic instictual desires. So basically your sex drive, all those “warm” and “fuzzy” feelings on the inside. This is often what people feel when they claim to be “in love” This type of love is impersonal but mutual.

Next there is Philia love which is brotherly or personal kind of love. This is when the two people actually know and are familiar with each other. This is the kind of love that people have with friends and family. This type of love is bother personal and mutual.

Then there is Eros (other philosophers do not have this category of love and us eros for epithymia instead…but I like this category and also think it’s important) love, which is called “transpersonal.” This is where “one strives for union with that which is the bearer of values.” So like, student to teacher or baby to mother… like the person doing the loving really doesn’t have the values, but is striving for union with the person who does have values and can teach us. THis is the way we (lacking value) can love God (bearing value). Knowing that we are really of no value, we strive for union with him. This type of love is transpersonal yet unequal.

And finally there is the PUREST love Agape love. This is unconditional love, this is the way only God can love us and the way we should strive to love other people. THis is when the lover is the bearer of value and the loved is the one lacking in value. So God being perfect and almighty (He is the bearer of value) loves us (lacking value). This is what is ment by love your enemies! you (the bearer of value in this case) love them (the lacking in value in this case). Love as in respect them, pray for them, separate the sin from the person!

Yet let us not forget WHO love is. It makes perfect sense that people who don’t know God would have a bad view of love, they don’t know God!

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I’ve always found it very ironic that many people seem to come to me for advice on relationships, despite the fact that I myself have never been in a romatic relationship! It always baffles me, and sometimes I think to myself “I really hope I make sense in what I’m saying and that I don’t mess this up” yet I had an ephiphany the other day. I actually have (and still am XD) been in a relationship. The whole “christianity is not a religion, but a relationship” thing was made even clearer to me. I’ve actually had the perfect experience with relatiohsips (considering agape love)! People learn to view Jesus as their God, savior, friend, and father, but they fail to see him as a lover as well! Just think about it, The bible describes the church as his bride/wife!

Ephesians 5:29-32 

“After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the Chruch-for we are memevers of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the Church!”

It’s not always easy, but I know that Christ loves me as his bride and that in reality he is all I need! i do get lonely and sad sometimes, but it doesn’t last very long because I remember I already have the perfect lover! Don’t forget that you are already married to Christ ladies and that human relationships are only a cherry on top! DO NOT LOWER YOUR STANDARDS! we are princeses of Christ and we cannot accept anything lower than a prince of Christ as a human husband. If your boyfriend is not married to Christ before he marrys you, that relationship probably wont last very long!! Jesus loves you all, don’t forget that!