On the way to church, I pass a sign in front of a business with this message: Step One: Give Love Step Two: Get Love No! Nice sentiment, but theologically wrong. The type of love we encounter in the Gospels is not a transaction but a gift. We refer to this as agape love. “Agape” is one of several Greek words for love. When the word “agape” is used in the Bible, it refers to a pure, sacrificial love that intentionally desires another’s highest good. It is the love that God has for us. No matter how you interpret the Cross and atonement, at the center of this act we find a loving, gracious God who gave not expecting anything in return . God has invested in us, supported us, and blessed us—not because we are worthy of that love but in spite of it. If we love another person expecting that love to be reciprocated, is it truly love? How many parents have given love to children who turned away from them? Did the parent still love the child? Of course. Genuine parental lo
Comments from a Christ-follower on things that matter to him