Can Christian Love Exist

Religious Philosophy Course title and nnumber The Possibility of Christian Love The question that author is asked to address is whether or not it is possible for Christian love to exist. The author is also asked to reference certain Biblical passages that speak directly to the meaning of love from the Christian perspective. It is the opinion of this author that it is, in fact, possible for Christian love to exist.

The descriptions and ideas about love as described in the Bible (John, Leviticus, Matthew, Deuteronomy, etc.) are tender and precious. The conception of Christian love is based in principles and upon people's actions reflecting their beliefs at all times. Christian love would exist and does exist for those few people who actually abide by the beautiful words written in the Bible about what love means and what the best ways to express love are.

In the 21st century, it is easy for Christians to claim that they are Christian, without truly practicing the Christian lifestyle, especially the concept of Christian love. There are outspoken public figures in the local, national, and international headlines on a daily basis that use their religion as a reason for injustices they commit or otherwise support. This may be why some people believe that Christian love is an impossible to achievement to reach or see.

It is not so much that Christian love cannot or does not exist at all in the abstract -- it is that there are fewer and fewer people who claim to be Christian that actually practice Christian love as the verses describe in the Bible. Here is an excerpt from John 4.7 -- 21: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love…if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us…If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. This is a good example of a clear description of Christian love.

The verse essentially states that Christian love is not built upon hypocrisy. A person cannot claim to be Christian and love God and hold prejudice or hate against a fellow human being. The verse explains how in Christianity God is equated to the force and power of love. If God is love, and God is love for all, then a true Christian should have love for all other people, Christian or not as well.

It is obvious from everyday experience of most people in America that this is not the general attitude that people encounter from Christians. Christians in the modern day are often using their religion as a reason for separating different kinds of people as well as for punishing or threatening people who do not share their same beliefs. It is ironic and hypocritical because those kinds of Christians are not acting as true Christians.