What is love?
This is a question that many philosophers, scientists, psychologists and people in general throughout history have struggled to answer. The answers that have surfaced have only led us to even more questions. The truth is, defining love is an extremely hard thing to do.
Psychologist Robert Sternberg developed a theory, called the Triangular Theory of Love, in which love can be classified into three different types:
- Intimacy - the feeling of closeness, connectedness and bonding
- Passion - romance, physical attraction, and sexual consummation
- Commitment - pretty self-explanatory; the drive to stick together for an extended period of time (most of the time being the rest of your life)
Many theologians and pastors have also come up with a similar theory explaining love. This past weekend, the pastor of Lifepoint Church, Jeff Kapusta, talked about this. Coming from the terms that the ancient Greeks used to describe love, it is also composed of three different types:
- Eros - the passionate and intimate love; the erotic love.
- Phileo (or Philia) - the brotherly, companionate love; the BFF love.
- Agape - the unconditional and selfless love; the Crazy Love.
Eros and Phileo love tend to be the easiest to achieve and show. They are embedded into our human nature and are the most common in our lives, thus explaining why we can show these with such ease. Agape love is a whole 'nother story.
In short, Agape love is a love that lacks any condition or requirement and is completely altruistic; an unconditional and selfless love. The best everyday example of this can be seen in the love that a parent feels for their child; they will always love and be there for their child, no matter what their kid does. Yet, still, this is not true for everyone, since many people view their father or mother as someone who they would just rather forget.
The average person might view this love as nonsensical, irrational and crazy and they have a point; who in their right mind would care enough about someone else without there being the incentive of receiving something back in return. After all, we all have selfish desires and it would make sense to do something for someone expecting something in return (money, attention, recognition, fame, love, etc.). Yet this Love, this Crazy and nonsensical Love, is the very essence of what true Life is.
This Love tells the story of a Father. A Father who unconditionally loved his only Son. A Father who considered his Son the apple of His eye, the Light of His world, His everything. Yet this Father was able to enact the ultimate sacrifice. He selflessly gave up his beloved Son in order to save a people who were suffering due to their own harmful tendencies. He did what no parent in their right mind would ever do: let his Son die so that others would be spared. This irrational Love proved to be the most powerful form of love that humanity has ever seen. This was indeed a Crazy Love.
This Crazy Love comes from a Father that selflessly loves each and every single one of His children. A Love that reaches those who know Him and those who don't know him yet.
A Crazy Love that God pours out onto His people every second of every minute of every hour of every day. A Love that we can barely even begin to fathom. A Love that is Life itself.
So, how in the world, as mere humans, are we to handle this Crazy Love?
Is this what love is?
