What is "Christlike" love?

[Borg]

I would like to get your thoughts on this: What is Christlike love?

What does that really mean? To your children, spouse, people in general...is it the same for each of those catogories? Different? If so...why?

[Jarid in Cedar]

I would like to get your thoughts on this: What is Christlike love?

What does that really mean? To your children, spouse, people in general...is it the same for each of those catogories? Different? If so...why?

Nice question Borg. To me it means treating others with compassion, understanding, respect, and patience. These rules apply to all of the examples that you listed, but the application of say patience varies based on your familiarity or relationship with a person.

[All-American]

I get the impression that whatever it is we think of when we think of "Christlike love," it only roughly corresponds with the protagonist of the gospels (who, as a certain gnostic atheist would like to remind us, only roughly corresponds with the historical Christ. Take it easy; I've got you covered). Whatever "Christlike Love" is, it includes the ability to open up a can of Matthew 23 on they who truly deserve it.

As far as I'm concerned, though, that makes it all the more effective. I've heard from time to time that Jesus would never say an unkind word to anyone, and that unkindness is therefore not consistent with one who tries to live as Christ. A quick glance at the New Testament shows that this is simply not true. More than that, though, I wouldn't give two figs for a relationship with somebody who would not dare to offer a cutting remark when I needed it. An acquaintance would not tell you when they think you're acting like an idiot; a true friend would never hesitate to do so.

[SeattleUte]

Here is my favorite explanation of it.

1 Corinthians 13 >>
King James Bible

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

[Borg]

Here is my favorite explanation of it.

Well stated SU, very nice.

I would still like to get others input on this.

And as a follow up:

Is "Christlike" love, and "Unconditional love" the same thing? Are we required to have both if different? And, is "unconditional love" really 'unconditional' (is unconditional love even possible)?

[Rosebud]

Well stated SU, very nice.

I would still like to get others input on this.

And as a follow up:

Is "Christlike" love, and "Unconditional love" the same thing? Are we required to have both if different? And, is "unconditional love" really 'unconditional' (is unconditional love even possible)?

IMO, Christlike love is unconditional love....

Matt 5:44

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you."

Luke 6:32-33,35

"For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do the same.... But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

It is important to qualify, though, that allowing another person to hurt you is often unhealthy for both parties. I think that is sort of the direction my thoughts were going in the Christlike submission thread. A person who doesn't have the emotional or physical strength to stop someone from hurting them isn't showing Christlike love when they turn the other cheek... they are just being a victim.

Additionally, Christlike love requires mature judgement. Allowing others to take advantage of you can be detrimental to both parties. In many instances, IMO, you can show more love for others by establishing healthy boundaries that allow them to learn to take care of themselves instead of taking advantage of you. Christ loved us enough to suffer for us.... but he also loves us enough to not step in and solve every little problem we have. Likewise, we shouldn't confuse Christlike love with taking too much care of others.

[LA Ute]

IMO, Christlike love is unconditional love....

Matt 5:44


Luke 6:32-33,35


It is important to qualify, though, that allowing another person to hurt you is often unhealthy for both parties. I think that is sort of the direction my thoughts were going in the Christlike submission thread. A person who doesn't have the emotional or physical strength to stop someone from hurting them isn't showing Christlike love when they turn the other cheek... they are just being a victim.

Additionally, Christlike love requires mature judgement. Allowing others to take advantage of you can be detrimental to both parties. In many instances, IMO, you can show more love for others by establishing healthy boundaries that allow them to learn to take care of themselves instead of taking advantage of you. Christ loved us enough to suffer for us.... but he also loves us enough to not step in and solve every little problem we have. Likewise, we shouldn't confuse Christlike love with taking too much care of others.

This brings to mind the Savior's direction to his disciples to be "wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves." An interesting challenge when one thinks about it.

[Borg]

But what would you say if "unconditional love" ....is really "conditional"?

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hi...004d82620aRCRD

[Brian]

But what would you say if "unconditional love" ....is really "conditional"?

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hi...004d82620aRCRD

I was really distrubed by this talk. I certainly do not see god this way.
However, I do see a place for this type of teaching, ala DC 19. It seems that at times the portrait of a stern god is needed. Or at least some think so.

Great thoughs all around. I will offer another, on what I think is at the root of perfection.
Matt 5:48. We often quote the punch line without the full paragraph, which begins in vs 43.


43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt alove thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

[LA Ute]

I was really distrubed by this talk. I certainly do not see god this way.

However, I do see a place for this type of teaching, ala DC 19. It seems that at times the portrait of a stern god is needed. Or at least some think so.

I am not quite sure what Elder Nelson was trying to say here. Maybe it was that people need to avoid excusing bad behavior with the "It's OK, God loves you" statement? Not sure he succeeded very well.

[Brian]

I am not quite sure what Elder Nelson was trying to say here. Maybe it was that people need to avoid excusing bad behavior with the "It's OK, God loves you" statement? Not sure he succeeded very well.

I'm not sure either. I've heard it referrenced several times in church and it's always "God loves you as long as you are obedient", aka the "God is a jerk" theory.

[Indy Coug]

I'm not sure either. I've heard it referrenced several times in church and it's always "God loves you as long as you are obedient", aka the "God is a jerk" theory.

That's a crass overstatement.

[Non Sequitur]

I'm not sure either. I've heard it referrenced several times in church and it's always "God loves you as long as you are obedient", aka the "God is a jerk" theory.

This line of thinking is especially galling to anyone who has ever had children. As if you're going to love your obedient children more than the less obedient. Love isn't measured on a sliding scale.

[Brian]

That's a crass overstatement.

God has "rigged" the game so that nobody will ever be completely obedient.
The idea that God will love you more if you are obedient only makes sense if God is a jerk, IMHO.
In fact, it's likely that the ones that need love the most are those who are the most messed up.

[Borg]

Which brings the whole conversation back to the start.

So, if an immediate family member, child or spouse is a complete jerk, are you obliged to love them unconditionally?...or, can you have a Christlike love for them, ie. wanting the best overall outcome for them in the end, but not "unconditional love" due to continually being hurt aka: what Rosebud stated?