Valentine's Day. It has its roots in the Roman festival of Lupercalia which celebrated the coming of spring and featured fertility rites. The day includes the name of a 3rd century saint -- Saint Valentine -- who ministered to persecuted Christians and became associated with courtly love -- love that emphasized nobility and chivalry. Legend has it that when the Emperor Claudius II banned marriage for a time, Valentine secretly performed marriages for young couples. Oh, and he was martyred for it. Ah, sweet romance! (Legend has it he sent a letter from prison to a young woman with whom he had fallen in love and signed it, "Your Valentine." There ya go!)
Since then, of course, we've moved "love" from "die for each other" and "always seeking the best for the other," from "patient and kind," "does not take into account wrongs suffered," and "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Cor 13:4-8) to "Hey, baby, I think you're really hot." We've moved from self-sacrifice to self-satisfaction. Now it's a warm feeling, chemistry, a pretty face. Oh, and hopefully, some sex.
Jesus said that His disciples would be known by their love for one another (John 13:35). That's not merely their "warm affection" for one another. It is Jesus's sacrificial love (Gal 2:20; Eph 5:2). Let the world play with their emotional version. It's not horrible. But you, brothers and sisters, should also give Jesus's version a try. It is, after all, what we're here for.
No comments:
Post a Comment