Love is political - By Annette. O. Brown, Author 8/3/20

Photo: By AOB Creations 7/20 Location: New York

Love:
 
God Is Love
four types of love defined in Greek.  (Wikipedia)

• Storge – empathy
• Philia – friend bond
• Eros – romantic love
• Agape– unconditional ‘God” love

 
Political: Interested or active in politics.
 
*Politics (from Greek: Πολιτικά, politiká, 'affairs of the cities')
is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of 
power relations between individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status.

 
Humanity:
The human race: human beings collectively.
 

 
In the midst of our current experiences as a human race we can look at specific scripture to gain insight into issues that have affected and are still affecting humanity.
 
 
Creation
 
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1 v 1
 
In the beginning of Creation, a conversation and decision was made between God and God’s self!
“Let Us make man.” Genesis 1 v 26.
Our very existence was conceived in a political affair.  In this specific “decision making process”, however, there was no opposition.  The outcome was decided by three in one, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
 
“The author and cause of this great work—GOD. The Hebrew word is Elohim, which bespeaks, [1.] The power of God the Creator. El signifies the strong God; and what less than almighty strength could bring all things out of nothing? [2.] The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This plural name of God, in Hebrew, which speaks of him as many though he is one.” 
                                                                                 Matthew Henry Commentary.
 
 
 
 
Cain and Able
 
Further into the scriptures the author of the book of Genesis introduces us to the “First Family.” Adam, his wife, Eve and their two sons, Cain and Able. This family was a unit or group living with norms, rules and expectations in worship that had been conveyed by God. 
 
One day the two brothers brought a sacrifice to the Lord.  One can infer that this is something that they had done before.  Able whose name means breath, vapor or son, is a shepherd and he brought an acceptable sacrifice of some of the firstborn of his sheep(The first and the best) and their fat. Life was taken and blood shed with this sacrifice to the Lord.  Cain, whose name means acquired, brought some of the land’s produce, a sacrifice that was not acceptable, in this context, to God.
 
“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious?  And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right sin is crouching at the door.  Its desire is for you but you must rule over it.”  Genesis 4 v7 (NIV)
 
Cain could not handle the success of his brother and the rejection of his gift for worship.  His countenance displayed his inner feelings.  Instead of working to improve himself or celebrate the wisdom of his sibling, he killed his brother.  What motivates one to kill? Is it jealousy or feeling inferior? God provided Cain with an opportunity to confess and state where his brother was.
 
“I don’t know.  Am I my brother’s keeper?”  Genesis 4 v 9. (NKJV).
 
 
A direct response is not given to Cain, however, a resounding yes is the only reply.  We are our brother’s keeper.  We are responsible for the well being of our brothers and sisters or our fellow human beings.  God did not kill Cain, instead, he was banished and became a restless wanderer.
 
The most important relationship governed by love is with our Creator.  Our love relationship with God is not a dictatorship.  We have been given free will to choose to maintain this love.  God loves us unconditionally.  Agape Love.  Our task or obligation is to reject sin by accepting God’s plan of redemption.  Accepting the free gift of salvation provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
 
Our obligation to each other through family, marriage, community, friendships and more is another level of love relationship.  Cain, like many of us, rejected the perspective of love that God gives us and obliterated the love obligation to his brother, parents and actually all others in humanity. 
 
 
The Two Mothers
 
In 1 Kings 3 v16-28 King Solomon was faced with a decision to judge which of two women was the mother of a child they both claimed as their own.  After listening to the two women fervently claim the child as their own he said:
 
“Bring a sword! …Cut the living child in two and give half to one half to the other.”
 
In response the first woman cried out for the child’s life and said give the baby to the other woman.  The second woman, however, encouraged the King to kill the child
 
The first woman was given the child.  Her love for the wellbeing of the child provided King Solomon with the knowledge needed.  The child was returned to his caring mother. 
 
Love demonstrated by action and reason provided the insight needed to understand where truth resided in this specific situation.  Today, decisions we make in relation to one another should be guided by love that is demonstrated and passionate. Love  that promotes and facilitates the well being of all human beings. 
 
 
 
Adam and Eve
 
God’s voice accomplishing all that it was sent forth to accomplish and not returning void.
 
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55 v 11 (NIV)
 
 
Man and woman were created and soon after the woman, Eve, is convinced by the enemy to doubt God’s commandment or guidance.  Despite this, God had a plan.  Their sin, or decision to go against God’s will, was covered through the atoning death of an animal..  This death was a type or symbol for the sacrificial death of Jesus the Christ.   The death of the animal was used to atone for their sin and cover them spiritually.  The skin of this animal was also used to cover them as their first type of clothing or covering.  This covering symbolizes God’s ultimate protection that is available to us all.
 
 
God is love and Love made a political decision to make a way for Adam and Eve to live.  The relationship between humanity and God shifted.  There were consequences to decisions made.  Ultimately, however, Love made a way, in love, for His creation to survive.
 
 
Our Savior
 
In John 3 v16 It is written:
 
“ God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   (NIV).
 
 
Jesus was sent, Emmanuel, God with us, as our savior.  Our Savior provides a way back to a “right” relationship with God.  Our task is to believe and confess the plan God has put into place for us. 
 
At the time of the announcement of  Jesus’s birth Political agendas were being set up.  Herod tried to kill Jesus before his birth, however, Jesus was born and was recognized, in Heaven and Earth, as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords during specific, documented, encounters.   
 
When Jesus eventually went into ministry as an adult, all that he did was regarded as a threat to the Jewish Faith leaders at that time.  Jesus highlighted inequities and untruths in worship, economics, social laws and more… Even though he was not guilty of any wrongdoing He allowed himself to be crucified by the humanity He created.  All for Love!
 
 
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was [bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes] we are healed.”
 Isaiah 53 v 5  (NIV)
 
 
God’s Agape Love is in the midst of all that we are doing and experiencing.  I pray that we all allow ourselves to encounter God and recognize opportunities to accept a life of salvation and reconciliation with God.  This gift of Love, passionate and political, is available to everyone.
 
 
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