A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness defines love. It can also be defined as a feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.
Brief Explanation: There are four words used for love in the ancient Greek language. They are Eros, Storge, Philea, and Agape. Each signifies a different type or quality of love. The first speaks of romantic or sexual love, the second of family love or devotion, the third to friendships or brotherly love, and the last to the unselfish or altruistic love exhibited by God himself. All forms of love stated here are valid in their respective places. We all need love. Carl Rogers called love in the counseling situation unconditional positive regard. This means, we accept the person as they are, warts and all, without judgment. From a Christian viewpoint, we accept the sinner, but not the sin. The demonstration of love, especially for the wounded soul who has been raised in a love impoverished environment, is one of the gifts a counselor or pastor can bring to the counseling relationship. It must be demonstrated appropriately, for the benefit of the other, but establishing an environment of empathy, warmth, respect and trust between the client and the counselor. (For more on the Four Loves, see Dr. Ken Chant’s Christian Life: Patterns of Gracious Living).
The Word of God:
1 John 4:10
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
1 John 3:1
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
Romans 12:9,10
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;”
John 13:34,35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.”
