In seminary, where I trained to become a pastor, I studied theology, which is a way of saying I learned how to “talk about God.” If from the root words “Theo,” meaning “relating to God/Divinity,” and “ology,” meaning “the study of,” or “speech of.” So, Theology, simple stated is “God-talk.”
In my theology classes I was introduced to a theologian/ philosopher with whom I became enamored because of the way he wrote about God, so much so that I took an entire class about his works. The class was called: “Studies of Kierkegaard,” taught by Dr. Jones, one of my systematic theology professors, and a fan of Søren’s works. I asked ChatGPT to sum up Kierkegaard in one sentence, and this is what I got, “Kierkegaard is a philosopher of becoming your true self in a world that makes it easy not to.”
Although intrigued by the works of Kierkegaard, that’s not what this article is about. I write of LOVE, not love of Søren, but of Søren’s “Works of Love” – a book written in 1847, primarily on the concept of “agape”—a Greek term for the highest, unconditional form of love.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and I’ll confess, I don’t usually observe the day, and I have a wonderfully understanding spouse. I’ve said, “how is it an act of genuine love if it is coerced and expected? Some would say I’m just cheap and not very romantic. Granted, I have a hard time paying $50 to $100 for flowers I could get any other day for half that, and maybe that does make me cheap, but I would also argue it means more when I do something unexpected or unanticipated on any day other than the one on which I’m supposed to do it. Sounds good, right?
Or maybe I am just cheap. You decide. Either way, love—our understanding and expressions of it—can be complicated. I can “love” a particular sports team, restaurant, or flavor of ice cream, and I love my wife. Let’s hope in different and distinct ways! So, what can be said of LOVE?
