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?
“With respect to love,” Kirkegaard writes, “we speak continually about perfection and the perfect person … we talk about finding the perfect person in order to love (them).” But Kierkegaard goes on to say that in the language of God—theologically— being perfect is “being the person who limitlessly loves the person he sees,” including our enemies. Works of Love says if you think it’s impossible to love your enemy, “for enemies are hardly able to endure the sight of one another. Well, then, shut your eyes--and your enemy looks just like your neighbor.”
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’d like Valentine’s Day more if it weren’t just a day, and if it weren’t a day that celebrates love uniquely. Søren wrote, “All distinctions between the many different kinds of love are essentially abolished by Christianity” (my faith expression). In other words, “love all, as you are loved!” But as ChatGPT said, the world doesn’t make that easy.
Thanks, Don Long
Don Long is the Senior Pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1212 Calhoun St., Macomb.
