The Love Cult
The Love Cult
There are many who profess to be Christian that push doctrines that are totally opposite of the teachings of scripture. One of the most insidious and dangerous is the one I call The Love Cult.
While their teaching sounds so good and their false humility is impressive, the real question is “is it scriptural” ? This study will show how it relates to Real Christianity and if not why not.
Do you know that in the original languages of scripture there are over 20 different kinds of love? Do you know that in every use of the word love in scripture we are told what kind of love it is talking about? Note that I said “in scripture” and not in your bible. Why would I say that? It is simply because your bible is not scripture.
Your bible is a translation of scripture by some men or women and contains some of their beliefs and misunderstandings and yes even false teachings.. The Amplified is the only bible I know of that recognizes this problem and attempts to show some of the different types of love, but it is also just a translation. To really understand scripture you must use some tool for determining the usage. I like the Interlinear bible for people without knowledge of the original languages. Even some of the new versions of the interlinear now have been corrupted, so one of the older versions is necessary.
Studying the scriptures is work, so many avoid the extra effort and follow those that teach what sounds good to them rather than searching out truth for themselves. If you are truly baptized in the Holy Spirit then you can of course rely on Him to show you the truth AS YOU STUDY.
Since we live in the new testament we will only be looking at the Greek words
.First we will look at a few of the different words and what they have to tell us.
Words of LOVE
Some of the words in Greek and the kind of love they represent follow. The numbers are the Strong's reference number. You will notice the kjv usage many times does not represent what the word means.
NT:25
agapao (ag-ap-ah'-o); perhaps from agan (much) [or compare OT:5689]; to love (in a social or moral sense):
KJV - (be-) love (-ed). Compare NT:5368.
NT:26
agape (ag-ah'-pay); from NT:25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:
KJV - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
NT:27
agapetos (ag-ap-ay-tos'); from NT:25; beloved:
KJV - (dearly, well) beloved, dear.
NT:5358
philagathos (fil-ag'-ath-os); from NT:5384 and NT:18; fond to good, i.e. a promoter of virtue:
KJV - love of good men.
NT:535 9
Philadelpheia (fil-ad-el'-fee-ah); from Philadelphos (the same as NT:5361), a king of Pergamos; Philadelphia, a place in Asia Minor:
KJV - Philadelphia.
NT:5360
philadelphia (fil-ad-el-fee'-ah); from NT:5361; fraternal affection:
KJV - brotherly love (kindness), love of the
NT:5361
philadelphos (fil-ad'-el-fos); from NT:5384 and NT:80; fond of brethren, i.e. fraternal:
KJV - love as brethren.
NT:5362
philandros (fil'-an-dros); from NT:5384 and NT:435; fond of man, i.e. affectionate as a wife:
KJV - love their husbands.
NT:5363
philanthropia (fil-an-thro-pee'-ah); from the same as NT:5364; fondness of mankind, i.e. benevolence ("philanthropy"):
KJV - kindness, love towards man.
NT:5365
philarguria (fil-ar-goo-ree'-ah); from NT:5366; avarice:
KJV - love of money.
NT:5366
philautos (fil'-ow-tos); from NT:5384 and NT:846; fond of self, i.e. selfish:
KJV - lover of ownself.
NT:5368
phileo (fil-eh'-o); from NT:5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while NT:25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as NT:2309 and NT:1014, or as NT:2372 and NT:3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specifically, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):
KJV - kiss, love.
NT:5369
philedonos (fil-ay'-don-os); from NT:5384 and NT:2237; fond of pleasure, i.e. voluptuous:
KJV - lover of pleasure.
NT:5382
philoxenos (fil-ox'-en-os); from NT:5384 and NT:3581; fond of guests, i.e. hospitable:
KJV - given to (lover of, use) hospitality.
NT:5383
philoproteuo (fil-op-rote-yoo'-o); from a compound of NT:5384 and NT:4413; to be fond of being first, i.e. ambitious of distinction:
KJV - love to have the preeminence.
NT:5388
philoteknos (fil-ot'-ek-nos); from NT:5384 and NT:5043; fond of one's children, i.e. maternal:
KJV - love their children.
Now that you have some of the words describing the different kinds of Love as found in scripture
can we agree that using the simple word love to describe the use in scripture is NOT A VALID interpretation of scripture? We must look further and see which kind of love is being used in EACH situation.
The majority of these words are self explanatory
Let us look at the kinds of love that ARE NOT GOOD.
NT:5365
philarguria (fil-ar-goo-ree'-ah); from NT:5366; avarice:
KJV - love of money.
Here is what Scripture has to say about the love of money. No more need be said.
1 Tim 6:6-10 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
NT:5366
philautos (fil'-ow-tos); from NT:5384 and NT:846; fond of self, i.e. selfish:
KJV - lover of ownself.
Again a look to scripture tells what we need to know.
2 Tim 4:3-5
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, ( own desire – love of self) because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
NT:5369
philedonos (fil-ay'-don-os); from NT:5384 and NT:2237; fond of pleasure, i.e. voluptuous:
KJV - lover of pleasure.
And the applicable scripture is.
2 Tim 3:1-6 3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6
NT:5383
philoproteuo (fil-op-rote-yoo'-o); from a compound of NT:5384 and NT:4413; to be fond of being first, i.e. ambitious of distinction:
KJV - love to have the preeminence.
3 John 9-10 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
Matt 19:30 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
There is much more that can be said but my purpose in writing this is to challenge the Christians to study the scriptures for them selves and have the ability to explain their beliefs.
AS ALWAYS, I say to you, do not believe what I or any other man present to you UNTIL you have studied with the help of the Holy Spirit and are convinced you have the correct understanding for yourself.
If you are not filled with(baptized in) the Holy Spirit according to Acts, then you cannot understand scripture correctly because
John 16:13-15 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
NKJV
celafoe 5/21/2016
