On Love

1 Corinthians 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

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If Paul was alive today, he would probably have won a Nobel Prize for Literature. Seriously. What definition; what poetry for perfect Love! This passage is widely quoted even among the non-Christians, but I find it interesting how we as human beings, often tend to avoid the true meaning of the passage. Have you ever noticed? When we think "Love," we tend to skip over ideas such as "suffereth long," "thinketh no evil," "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth" in our mentalities.

In his book, "The Problem of Pain," C. S. Lewis expounds on this notion of 'Love' that Paul described. "Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness," he says. Then defending Divine Goodness, Lewis goes on to say, "Love may forgive all infirmities and love still in spite of them: but Love cannot cease to will their removal."

How in the world did 'zomg, tolerance of all' become the 21st century epitome of Luv? Surely the truth could not have vanished? Though the times change and cultures alter -- still, there is no society in which people value selfishness (not yet, at least). Every human heart holds the ideal of true, selfless love (whether they practice it or not). This is the Divine Love, the Force that fuels the universe to operate.

I also ask, what is true Justice? Try replacing the word 'Love' with 'Justice' in 1 Corinthians 13 passage:

• (v.5) Justice doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
• (v.6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
• (v.8) Justice never faileth.

Yes; some criteria for Love are rather awkward to apply to Justice. But we find that Justice essentially stems from Love. Hence, it is Justice only when it meets the rubric of Love, and I must conclude that neither Justice nor Love is accomplished apart from each other.

As the notion of crooked Luv dominates the current sociopolitical and philosophical realms of America, I wonder if that's what our friends truly want for our nation and for themselves. Setting the relativism aside, isn't it a nation's duty to promote the advancement of its people and to provide protection in times of need? What happened to true Justice? Moreover, what happened to true Love? Is the so-called "choice" what you really want for your best friend? If you indeed want the 'optimal completion' for your loved ones, wouldn't you offer a greater Love, than the one of mere kindness and tolerance?

So dear Liberalism Manifesto, think rationally and lovingly about what you are preaching. As for myself, I courteously abstain from politics, at least for tonight. I'm not sure what instigated me to write this -- this is as political as you will ever see me.