"As conservatives, the truth must always be central to our being. But without true love, there is no love of and commitment to the truth."
- Joseph R. Hugh
"Do Christians believe in romantic love? Certainly—but it is a romantic love defined and protected by a biblical worldview that presses us towards the institution and covenant of marriage. Is love emotional? Of course, but Christians must not believe that the essence of love is found in subjective emotions that are subject to change. Love is, because of who God is, meant to be enduring, forbearing. It is not fleeting nor fickle."
- R. Albert Mohler Jr., "Valentine's Day and the Unending Love of God"
"Nevertheless, it’s important for us to return time and again to Scripture to find out what love is supposed to look like, for we’re so easily satisfied with a sentimental, maudlin, romantic, or superficial understanding of love."
- R.C. Sproul, "What is Love?"
"On this Valentine’s Day, Christians see the longing and yearnings of the human heart for love. What the culture offers is not love. What Christians carry, however, is the gospel of true, pure, and perfect love, namely, the love of God for a lost and dying world."
- R. Albert Mohler Jr., "Valentine's Day and the Unending Love of God"
"Others speak of love as non-judgmental, unconditional acceptance, derived from the psychological concept of unconditional positive regard. But this overly-simplistic approach is confusing and leaves us powerless in the face of malice and evil. Love shows its true colors in how it responds to trials, suffering, and evil. The greatest display of love is Christ’s crucifixion. Paul wrote in Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
- Joel Beeke, "Loves Attributes"
"We’re more concerned to seize the supernatural power that God can give rather than the supernatural love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). We have misplaced priorities. Thanks be to God that His love for us is greater than our love for Him. May He strengthen us to pursue love above all else, a love that reflects His love for us in Christ (5:8)."
- R.C. Sproul, "What is Love"
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"In contrast to this love, Christians cannot help but to grieve at the larger cultural conversations about the nature of love. When we look at the entire state of marriage, civilization has subverted this divine institution, making it about self-fulfillment and redefining who can be married. Moreover, the culture has insisted that romance can be separated from covenant fidelity—that sexual intimacy can be sundered from the institution of marriage between one man and one woman."
- R. Albert Mohler Jr., "Valentine's Day and the Unending Love of God"
"The ultimate norm of love is God Himself. His love is utterly perfect, containing no shadow that would obscure its brilliant purity. Prayerfully study 1 Corinthians 13. How does your love measure up to these standards?"
- R.C. Sproul, "What is Love?"
"[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (ESV)"
- The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:1–3
Closing Thoughts: Without love for those that are close to us, relationships will end and loneliness will ensue. Without love for our country, the free system in which we now live will crumble and tyranny will prevail. Without love for our creator, life loses all meaning and purpose, and darkness will always follow. May we use this Valentine's Day as an opportunity to extol the traditional, Christian virtues of true love in this dark and dying world.
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Alexander K. Scott
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