Western Bible Western Bible ConferenceConference

Renew our HeartsRenew our Hearts

The Passions of The Passions of

Perfect LovePerfect Love

Is there a “centering” Is there a “centering” principle?principle?

How do we serve/lead moment by How do we serve/lead moment by moment knowing that our doing moment knowing that our doing arises out of His Being?arises out of His Being?

Are their resources available which Are their resources available which can feed into the ‘dailyness’ or the can feed into the ‘dailyness’ or the ‘mundanity’ of life? ‘mundanity’ of life?

Is it possible to be a passionate Is it possible to be a passionate practitioner?practitioner?

The ‘definition’ of loveThe ‘definition’ of love

Polling the Polling the ‘philosophers’ of ‘philosophers’ of our dayour day

What is Love?What is Love? Emotional?Emotional? Chemical?Chemical? Continual or Continual or

Episodic?Episodic? Completing or Completing or

Depleting?Depleting? Best or Worst?Best or Worst? Difference Difference

between love or between love or loving?loving?

The ‘philosophers’ opineThe ‘philosophers’ opine

Sin as the Perversion of Sin as the Perversion of Love Love The expression of sin in Israel – Hos. 4:14-15The expression of sin in Israel – Hos. 4:14-15

““I will not punish your daughters when they I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. Though understanding shall come to ruin. Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty.”become guilty.”

““All mad passions All mad passions are true love gone astray”are true love gone astray”

S. L. BrengleS. L. Brengle

Is a re-appraisal of love Is a re-appraisal of love necessary? necessary?

The ‘language’ of Church existenceThe ‘language’ of Church existence Overweening preoccupation with LordshipOverweening preoccupation with Lordship Duty as the sole reason for following JesusDuty as the sole reason for following Jesus Recurrent lack of spiritual disciplineRecurrent lack of spiritual discipline The “bottom line” mentality – obeyed, so The “bottom line” mentality – obeyed, so

now….now…. The loss of pure unadulterated passionThe loss of pure unadulterated passion Conversation at family meals, board meetings Conversation at family meals, board meetings

and even, some Bible Conferencesand even, some Bible Conferences

The present view on salvation is not The present view on salvation is not adequate.adequate.We need a renewal of a different We need a renewal of a different paradigmparadigm

Love in the Old Love in the Old TestamentTestament

No Abstract or Speculative DiscourseNo Abstract or Speculative Discourse No clear definition of the content No clear definition of the content Most often in the context of familyMost often in the context of family

MarriageMarriage Familial IntimacyFamilial Intimacy

Overall SummationOverall Summation Personal AttachmentPersonal Attachment Strong intense commitment over timeStrong intense commitment over time A view of others with an attitude beyond A view of others with an attitude beyond

legality, even enemieslegality, even enemies

Love: Assumption or Love: Assumption or Reality?Reality?

The ‘definition’ of the The ‘definition’ of the imago deiimago dei Three Commands and a “realization”Three Commands and a “realization”

Rule, Work, Choose – Need of another – Rule, Work, Choose – Need of another – not God!not God!

Abraham’s Friendship of God as a Abraham’s Friendship of God as a paradigmparadigm ““Walk before me and be perfect.”Walk before me and be perfect.”

The Meaning of the Covenant – The Meaning of the Covenant –

Foundation is Familial LoveFoundation is Familial Love

The Formation of a The Formation of a Kingdom of Priests – a Kingdom of Priests – a paraphrase of Ex. 19paraphrase of Ex. 19

Brought out to be brought to YahwehBrought out to be brought to Yahweh To understand their relationship as one To understand their relationship as one

of priceless intimacy (of priceless intimacy (seghulseghul)) Called to be absolutely His and thus Called to be absolutely His and thus

offering themselves as World-bearing offering themselves as World-bearing intercessory witnesses (Kingdom of intercessory witnesses (Kingdom of priests)priests)

Their personal identity is defined by Their personal identity is defined by communal holiness (Holy Nation, communal holiness (Holy Nation, “assembly of Yahweh”)“assembly of Yahweh”)

Response? Reject it all!Response? Reject it all!

Love in DeuteronomyLove in Deuteronomy

First clear reference to love – Gen 22First clear reference to love – Gen 22 Deut. is the only book which has any Deut. is the only book which has any

“discussion” of love (Song of Songs is “discussion” of love (Song of Songs is unique!)unique!)

Only place where we find a logical Only place where we find a logical connection between Loving God and connection between Loving God and God’s Love for usGod’s Love for us

The Covenant is founded on love – and The Covenant is founded on love – and Yahweh is ‘emotional’ about it.Yahweh is ‘emotional’ about it.

God’s Love for UsGod’s Love for Us

Seldom mentioned either of a group or of Seldom mentioned either of a group or of individualsindividuals Dt 33:12 "The beloved of the LORD dwells in Dt 33:12 "The beloved of the LORD dwells in

safetysafety Ps 127:2 “he gives to his beloved sleep”Ps 127:2 “he gives to his beloved sleep”

Holy Love is the basis of His relation to IsraelHoly Love is the basis of His relation to Israel Dt. 7:7-8; 7:13; 10:14; 23:5; Mal 1:2Dt. 7:7-8; 7:13; 10:14; 23:5; Mal 1:2

There is a tenderness, a radical openness, a There is a tenderness, a radical openness, a vulnerability, at the Heart of the Holy Love of vulnerability, at the Heart of the Holy Love of GodGod Dt. 7:6-7; Dt 32:16; Jer 12:7-9; Hos 11:7-9Dt. 7:6-7; Dt 32:16; Jer 12:7-9; Hos 11:7-9

The “Center” of Israel’s The “Center” of Israel’s FaithFaith

Deuteronomy: a series of sermons (5-Deuteronomy: a series of sermons (5-26) with an historical introduction (chs. 26) with an historical introduction (chs. 1-4)1-4)

Yahweh’s repeated request – “Hear!”Yahweh’s repeated request – “Hear!” He wants to share Himself, His LifeHe wants to share Himself, His Life ‘‘Hear” is the first of six commandsHear” is the first of six commands

The ‘The ‘centeringcentering’ principle often becomes ’ principle often becomes meaninglessmeaningless

How Does Israel Know How Does Israel Know Yahweh Loves Them?Yahweh Loves Them?

Moses rehearses the Faithful Love of Yahweh:Moses rehearses the Faithful Love of Yahweh: His Actions are selfless – Exodus of “Hebrews” His Actions are selfless – Exodus of “Hebrews” His Emotions are Passionate – ‘jealous’ His Emotions are Passionate – ‘jealous’

used as adj. only of Yahweh is Scripture used as adj. only of Yahweh is Scripture Relentless, exclusive, doesn’t give up what He Relentless, exclusive, doesn’t give up what He

claimsclaims Undistracted by the possibility of more attractive Undistracted by the possibility of more attractive

loverslovers He is Faithful in His Character - LawHe is Faithful in His Character - Law He is Worthy of Reverence – “fear”He is Worthy of Reverence – “fear” His Heart is turned outside HimselfHis Heart is turned outside Himself

What Must Israel Know?What Must Israel Know?

The Fundamental Reality 6:4 Central The Fundamental Reality 6:4 Central Yahweh our God – Yahweh OneYahweh our God – Yahweh One Unique phrasing in all of ScriptureUnique phrasing in all of Scripture More than an affirmation of MonotheismMore than an affirmation of Monotheism

The Fundamental Response 6:5 The Fundamental Response 6:5 CentralCentral Only in Deut.! 12 timesOnly in Deut.! 12 times

The ‘anthropology’ of The ‘anthropology’ of lovelove

Heart – Defines who I am Heart – Defines who I am Brengle: “central, or great driving force of Brengle: “central, or great driving force of

the spiritual man” (PofH, 8) the spiritual man” (PofH, 8)

Soul (Soul (nepheshnephesh) – A basic dependence – I ) – A basic dependence – I am Hisam His

Mind (Mk 12:30; Mt 22:37; Lk 10:27) – Mind (Mk 12:30; Mt 22:37; Lk 10:27) – A fundamental dispositionA fundamental disposition

Strength – ‘everythingness’Strength – ‘everythingness’

A Pervasive ‘Psychology’ A Pervasive ‘Psychology’ of Loveof Love

EverythingnessMind: DispositionSoul: DependsHeart: Defines

““Pictorial” History of Pictorial” History of the Love of the Holy One for the Love of the Holy One for

IsraelIsrael FriendshipFriendship (Gen 3:8, 6:9, 17:1 2Chr20:7, Is (Gen 3:8, 6:9, 17:1 2Chr20:7, Is

41:8) 41:8) FamilyFamily (Ex 4:22-23, Jn 3:3, Gal 4:6)(Ex 4:22-23, Jn 3:3, Gal 4:6) CourtroomCourtroom (Ex 19-20, Rom 1-5)(Ex 19-20, Rom 1-5) MarriageMarriage (Hos 1:2, Ezek 16, Jn 2, Lk (Hos 1:2, Ezek 16, Jn 2, Lk

14:15-24, 14:15-24, Rev 21:24)Rev 21:24) IndwellingIndwelling (Zech 4:6, Jn 17, Col 1:27)(Zech 4:6, Jn 17, Col 1:27)

IdentityIdentity (Gen 12:4,18:17-18, Mt 10:17-40)(Gen 12:4,18:17-18, Mt 10:17-40)

Living in the Holy Love of Living in the Holy Love of GodGod

Prepositions of God’s deepening self Prepositions of God’s deepening self revelationrevelation Above Above us – Creationus – Creation BeforeBefore us – Abrahamus – Abraham ForFor us – Moses and Exodusus – Moses and Exodus OverOver us – Kings and Exile us – Kings and Exile InIn us – Prophetsus – Prophets As As us – Incarnationus – Incarnation In and throughIn and through us – Spirit-Filled Life – Holy us – Spirit-Filled Life – Holy

LoveLove Rigthly Ordered PassionsRigthly Ordered Passions

What would this look What would this look like?like?

A Disposition of Personal OpennessA Disposition of Personal Openness Consistent VulnerabilityConsistent Vulnerability A Unique, Original and Genuine LoyaltyA Unique, Original and Genuine Loyalty Freedom to Give and Receive and ShareFreedom to Give and Receive and Share Offering Safety and AcceptanceOffering Safety and Acceptance Engaged in Actions which “Please”Engaged in Actions which “Please” A Covenantal Participation in PurposeA Covenantal Participation in Purpose Passionate and Instinctive EnjoymentPassionate and Instinctive Enjoyment

The crucial factor is Love The crucial factor is Love Maybe the most important and Maybe the most important and

informative is the recurrence of ‘informative is the recurrence of ‘allall’’

Never a Never a contractcontract He desires He desires only and always a only and always a CovenantCovenant

Not LegalNot LegalRelationalRelational

Not Impersonal Not Impersonal PersonalPersonalNot FunctionalNot Functional IntimateIntimateNot Power-basedNot Power-based InvitingInvitingNot Servile Not Servile FamilialFamilial

An Illustration of LoveAn Illustration of Love

Therese of LisieuxTherese of Lisieux