There has been a lot of commentary on JD Vance's comments that there is a hierarchy when it comes to love and that you need to love your family before others. I agree and share why he's right.
Simon, I don't disagree with your views but I would like to make a few points, certainly NOT in support of the Woke Left, but to expand upon the meaning & scope of 'love'!
Charity or love does ‘ideally’ begin at home, being the ‘foremost & original school of love’, but as we know, it doesn't end there! Simple acts of kindness to strangers fall into the category of loving ones neighbour! Helping someone with directions who may be lost as opposed to taking advantage of them! This is the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’! Jesus also exhorted us to love our enemies! Mt 5:43-48
The issue is what does LOVE mean! It says in the Bible that God chides those he loves:
Hebrews 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”.
Rev 2:19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent”.
Jesus made a whip & dealt to the money changers:
Jn 2:15 “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for thy house will consume me.”
Therefore there is a standard of ‘behaviour & actions’ we must meet! Love may be gentle, patient & encouraging at times, or it may be a good ‘old rark up’ for those who are out of line!
That is why God gave Adam & Eve a Commandment to KEEP, in order to fulfil God’s standard of ‘absolute true love’! When they didn’t, they were driven out of the Garden! Subsequently God also advised the Israelite people; Deut 28:1-14 = God’s Blessing, Deut 28:15-68 = God’s Curse! Deut 30:11-20
That is generally well understood except by the Left! Their sense of entitlement & do what ‘I’ like attitude (as Lucifer practised in the Garden & moving forward) is the antithesis of God’s Will & the definition of ‘sacrificial love’ & ‘self discipline’ that Jesus demonstrated! Mt 4:1-11, Rom 8:17
Heb 5:11 “About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the ‘first principles’ of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for everyone who lives on milk is ‘unskilled’ in the ‘word of righteousness’, for he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their ‘faculties trained by practice’ to ‘distinguish good from evil’.”
The Bible is a 'Text Book' teaching us how to live our lives in order to find peace, fruitfulness, joy & love. Mt 28:18-20
Therefore, without a Biblically based society, we can never achieve lasting peace & happiness, because the ability to give, receive & experience love will be diminished without knowing & obeying those teachings, rendering us incapable of fulfilling our ‘Purpose of Creation’ as God’s children! Rom 8:17, 1 Cor 3:16-17, 1 Cor 13, Heb 5:8-9, Jn 10:34-35
God’s Word must be taught correctly so that people can experience a ‘logical & systemised’ teaching of His Word! Mt 28:18-20
Jn 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in ‘spirit and truth’, for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in 'spirit and truth'.”
God jealously raised up His people so that they would KEEP His Word & His Commandments to accomplish His Will!
Today we have the same responsibility:
Mt 6:33, Mt 6:9-10, Mt 28:18-20 = Is 9:6-7, Dan 7:27, (Hag 1:12-15) = Gen 1:27-28 = God's Kingdom on earth!
In the Providence of God, God has had to deal harshly with His children in order to prepare a people to welcome the Messiah! Otherwise there would be no hope for humanity! Jn 3:16
Great words, Simon! Me dear departed Mum, Betty Varoy, who battled with 6 hooligan kids and mental illness, had to agree with you. Amongst other witty remarks, Mum reckoned "Charity began at Home! Agape love is, to my understanding, a god like love and a deeply spiritual Love for our creator God and His creation. Keep up the good work. We need another Hero!
Excellent erudite commentary; convincing lucid argument. A+.
Thanks Rex!
Well articulated Simon
Thanks Hal; I enjoyed writing this one.
The great despots of the last century killed millions in the name of ideological 'love'. The would-be despots of today share that line of thinking.
This is excellent, deeply insightful writing Simon.
You're right on Simon. Love and appreciate your posts. 👍🙏
Thanks Trish :)
Simon, I don't disagree with your views but I would like to make a few points, certainly NOT in support of the Woke Left, but to expand upon the meaning & scope of 'love'!
Charity or love does ‘ideally’ begin at home, being the ‘foremost & original school of love’, but as we know, it doesn't end there! Simple acts of kindness to strangers fall into the category of loving ones neighbour! Helping someone with directions who may be lost as opposed to taking advantage of them! This is the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’! Jesus also exhorted us to love our enemies! Mt 5:43-48
The issue is what does LOVE mean! It says in the Bible that God chides those he loves:
Hebrews 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”.
Rev 2:19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent”.
Jesus made a whip & dealt to the money changers:
Jn 2:15 “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for thy house will consume me.”
Therefore there is a standard of ‘behaviour & actions’ we must meet! Love may be gentle, patient & encouraging at times, or it may be a good ‘old rark up’ for those who are out of line!
That is why God gave Adam & Eve a Commandment to KEEP, in order to fulfil God’s standard of ‘absolute true love’! When they didn’t, they were driven out of the Garden! Subsequently God also advised the Israelite people; Deut 28:1-14 = God’s Blessing, Deut 28:15-68 = God’s Curse! Deut 30:11-20
That is generally well understood except by the Left! Their sense of entitlement & do what ‘I’ like attitude (as Lucifer practised in the Garden & moving forward) is the antithesis of God’s Will & the definition of ‘sacrificial love’ & ‘self discipline’ that Jesus demonstrated! Mt 4:1-11, Rom 8:17
Heb 5:11 “About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the ‘first principles’ of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for everyone who lives on milk is ‘unskilled’ in the ‘word of righteousness’, for he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their ‘faculties trained by practice’ to ‘distinguish good from evil’.”
The Bible is a 'Text Book' teaching us how to live our lives in order to find peace, fruitfulness, joy & love. Mt 28:18-20
Therefore, without a Biblically based society, we can never achieve lasting peace & happiness, because the ability to give, receive & experience love will be diminished without knowing & obeying those teachings, rendering us incapable of fulfilling our ‘Purpose of Creation’ as God’s children! Rom 8:17, 1 Cor 3:16-17, 1 Cor 13, Heb 5:8-9, Jn 10:34-35
God’s Word must be taught correctly so that people can experience a ‘logical & systemised’ teaching of His Word! Mt 28:18-20
Jn 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in ‘spirit and truth’, for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in 'spirit and truth'.”
God jealously raised up His people so that they would KEEP His Word & His Commandments to accomplish His Will!
Today we have the same responsibility:
Mt 6:33, Mt 6:9-10, Mt 28:18-20 = Is 9:6-7, Dan 7:27, (Hag 1:12-15) = Gen 1:27-28 = God's Kingdom on earth!
In the Providence of God, God has had to deal harshly with His children in order to prepare a people to welcome the Messiah! Otherwise there would be no hope for humanity! Jn 3:16
Thanks Stephen. I don't have time to fully reply, but have read and am considering.
Simon, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSnrdvRmMpM&t=103s
Eric Metaxas speaking essentially on, "Faith without works is dead"!
Great column, Simon. Love your family and the rest kind of follows.
Exactly. It needs to begin somewhere, and naturally with family and flows outwards from there.
Great read Simon. I imagine the principle of subsidiarity dovetails the order of love.
Great words, Simon! Me dear departed Mum, Betty Varoy, who battled with 6 hooligan kids and mental illness, had to agree with you. Amongst other witty remarks, Mum reckoned "Charity began at Home! Agape love is, to my understanding, a god like love and a deeply spiritual Love for our creator God and His creation. Keep up the good work. We need another Hero!