Love: Emotion or Choice?

[americanpride]

The common assumpation today - and I admit, I have long held the same - is that love is simply an emotion. A wild, uncontrollable, free-falling emotion.

But the Bible states that love is "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1Corinthians 13:4-7). It also states that we should love our enemies, and love the unlovable.

So - if love is an emotion, I ask how is it possible for us to love those that cannot be loved? If we are weak, and prone to temptations, anger, doubt, and so forth, how is it possible for us to love?

[Husky23]

Types of love.
I believe the Bible references three types; Agape Love (which one cannot have without God), Phileo Love (which the emotional love) and Eros (which kinda explains itself)


1. AGAPE
This is the Love of intelligence, of reason and comprehension coupled with the corresponding purpose. Its concept is vastly superior to any other form of Love, In essence "Agape" is a permanent benevolent attitude toward God and human beings, without any condition, that freely springs out of the Agape God has place in the heart of His own. It is disinterested love that does not need anything in return. We can only Agape others only if God has firstly filled us up with His Agape. All the other form of love need a reaction, a return to maintain themselves, whilst Agape comes from God and the beneficiaries that are full of it do not need a confirmation from others, being fully satisfied in the Agape of the Lord.
2. PHILEO
Expresses Love of personal affection, or of pleasure, including even the relevant passions when required. It does not involve intelligence or high purposes. This concept places Phileo at a level inferior to that of Agape. It is a feeling that finds attraction in another person and it expects a return.
3. EROS
Is sensual and sexual desire, attraction to copulate. It is physical attraction often confused with Agape and Phileo. For example, a good majority of people marry for Eros, and sometime for Phileo, but rarely for Agape.

[wolfen244]

Dark Lord,

I have always believed that love is the most powerful and primitive of the emotions. I wonder that if a person can overcome that emotion can utilize it more constructively.

w