Western Bible Conference

1. Western Bible Conference Renew our Hearts The Passions of Perfect Love

2. Is there a “centering” principle? • How do we serve/lead moment by moment knowing that our doing arises out of His Being? • Are their resources available which can feed into the ‘dailyness’ or the ‘mundanity’ of life? • Is it possible to be a passionate practitioner?

3. The ‘definition’ of love • Polling the ‘philosophers’ of our day • What is Love? • Emotional? • Chemical? • Continual or Episodic? • Completing or Depleting? • Best or Worst? • Difference between love or loving?

4. The ‘philosophers’ opine

5. Sin as the Perversion of Love • The expression of sin in Israel – Hos. 4:14-15“I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty.” “All mad passions are true love gone astray” S. L. Brengle

6. Is a re-appraisal of love necessary? • The ‘language’ of Church existence • Overweening preoccupation with Lordship • Duty as the sole reason for following Jesus • Recurrent lack of spiritual discipline • The “bottom line” mentality – obeyed, so now…. • The loss of pure unadulterated passion • Conversation at family meals, board meetings and even, some Bible Conferences The present view on salvation is not adequate. We need a renewal of a different paradigm

7. Love in the Old Testament • No Abstract or Speculative Discourse • No clear definition of the content • Most often in the context of family • Marriage • Familial Intimacy • Overall Summation • Personal Attachment • Strong intense commitment over time • A view of others with an attitude beyond legality, even enemies

8. Love: Assumption or Reality? • The ‘definition’ of the imago dei • Three Commands and a “realization”Rule, Work, Choose – Need of another – not God! • Abraham’s Friendship of God as a paradigm • “Walk before me and be perfect.” • The Meaning of the Covenant – Foundation is Familial Love

9. The Formation of a Kingdom of Priests – a paraphrase of Ex. 19 • Brought out to be brought to Yahweh • To understand their relationship as one of priceless intimacy (seghul) • Called to be absolutely His and thus offering themselves as World-bearing intercessory witnesses (Kingdom of priests) • Their personal identity is defined by communal holiness (Holy Nation, “assembly of Yahweh”) • Response? Reject it all!

10. Love in Deuteronomy • First clear reference to love – Gen 22 • Deut. is the only book which has any “discussion” of love (Song of Songs is unique!) • Only place where we find a logical connection between Loving God and God’s Love for us • The Covenant is founded on love – and Yahweh is ‘emotional’ about it.

11. God’s Love for Us • Seldom mentioned either of a group or of individuals • Dt 33:12 "The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety • Ps 127:2 “he gives to his beloved sleep” • Holy Love is the basis of His relation to Israel • Dt. 7:7-8; 7:13; 10:14; 23:5; Mal 1:2 • There is a tenderness, a radical openness, a vulnerability, at the Heart of the Holy Love of God • Dt. 7:6-7; Dt 32:16; Jer 12:7-9; Hos 11:7-9

12. The “Center” of Israel’s Faith • Deuteronomy: a series of sermons (5-26) with an historical introduction (chs. 1-4) • Yahweh’s repeated request – “Hear!” • He wants to share Himself, His Life • ‘Hear” is the first of six commands • The ‘centering’ principle often becomes meaningless

13. How Does Israel Know Yahweh Loves Them? Moses rehearses the Faithful Love of Yahweh: • His Actions are selfless – Exodus of “Hebrews” • His Emotions are Passionate – ‘jealous’ used as adj. only of Yahweh is Scripture • Relentless, exclusive, doesn’t give up what He claims • Undistracted by the possibility of more attractive lovers • He is Faithful in His Character - Law • He is Worthy of Reverence – “fear” • His Heart is turned outside Himself

14. What Must Israel Know? • The Fundamental Reality 6:4 Central • Yahweh our God – Yahweh One • Unique phrasing in all of Scripture • More than an affirmation of Monotheism • The Fundamental Response 6:5 Central • Only in Deut.! 12 times

15. The ‘anthropology’ of love • Heart – Defines who I am • Brengle: “central, or great driving force of the spiritual man” (PofH, 8) • Soul (nephesh) – A basic dependence – I am His • Mind (Mk 12:30; Mt 22:37; Lk 10:27) – A fundamental disposition • Strength – ‘everythingness’

16. A Pervasive ‘Psychology’ of Love

17. “Pictorial” History of the Love of the Holy One for Israel • Friendship (Gen 3:8, 6:9, 17:1 2Chr20:7, Is 41:8) • Family (Ex 4:22-23, Jn 3:3, Gal 4:6) • Courtroom (Ex 19-20, Rom 1-5) • Marriage (Hos 1:2, Ezek 16, Jn 2, Lk 14:15-24, Rev 21:24) • Indwelling (Zech 4:6, Jn 17, Col 1:27) • Identity (Gen 12:4,18:17-18, Mt 10:17-40)

18. Living in the Holy Love of God Prepositions of God’s deepening self revelation • Above us – Creation • Before us – Abraham • For us – Moses and Exodus • Over us – Kings and Exile • In us – Prophets • As us – Incarnation • In and through us – Spirit-Filled Life – Holy Love Rigthly Ordered Passions

19. What would this look like? • A Disposition of Personal Openness • Consistent Vulnerability • A Unique, Original and Genuine Loyalty • Freedom to Give and Receive and Share • Offering Safety and Acceptance • Engaged in Actions which “Please” • A Covenantal Participation in Purpose • Passionate and Instinctive Enjoyment

20. The crucial factor is Love • Maybe the most important and informative is the recurrence of ‘all’ • Never a contract He desires only and always a Covenant Not Legal Relational Not Impersonal Personal Not Functional Intimate Not Power-based Inviting Not Servile Familial

21. An Illustration of Love Therese of Lisieux