EDITOR: In many countries of the western world, the month of February is dedicated to the concept of Love. The expression “Love is Love” probably originated from the civil rights movement of the 1960s when the phrase was used to challenge laws that prohibited interracial marriage, but its new meaning is now linked to the LGBTQ+ community. In essence, the meaning of “love is love” is that ‘the love expressed by an individual or couple is valid regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity of their lover or partner -‘Romantic love between any two individuals is equally valid and beautiful’.

Morality in the western world is founded on the sacred scriptures (the Bible), but there is now a tendency to deviate from the fundamental principles upon which these nations were built.

This article will briefly examine the concept of LOVE as is grounded in the scriptures.

In Mark chapter 12:28-34, we can find these words: “And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, what commandment is the first of all? 29 Yahshua answered, the first is, Hear, O Israel; Yahweh is our Elohim, Yahweh is one: 30 and you shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is this, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” We can clearly see that we are expected to love Yahweh and love our fellow men.

Now, how do we express that love? Is it all based on feelings from an emotional standpoint?

“If it feels good to me, then it is good?” By no means! The scriptures are clear – Do we love Yahweh? First John 5:1-3 says, “Whoever believes that Yahshua is the Messiah is begotten of Yahweh: and whoever loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Yahweh and do his commandments. 3 For this is the love of Yahweh, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

Yahweh’s commandments are very clear as it relates to sexual sins. In the Bible, Leviticus chapter 18 is quite lucid. Four sins that Yahweh hates are listed in this chapter, namely: incest, adultery, homosexuality and bestiality. None of these practices should be present among the people who love Yahweh and love their neighbours. We are now living in a crazy world where so-called LOVE is expressed even to inanimate objects! In Leviticus 18: 22 and Leviticus 20:13, it clearly states: “You shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

So, the expression “Love is Love” that is promoted by the LGBTQ+ community should never be accepted by persons who love Yahweh and love their neighbours.
True, intimate love should be expressed by a man and a woman who indeed love each other in a marital union which was prescribed by Almighty Yahweh. Allow Yahweh to speak to you through his Word: Here are some quotations to ponder on: Romans 1:26-27 For this cause Yahweh gave them up to passions of dishonour: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men working indecency, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.”

1 John 2:15-17 – “15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it: but he that does the will of Yahweh remains forever.”

1 Corinthians 6:15-20 – “Do you not know that your bodies are members of the Messiah…?

In this month of February, should you not focus on True Love – love for Yahweh and genuine love for your neighbours? Why should a true worshipper continue to celebrate Valentine’s Day knowing that it is originated from gross paganism?

We must all be careful to consider our ways lest we be deceived and lose our salvation.

Ulrick Sutherland
Assemblies of Yahweh, SVG