Pastor Greg Laurie: How God's Love Is Different Than Culture's Love
Evangelical pastor Greg Laurie shared some thoughts on God's love this week, comparing it to the love people receive from their culture.
Laurie, who is senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, wrote in a March 29 blog post that there is a great contrast between God's love and "the so-called 'love' of our culture."
"Our world loves you when you are young and beautiful; God loves you when you are old and not so attractive," Laurie writes. "Our world loves you when you are famous and a celebrity; God loves you when you are unknown and a complete nobody."
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"Our world loves you when you are rich and powerful; God loves you when you are penniless and weak," he continues. "Our world loves the extraordinary. God loves the ordinary. People like you and me."
Laurie concludes his brief blog post by referencing John 15:13 NKJV, which reads: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."
The evangelical pastor, whose church has about 15,000 members, has previously spoken on the topic of love and how it is depicted by modern culture.
In a February 2010 post, Laurie explained that while "we hear a lot today about love from our culture, ranging from songs to movies, etc," many people still ask themselves the question: "what is love?"
"So what exactly is love? The Bible tells us that God is love," Laurie writes, referencing 1 Corinthians 13.
The religious leader adds that the best way Christians can show their love for God is through obedience to Him.
"It's one thing to say, 'I love God,' but it's another to do what he says," Laurie adds.
The pastor elaborated on God's love in an April 2012 post, writing that Jesus is God's physical example of His love for us.
"Jesus is God with skin on. Jesus is God demonstrating His love for His own," Laurie writes, citing Hebrews 2:14-15 TLB, which references God's decision to become flesh and blood so He could relate to His children.
"Since we, God's children, are human beings – made of flesh and blood – he became flesh and blood too by being born in human form; for only as a human being could he die and in dying break the power of the devil who had the power of death. Only in that way could he deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as slaves to constant dread. (Hebrews 2:14-15 TLB)," the Bible passage reads.
In response to the passage, Laurie asks readers: "Aren't you glad that God doesn't treat us the way we so often treat Him?" adding, "No matter what you do, no matter where you go, God will always love you."
In a post shortly after Valentine's Day this year, Laurie explains that God's love for us is proven in that He personally chose each of His children.
"This love God has for us goes back further than we can imagine. God, in His great love, chose you to be His child. God personally chose and loved you as though you were the only person on this earth," Laurie writes.
