Belief without Baggage: Love

“God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”

Have you ever wondered if love—the central promise of faith—could be simpler, purer, and freer of the baggage religion sometimes adds? This reflection invites us to untangle the ways love has been distorted, particularly by conditional or "tough love" narratives, and instead embrace love as the very essence of God. Exploring the richness of love through four dimensions—storge (familial love), philia (friendship), eros (romantic passion), and agape (unconditional, divine love)—we are reminded that God's love is tough in resilience, not in harshness. It is a love that always seeks to build up, never tear down, and that fiercely claims us as beloved, even when we feel unworthy. This understanding challenges us to cultivate love in practical ways: through time, attention, help, and presence, showing up for others as God shows up for us. In a world often marked by division and judgment, reclaiming this kind of love offers the promise of a better, more peaceful world—one relationship, one act of kindness at a time.