CS Lewis wrote “God is love, but love is not God” in The Four Loves. In penning these words, he expertly describes a common tendency in people to make an idol out of our feelings of love. The first half of the quote is from the writings of the apostle John. John’s point was that one of God’s main attributes is that he is loving. The second half of the quote refers to the fact that, because love is such a huge part of God’s personality, the best part of our experience of love can easily remind us of God. A mother’s love for her children is selfless, pure, and inspiring. However, when a mother’s love for her children becomes a god to worship, it can become something it was never meant to be. This is most typically seen in mothers whose attachment to their children keeps their kids from ever growing up, standing on their own, or leaving the nest. A mother who never allows her child to fail, so he can learn from the experience, steals from him the opportunity to learn the hard lessons of life that produce mature adults. She may think that her protection of him is a wonderful gift, but its effects are the opposite. It is also seen in parents who give their children everything they want, with no concern over whether or not their children are becoming spoiled. Spoiling a child doesn’t help them in the long run, though it is often done in the name of love. Love of country can easily become destructive, when it fails to see those from other nations as human or deserving of basic human rights. People, regardless of their country of origin, are created and loved by God. This is easy to forget when patriotism takes an overly important position. Another common example of love taking a position of over-importance is in relation to romantic connections. Our culture idolizes romance to a degree. Men use “love” as an excuse for abandoning their wives and kids, saying things like “the heart wants what it wants” as though the feeling of romantic love (or lust) is a righteous justification for their decision to run off with their secretary. The bottom line is that if “love” dictates a behavior, then we must obey if “love is god.” Folks often justify terrible behavior with love as an excuse. This is why CS Lewis concludes that “when love becomes God, it also becomes a demon.” It’s a demon, not because love is a bad thing, but because love that takes a position of over-importance can easily become self-interested and destructive. Love that defines its own morals and ethics can destroy anything. Mind you, I am not denouncing romance, patriotism, or family. These are all great things, created by God and given to His people. However, when anything in the creation becomes a god, it can easily become destructive. Love is best expressed in the context of obedience to God. If God created parental love, romance, and love of nation; they are all best handled in the context of our relationship with Him and not allowed to become an end in themselves.
