Imitation Love

Without sufficient Real Love we use getting behaviors to try to fill our emptiness with imitation love.

Lying,

Attacking,

Acting Like a Victim,

Clinging

Without sufficient Real Love we become afraid and try to protect ourselves with the protecting behaviors. Lying, Attacking, Acting Like a Victim, Running

As Christians, we have the great challenge and wonderful gift of receiving God’s Real Love into ourselves so that we are not empty and afraid. Our calling is not only to admire Christ, but also to become like Christ.

The writer Paul compared the process of becoming like Jesus to killing off old behaviors and learning an whole new way of living. Using the Real Love language, I would say that as we grow in our ability to be filled with Real Love, we give up our getting and protecting behaviors, stop trying to fill ourselves with imitation love.

This is the way Paul wrote about it to the Christians in Colossae:

“Now you must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.

Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.

It doesn't matter what your racial or national or religious background is, Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.

Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.”

Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.”