Do Christians believe in romantic love?

Answer 1

Christians definitely believe in romantic love, but it's not the most important form of love in our lives. God created man and woman to love one another, marry and stick to their mates until death. Romantic love is a gift from God for the purpose of marriage, which is God's arrangement..(Proverbs 5:18-19). God performed the first marriage in the Garden of Eden, and Adam definitely felt romantic love for Eve (Genesis 2:23&24). Husbands and wives are told to love and respect each other (Ephesians 5:28-33),

There are four types of love in the Greek language, three of which are used in the scriptures:
Agape' - love guided, or governed, by principle. It may or may not include affection and fondness.. This type of love allows God to show kindness even to those who don't deserve it, a principle we are encouraged to follow (Matthew 5:43-45)
Philia- love based on warm affection. This expression is used to show the strong, warm, personal attachment God has for his Son and for his Son's followers, as well as the warm feeling of the disciples for God's Son.-(John 5:20; John 16:27)
Storge- strong family love, or natural affection, based on blood relationship. The love a mother has for her child is an example of this kind of love. (1 Thessalonians 2:7.)
Eros- romantic love. This form of love is not used in The Bible at all.

Though the word EROS is not used in the scriptures, romantic love is definitely eluded to in scripture and demonstrated in the Song of Solomon, where King Solomon writes about his affection for a maiden, who was in love with a shepherd boy. She writes about her love at Song of Solomon 2:3&4.

A young man loves a young woman whom he is going to marry. He would be foolish to expect her to be perfect, but he would expect her to be wholehearted in her love for him, that is, to have romantic love for him alone, but more important, and more attractive to this Christian man, would be her love for God. Love for God promotes Agape' love, which is deeper and more long lasting, and the primary form of love used in the scriptures. Where romantic love can come and go, and often fades in time, Agape' love grows ever stronger , and is given freely, whether the person deserves it or not. Not returning evil for evil. Not calling names or yelling. Not giving like for like, tit for tat, but showing kindness in all things. It promotes forgiveness and patience, far more important than romantic love to a long lasting relationship.

When Agape' love is felt and shown on both sides of a relationship, it makes a very secure and solid bond, and it's kindness promotes peace and joy.