Chick Flick

You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Philippians 1:10 (MSG)

I do not like chick flicks. You know the movies where boy meets girl, they fall in love, then some horrible situation threatens to keep them apart, but they find a way to stay together. Enter Kleenex. Or even more tear-inducing, they cannot stay together. My best friend, on the other hand, loves this type of film. She likes the comic variation, too. For myself, give me a movie that involves a chase or an explosion and I am happy. My husband appreciates this quality, although he has dragged me into some chick flicks.

This verse from Paul instructs us to separate the superficial and "sentimental gush" from true love. Love, as described in this verse and the immediately preceding and following verses, is no feeling. It is an active part of being a Christian. It means taking care of each other, whether we feel like it or not. Sometimes we do not feel love. When our spouses or children or friends do something we do not like or hurts us, "love" tends to escape us. The "sentimental gush" I associate with romantic movies and novels (no offense to anyone who likes that-to each his or her own) is the fluff on top of love we usually think of as love itself. It's like ordering an ice cream sundae and only eating the whipped cream on top. Sure, that's a tasty part of the sundae, but if I stopped there, I'd be missing the best part! Love as a feeling is great, but like real whipped cream, it quickly dissipates. What is underneath that sweet, creamy layer is the real deal. What is underneath the superficiality of affection is love that would sacrifice, love that would choose the other person over selfish desires, love that cares and just plain works hard for someone else. Christian love can be beautiful, even when it is taking someone a homemade (or store-bought) meal or an afternoon visit. It can be a formidable foe when fighting evil. Love can really overcome many things. Loving and caring for someone who is mired in sin can do so much good. It can be tremendously painful, too. Loving someone who is not receptive to it can cut deep. But it is the example Christ gave us. He showed love when He died on the cross for someone who will never accept His gift. His love was no less painful when He died for someone who readily accepts Him.

Whether or not your preferred entertainment choice is sentimental or not, let your love be sincere. Our lives have no room for false love, feelings that are fleeting and contrary to our Christian call to genuine love. Keep that for the movies.

God, rid my heart of sentimental gush. Enable my feelings of love towards others to develop into real love, willing and able to sacrifice for Your purpose. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher