When I was a kid, there was a cheesy show on TV called Love American Style. The thing I remember most was the theme song and the opening scene's fireworks. What I know is that my parents wouldn't let me watch it because it was a bit racy for the day. I wonder what my mom would say about Desperate Housewives or some of the other modern TV fare?

The problem with Love American Style and almost every other modern expression of love is that the style is all wrong. Love today is all about self. It is centered around lust, sexual pleasure and feelings. We see this displayed on TV and in movies. Worse, we see it displayed in the way our high school and college students open themselves to sexual promiscuity, in the way our society de-values marriage and fidelity, and in many other ways that shake us to the core. If love is about self, it is self-destructive. Lusts lose their luster. Feelings begin to fade over time. Promiscuity leads to devastating consequences for young lives. As a result, society bears the burden. This burden comes from the fact that Love American Style is just plain wrong.

So what would love look like Bible Style? You need not look any farther than the cross. Biblical love is not selfish. Rather it is selfless. Love Bible Style looks remarkably like the way that Jesus selflessly offers His sinless life over to death for the sake of sinners like us. Jesus even tells us, Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. The cross is a sign of the greatest love. This love never fades. This love never fails. This is love, Bible Style! This is the way that God loves you!

As we turn this month to Valentine's Day, don't buy into the hype of Love American Style. It isn't about cards and candy. It isn't about emotions and feelings. It isn't about perks and pleasures. Love, true love, is about Jesus and what He has already done for you out of Love! You already have the greatest Valentine of all. It is Jesus.