God loves me. These three words are a serious cause for pause. They are a time for reflection and delight. However, if you are like me you may find yourself chasing this sweet taste of divine benevolence with other theological tonics, as if we are feeling guilty or something. I think this is a problem.
THEOLOGICAL FLINCHING
Let’s make it practical. You are talking with a friend about what you’ve been reading in your devotions.
You talk about Isaiah 43:4-5:
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
As soon as you hone in on the staggering truth of God’s love you quickly get uncomfortable. How do I know you’re uncomfortable? I do it too. I call it the theological flinch. When this glorious truth of God’s love is heard in our ears and begins to seep into our minds and hearts, we quickly run to qualify the conditions of God’s love toward us. Common demonstrations of theological flinching are the quick articulations of grace, mercy, election and depravity. Now, don’t get me wrong these are all true expressions of God’s love for us and an occasion to delight as well, but the sad truth remains that I feel uncomfortable just soaking in the rain shower of God’s love toward me.
I wonder how comfortable you are just saying Paul’s words like they are your own without qualification:
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.Galatians 2:20
This is not right. Any theology that cannot marvel and enjoy the love of God in Christ Jesus is not divinely calibrated. Something has gotten in the way.
SOME IDEAS AS TO WHY
I honestly don’t know what it is. I have some ideas but they are speculative.
Money Laundering God’s Love. For me I think that it makes things more professional to funnel God’s love for me through various theological words. It’s like a money launderer trying to hide the original source of funds so they engage in layering (using multiple accounts and vehicles to hide the original source or nature of the money). That’s what I do. I layer it. Instead of just letting it explode on my lap like, BAM! God loves me. I say, “Well, it is for his glory that he elected me despite my deadness in sin.” This is all true. And it is not supposed to cut the wires of divine benevolence but rather further communicate it. But, we are sinful. And God’s love is pride arresting and soul staggering.
Too Much for Me. Another reason I think I (we) do this is because God’s love for us is just far to staggering to deal with. Let’s face it, for the God of the universe to say that he loves you and that you are precious in his eyes is staggering, to say the least. This is threatening to our autonomy. It undermines our professional business relationship with God and thrusts us into a covenantal relationship. We are not partners with God like a law firm but covenanted with God like a marriage. This commitment runs deep both ways.
A CHALLENGE
So I challenge you as I challenge myself today, examine your heart, particularly in light of God’s love toward you. Chew upon this truth: God loves his children. And stop right there! Loiter with me around this monument of theological truth, drink from the fountain of gospel love, and shut-up with the qualifiers—just enjoy the staggering truth!!
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1.5-6)