Oh, how He loves us so

Jim was taught that dangers lurked everywhere, that he should always make sure to take care of himself. The only God he ever heard of sounded like He was very angry and bent on getting even with people. He was taught that people are never to be trusted, that everyone is just in it for the money. Thus, Jim is afraid and feels powerless in an environment of uncertainty. As a result he builds defensive walls in his life and only relates to people who think and act like he does. He is isolated, alone, and convinced that everyone is 'out to get me.'

Sam was taught that the world was a beautiful place created by God for our enjoyment. He learned from the Scripture that sin entered that wonderful Creation and made many things go awry, but that God is a loving Father whose greatest desire is to restore a wayward world to the destiny for which He designed it. Sam was shown that he could find meaning and purpose in his life if He trusted Christ to take away the guilt and by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide him in the will of a loving Father. He believes that the power of evil is diminished, by doing good and living in the love of God. As a result Sam lives joyfully, hopefully, and effectively engaged as a godly influence in his world.

Which kind of world do you inhabit- a fear filled one like Jim, or a Spirit-filled world like Sam?

I’ve been fascinated by the various responses to the tragedy in Japan. Those who do not believe that God is good, who have been fed a diet of prophecy that includes endless apocalyptic warnings about the imminent destruction of the world, seem to feel little compassion, next to no desire to weep with the suffering. There is almost a kind of “this is the fate of the world” acceptance and in some cases, something like happiness that finally we are nearer the ‘End Times.’ As I wrote yesterday, the Scripture inarguably presents us with the declaration that because of sin and disobedience our Holy God will bring all things to justice, including judgment. Yet, Peter helps us to see His love. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)

Preaching a fear-based Christianity is not a new thing. For the two millennia of our faith, there have been those who majored on Hell and the Devil. Why? Because, at first, fear is a powerful motivator to change. If a preacher can make the fires of Hell hot enough, he can scare people into a confession of faith. Fear also bonds people together, getting them to stick with the Church. Give them a common enemy, the Devil (or abortionists, or homosexuals, or liberal judges, or Muslims) and they will overcome their differences to fight the those enemies. But, the downside of fear is its diminishing returns. Anyone who lives with fear, over time learns to adapt to it, to turn it off. That's why fear based Christianity ultimately fails to keep people in the faith. That's why Jesus does not drive people to God with fear. He calls them to God with love!

Jesus' Gospel is not so much a defense as an opportunity. He says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, NKJV) In The Message (a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible) that passage reads - "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you."

John reminds us that love perfects (completes) us. "God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first." (1 John 4:16-19, NLT) How can we miss this wonderful truth? How can we give up the rich promise of acceptance for a paranoid fearful experience of 'faith?'

Don't let your Christianity be shaped by fear! Study the story of the Prodigal Son (or as I prefer to call it, the story of The Waiting Father) and let the Word and Spirit convince you of God's gracious favor. We cannot ignore the facts that the Devil rages, that evil men seek to exploit the weak, and that Nature is unbalanced by the Curse of sin. But we are not afraid because "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4, NKJV)

___________

How He Loves

He is jealous for me loves like a hurricane
I am a tree bending beneath
The weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of
These afflictions eclipsed by glory
I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth
Like a sloppy wet (unforeseen) kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way that

Oh how He loves us so
Oh how He loves us
How He loves us so

© 2005 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
John Mark McMillan
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