In Love With Jesus?

Written by Steve Barnes Wednesday, 16 July 2008 21:54

Have you been asked this question? “Do you love Jesus?”.

There are books about this in case you are not sure. One such is Falling in Love With Jesus. Here's a quote from Amazon regarding this book...

Falling in Love With Jesus : Abandoning Yourself to the Greatest Romance of Your Life (Workbook)

This in-depth Bible Study gives women the inspiration to rethink their relationships with Christ, and to understand and surrender to Him in a fresh new way. Especially geared toward small group study, the Falling in Love with Jesus workbook and multi-media study offer humor, wisdom, and stories of women who've experienced a deeper, more passionate relationship with Christ. Ten lessons are divided into 50 days, five days per week, of Scriptures that focus on our love relationship with Jesus, deepening our confidence that we are the object of Christ's affection.

The introduction to this book contains such phrases as “yearn for intimacy with Him”; “you are His beloved. You are the object of His affection”; “He wants to whisper words of love to you”; “into the land of invincible love” and “You may discover the greatest romance of your life”.

How do you feel about that? Do you love Him like that?

The International House of Prayer (ihop.org) has this to say about the “bridal paradigm” that is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern christendom:

The Bridal Paradigm

I. The Bridegroom Message is a Call to Active Intimacy with God

The Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God ... We have received ... The Spirit ... That we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:10–12)

A.The Bridegroom message is a call to active intimacy with God. The Bridal message speaks of God’s invitation for us to experience the deep things of His heart (emotions, affections). To enjoy active intimacy with Jesus includes feeling His heart for us. The Bridal message speaks of experiencing Jesus’ emotions (desire, affections).

You may be able to comprehend … The width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ... (Ephesians 3:18–19)

B. To understand Jesus as a passionate Bridegroom is to soon see ourselves as a cherished Bride. Intimacy causes our hearts to be lovesick for Jesus (inflamed; enraptured; overcome by His love). This prophecy emphasizes that we will “call out” in two different directions. First, we call out to Jesus in intercession to “come to us.” Second, we call out to people who thirst to “come to Jesus.” This cry renews believers and brings unbelievers to salvation

C. As sons of God, we are in the position to experience God’s Throne as heirs of His power/authority (Rev. 3:21; Rom. 8:17). As the Bride, we are in position to experience God’s heart (emotions, affections or desire for us). Both are unique positions of privilege before God.

D. As women are the sons of God, so men are the Bride of Christ. Both describe our position of privilege before God, rather than pointing to something that is intrinsically male or female. Most Christian women do not struggle with the idea of being sons of God because they do not see it as a call to be less feminine. However, often men struggle with being the Bride of Christ because they wrongly conclude that it is a call to become less masculine.

II. What is the Bridegroom Message?

A. The essence of the Bridegroom message is the revelation of Jesus’ emotions and commitments as a Bridegroom God. God energizes us, our spirit, with passion for Him when we understand His devotion and commitment to us as seen in the cross.

B. The Bridegroom message includes the revelation of Jesus’ emotions for us as a Bridegroom God. Jesus the Bridegroom is filled with tender mercy. He is gentle with our weakness. We often confuse rebellion and immaturity. God is angry at rebellion, but He has a heart of tenderness towards sincere believers that seek to obey Him. He enjoys us even in our weakness (Psalms 18:19, 35, 130:3-4). Knowing this makes us run to God, instead of from Him, when we see our sin and weakness.

C. Jesus the Bridegroom has a heart of gladness (happy heart). Jesus had more gladness than any man in history (Hebrews 1:9). Most of Church history has viewed God as mostly mad or mostly sad when He relates to us. However, Jesus is mostly glad when He relates to us, even in our weakness.

D. Jesus the Bridegroom has fiery affections. He has burning desire and longing for His people.

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:9)

E. Jesus the Bridegroom is zealous. He destroys all that hinders love (Proverbs 6:34; Zechariah 1:14, 8:2; Ezekiel 38:18–19; Revelation 19:2)

F. Jesus the Bridegroom possesses indescribable beauty. He fascinates our hearts (Psalm 27:4).

One thing I have desired of the LORD ... To behold the beauty of the LORD... (Psalm 27:4)

G. What is the Bridal paradigm? The word paradigm means perspective or view. Thus, the Bridal Paradigm refers to the “bridal perspective or view” of the Kingdom of God. We see the Kingdom through the eyes of a wholehearted Bride with loyal devoted love that leads to holy obedience, soul winning and building up the Body of Christ. If we do not feel loved and in love, we can still be born again. However, when we feel His love then we resist compromise with greater consistency.

III. The Spirit and the Bride Worldwide will Cry, “COME LORD JESUS”

A. Revelation 22:17 is one of the most informative and significant prophecies in the Bible describing the end-time Church. John tells what will happen in the Church, in the generation the Lord returns.

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!"… And let him who thirsts come...” (Revelation 22:17)

B. This prophecy describes the Church in deep unity with the Holy Spirit, in saying and doing what the Holy Spirit is saying and doing. What is the Spirit doing in this passage? He is interceding for Jesus to come to His Church. What is the Spirit saying? He is revealing the Church’s bridal identity (who we are as Jesus’ Bride). In other words, the Word of God tells us what the Spirit of God will emphasize in the End Times. There are many significant implications of this prophecy.

C. This prophecy describes the highest function of the Church in four ways:

1. Anointed with the Spirit,
2. Engaged in intercession,
3. Established in our bridal identity
4. Effective in the Harvest.

For the first-time in history, the Church worldwide, just prior to the return of Jesus will be in dynamic unity with the Spirit and therefore, the Spirit will be resting on and moving through the Church in great power. The Holy Spirit for the first time in history will universally emphasize the Church’s spiritual identity as Jesus’ Bride. Notice that John does not proclaim that the Spirit and the family say, “Come,” nor the Spirit and the army, nor the kingdom, nor the body, nor the temple or the Spirit and the priesthood. Rather, it is the Spirit resting on the Church as a Bride. Forever, we rejoice in the reality of our identity as God’s army, family, body, temple, priesthood and kingdom.

What do you feel now? Do you love Him like that? Here's one man that doesn't Professor John Stackhouse, and the following is from his weblog...

Jesus, I’m NOT in Love with You; from Prof. John Stackhouse’s Weblog - September 16, 2007

One of the blights upon the hymnological landscape today is the continued presence of what we can fairly call the “love song to Jesus” genre. It’s been around as long as there has been Christian pop music–and even earlier, depending on what you make of sentimental gospel songs in the nineteenth century, eighteenth-century revivalist hymns, and especially a lot of the mystical poetry-cum-lyrics of certain medieval saints.

Today our congregation was asked to sing, “Jesus, I’m in love with you”–a line that shows up, in one permutation or another, in several songs that occur frequently in our worship leaders’ rotation.

Well, I didn’t sing it. It’s wrong, and I try not to sing wrong lyrics.

First, I’m not in love with Jesus. The locution “in love with” is one I reserve for one person only: my wife. I love my sons, I love my siblings and parents, I love my friends, I love my country, I love my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I love God. But I’m not “in love” with any of them. And I daresay most of the rest of us use this phrase in exactly the same, highly-restrictive way.

Second, it gives me the homoerotic creeps to declare that I am “in love with” another man. And I don’t apologize for saying so. A gender lens is interesting here, for a lot of men feel as I do (many have told me so), while many (not all) women seem to love telling Jesus that they are in love with him. I saw them, swaying with closed eyes and waving hands in the air this morning, singing exactly that. Maybe, indeed, they are in love with Jesus. But they shouldn’t be.

For the third point to make is a theological one. Jesus is not your boyfriend, not your fiancé, and not your eventual husband.

By God’s grace, Christians get to enjoy a wide range of relationships with Jesus. We are described in the New Testament variously as Jesus’ slaves, Jesus’ servants, Jesus co-workers, Jesus’ friends, and even Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Since the plural form of each of these is used, it is correct then for me to say, “I am Jesus’ slave, servant, co-worker,” etc.

But the New Testament never calls Christians Jesus’ fiancées or his brides. Instead, it is the Church collectively, and only the Church as a whole, that relates to Jesus this way–just as individual Israelites did not relate to Yhwh as so many spouses, but only the nation of Israel as nation was his beloved bride.

So I’m not singing to Jesus that I’m in love with him, because I’m not. I love him, and I aspire to loving him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. But I do not aspire to being in love with him, and I’m sure he understands.

I wish our worship leaders and songwriters did, too.

I personally have to say, “Jesus is not my boyfriend!”. But am I right in saying that? What might make the “Falling in Love With Jesus” book and ihop's view right, and John Stackhouse wrong? That would perhaps challenge my views too!

How do we know what's right here? There are lots of opinions; they positively abound! Just search the Internet on terms like “bridal paradigm”, “Jesus +bridegroom +love”, “passion for Jesus”, “ravished heart of Jesus” etc. You'll see lots of evidence this view is very prevalent, particularly in the Where do we turn to find our way?

We need to go back to the New Testament to see how the “Sect of the Nazarines”, as the early church was known, saw Jesus. There are enough people telling us how they related to a risen Jesus as born again believes through the Holy Spiritto make some conclusions. So lets begin a journey!

First of all, we perhaps need to look at the Book of Acts, which is the record of the earliest days of the new covenant. We'll start with Acts chapter 5...

Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”
Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.
The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

What's the attitude to Jesus /The Holy Spirit here? Godly fear! Reverence! Honor for the servants of the Most High God. And the result? Conversion! More believers were added.

Next thing we see in vs 17-21 is persecution and God's intervention...

But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.
But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said, “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught.

What's the response on the part of the apostles? Obedience! Did Jesus have something to say about obedience? John 3:36 says “One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”. John 14:15 says “If you (P) love me, keep my commandments.”

Acts 8:20 sees Peter dealing with Simon the Sorcerer.

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

What do we hear now? “Repent!”

Now I don't want to get into conversation about “seeker sensitive” stuff, but as a one liner, I really don't see that coming out here.

Chapter nine sees Saul converted.

As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Do you think Saul would have fallen to the earth (“hit the deck”) if he hadn't been afraid? What does he call the heavenly speaker? “Lord”! Saul is surrendering here to a master. Notice that Jesus says “you will be told what you must do”. Saul (later called Paul) has a response... obedience.

Acts 10:30-33 sees Cornelius and Peter talking:

Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”

What's on the agenda here? Cornelius sent for Peter in obedience to God, and Peter comes in obedience. Neither are living according to their own purpose in life, their own planning, but are there in obedience. What's the topic? ”to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”

We've covered the first ten chapters of Acts. There's no evidence whatsoever of “focus on our love relationship with Jesus, deepening our confidence that we are the object of Christ's affection”. There is plenty of evidence of repentance andobedience. Furthermore, Jesus says “If you love me, obey my commandments!”

So when I hear things such as “energises our spirit with passion”, and “To understand Jesus as a passionate Bridegroom is to soon see ourselves as a cherished Bride. Intimacy causes our hearts to be lovesick for Jesus (inflamed; enraptured; overcome by His love).”, what's my response? My response is that these people must know a different God to the one I do!

Jesus is not my boyfriend. Jesus is not my bridegroom! His bride is “the church”, not individuals.

Jesus is my Lord, my Saviour, my Counseller, my Intercessor and my “soon and coming King”. He is seated at the right hand of the Father God as a position of authority. This picture is more in line with the scene in Esther than the “bridal paradigm”. Esther knew she could lose her life for speaking out of turn to the King. We have access to God by the Holy Spirit because we are sone of God by adoption. We must never forget however that He is high and exalted and holy, and that the path to Him is conviction of sin, repentance, faith and humble obedience to His commandments and leading.

Are you obeying the commandments of God? You may call yourself “saved”. You may think yourself a “Christian”. You may even have “asked Jesus into your heart”. Does asking Jesus into your heart guarantee He will come in? Does bowing you head, closing your eyes and praying after the preacher do it? No! The bible is clear salvation is dependent on genuine and deep repentance, evidenced by change of life-style. If you are in any doubt as to this, please read Romans chapters six, seven and eight. These will set you on the right road. And one last thing; there is ONE intermediary between mand and God, the man Christ Jesus! No man can stand there for you. No preacher or professional clergyman can intervene for you. You must repent before a Holy God yourself and surrender your life to Him as ransomed and redeemed.