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Is God Reckless?

Pastor's Piece, by Mark Baines

 
In 2017, songwriter and singer Cory Asbury released as song titled 'Reckless Love'. It has since become incredibly popular and sung in contemporary Christian churches worldwide. But the song has also stirred up a lot of controversy, with some saying the use of the term reckless is too, well, reckless. The words to the chorus of the song are:

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Is God's love reckless? What word would you use to describe God?

To understand what a person meant by the words they've chosen - we need to hear from them - instead of just making assumptions and judgments. In a social media post responding to criticism, Corey said this:

When I use the phrase, "the reckless love of God", I'm not saying that God Himself is reckless. I am, however, saying that the way He loves, is in many regards, quite so. What I mean is this: He is utterly unconcerned with the consequences of His actions with regards to His own safety, comfort, and well-being. His love isn't crafty or slick. It's not cunning or shrewd. In fact, all things considered, it's quite childlike, and might I even suggest, sometimes downright ridiculous. His love bankrupted heaven for you. His love doesn't consider Himself first. His love isn't selfish or self-serving. He doesn't wonder what He'll gain or lose by putting Himself out there. He simply gives Himself away on the off-chance that one of us might look back at Him and offer ourselves in return.

       See the full post here: https://www.facebook.com/coryasburymusic/posts/10158977378510171

As someone who's grown up in church and heard a lot about the love of Jesus, I appreciate Cory's insight and choice of words here. He's describing the 'agape' love of God - it is unconditional and other-centred - which is so often different to human love.

I think that the wonder and depth and veracity of God's reckless love is something that BOTH Christians who've grown up in church, and secular people who've heard of but not explored Jesus, need to hear, explore and experience. It was most beautiful seen when Jesus took our sins on his shoulders and died for the whole world. And I believe that if we keep Jesus' reckless love as our focus and fuel on this journey, no matter what we face, we'll arrive safely on eternal shores.

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