Noted Christian author and apologist John G. Stackhouse, Jr. believes the answer to this question is a resounding 'YES!' Check out his blog to see his thoughts on the matter, along with some lively discussion in the comments section there.
Personally, I believe Dr. Stackhouse makes some good points, both theologically and experientially. I am not, in any way, suggesting that we downplay the importance of expressing the depth of our love for Jesus in our songs. As Jonathan Edwards, perhaps America's most important theologian, argues, true Christian religion is a matter of the religious affections, those strong inclinations of the soul that go beyond simple emotion. If we claim to be believers who love Jesus and we don't experience that relationship intensely, to the depth of our being, how can we say that we are wholly committed to Him?
When things like the latest game of our favorite sports team, or a much needed vacation in our favorite spot consume our emotions, intellect, longings, and desires in deeper ways than our relationship with Jesus, something is wrong! Augustine said it another way:
"He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee which He loves not for Thy sake."All of this is to say that, yes, we have a desperate need to express our love to Jesus...we cannot ignore this fact, no matter how uncomfortable it might be for some. At the same time, as Dr. Stackhouse points out, we should be careful that the language we use to express this love does not miscommunicate important biblical truths, creating misconceptions that could actually hinder our quest for a close, profound walk with Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment