Is It Even Possible to Love God?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30

My heart has been heavy with something for a long, long time. And it’s only while sitting under leaders who have demonstrated Jesus’ gentleness and humility that I’m finally able to put it into words. I’m so thankful for my pastors at Antioch Church. All of them.

This is about what I’ve encountered so often while searching for a church to call home.

One of the most dangerous things a pastor can tell his or her congregation is that they don’t love God. It’s said so often and in so many different ways.

It may very well be true of some people. Some live in a manner that’s very unloving. But if you’re a pastor preaching before a congregation, it’s a horrible lie if you say this of everyone in the congregation.

This lie is usually followed by the request or demand to do one more thing. Read your Bible more. Pray more. Come to one more meeting. Oh, it’s the ones who really love Jesus who are giving to this cause. Or that cause. Or sitting up front.

No matter what way you butter it, that is manipulation.

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. ~ Matthew 23:4

One problem with telling your whole congregation that they don’t love God (or don’t love Him enough) is this:

One portion of the crowd feels like they’ll never be good enough, so why even bother.

One portion of the crowd will walk away with the smug satisfaction that this doesn’t apply to them (although it may to apply to Johnny, three aisles over).

Another portion of the crowd will be so weighted down by condemnation that it may have been kinder to simply flog them instead.

What is the root problem with this scenario?

It shows that the focus of the preaching is on man and not God.

Let me say that again: The focus of a great deal of preaching is on how to better ourselves instead of on how amazing God is.

Let’s look at the Exodus story for an example. Many may point out Moses’ character and flaws (oh my goodness–Moses was human??!). But we’re encouraged by the Word to share what GOD did and how HE showed love to His people in magnificent and miraculous ways. God is the central Figure in this story. His love is the central principle.

One other major problem with constantly hearing that I don’t love God is that it would rupture my faith during a time of great trial. If I go through fire and water believing that I don’t and can’t ever love God, I’ve shot myself in the foot. I didn’t buy gold refined in the fire from Jesus (see Rev. 3:18) but I bought it from my own bootstrap theology. You know what I’m talking about–picking myself up by my bootstraps instead of trusting that God has called us into partnership with Him.

David had full confidence that not only did God love him, but he loved God.

I love you, Lord, my strength. ~ Psalm 18:1

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. ~ Psalm 116:1

How else could David have survived his trials? God loved him and he loved God back.

It is totally possible to love God. In fact, it’s:

The greatest commandment–you shall love the Lord your God… (and to go along with that, the ‘shall’ makes it a prophetic declaration)
Jesus prayed that we would love Him even as the Father loves Him (John 17:26)

So not only do we have our own love to give God, which, although finite, is huge, we also have the Holy Spirit in us. He is loving God through us.  We have God on the inside of us loving God.

If all that people hear at church is how to better themselves so they can finally be able to love God, no wonder they’re leaving the church in droves. This lie strips the gospel of its power, since a gospel of works is no gospel at all. Frankly, it’s a tougher pill to swallow than the harshest of Jesus’ sayings.

Instead, let’s do the best thing there is to do when we’re together–magnify the amazing and glorious name of Jesus and praise the Father who loved us so much that He sent His Son.

And encourage one another.

I love what John Paul Jackson says of edification, exhortation and comfort. Edification is for the spirit of the man, exhortation is for the body and comfort is for the soul. That’s a huge statement, and I’ll unpack that at some point, but for now I wanted to leave that with you to let you chew on it.

Should there be words of correction from the pulpit? Absolutely! I’m so thankful for many words of correction that I received, since they helped me turn to God.

But please, don’t dole out the correction from the pulpit when you can confront a person in private.

A shepherdess doesn’t yell at all her sheep if one of them is misbehaving.

Be encouraging.

And be encouraged. God knew David loved Him. God knows we can love Him too.