Comments on: In Love with Jesus? http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/ Keeping You Informed with the Latest Stuff for Pastors Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:05:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Josh W. http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-23076 Josh W. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:33:48 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-23076 You know I think it was the Apostle Paul who wrote about not wrangling over words. The problem is that while we discuss the minutia we miss 2 important things. First, we miss the God we're talking about. We are treating Him like this football we intellectually toss about. Second, we miss those He cares so deeply about. This is easily one of the reasons why the church is perceived as ridiculous and irrelevant. Don't get me wrong. Words matter. However, conversations like this matter less when we really think about the enormity of God and the millions that have no relationship with him. You know I think it was the Apostle Paul who wrote about not wrangling over words. The problem is that while we discuss the minutia we miss 2 important things. First, we miss the God we’re talking about. We are treating Him like this football we intellectually toss about. Second, we miss those He cares so deeply about. This is easily one of the reasons why the church is perceived as ridiculous and irrelevant. Don’t get me wrong. Words matter. However, conversations like this matter less when we really think about the enormity of God and the millions that have no relationship with him.

]]> By: Deegee http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-16079 Deegee Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:03:45 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-16079 Whilst agreeing wholeheartedly with remarks concerning sentimental songs do you think that Matthew 10:37 might be relevant here? Whilst agreeing wholeheartedly with remarks concerning sentimental songs do you think that Matthew 10:37 might be relevant here?

]]> By: Nancy M. http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-15531 Nancy M. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:15:23 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-15531 This is what He said about the church of Ephesus in Rev. 2:4 "Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love." The word love here denotes agape love. (Contrary to popular understanding, the significance of agape is not that it is an unconditional love, but that it is primarily a love of the will rather than the emotions.) (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) Our God loves from the will, not His emotions. And I believe He is saying that we must love Him the same way. Because we are human, we think that this love is emotional when it is not. Agape also was a feast showing brotherly love towards each other. So the whole concept to say that, Jesus I am in love with you is sexual is not at all what it means. We are proclaiming our committment to Him, our fervant, zealous adoration to whom He is. We recognize His supremacy in our lives and our hearts are zealous to know more about Him rather than what is of this world. We wish to be transformed each day more into His likeness, with our hearts yearning to keep connection with Him. Praise His mighty name! This is what He said about the church of Ephesus in Rev. 2:4 “Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” The word love here denotes agape love. (Contrary to popular understanding, the significance of agape is not that it is an unconditional love, but that it is primarily a love of the will rather than the emotions.)
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Our God loves from the will, not His emotions. And I believe He is saying that we must love Him the same way. Because we are human, we think that this love is emotional when it is not. Agape also was a feast showing brotherly love towards each other. So the whole concept to say that, Jesus I am in love with you is sexual is not at all what it means. We are proclaiming our committment to Him, our fervant, zealous adoration to whom He is. We recognize His supremacy in our lives and our hearts are zealous to know more about Him rather than what is of this world. We wish to be transformed each day more into His likeness, with our hearts yearning to keep connection with Him. Praise His mighty name!

]]> By: Nathan http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-14405 Nathan Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:50:01 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-14405 Unfortunately, it can be a HUGE stumbling block to both unbelievers and young Christians when we use the term "in love" with Christ. "In love" in both the New Testament language (Greek) and any English dictionary, refers to romantic and/or sexual love. Even though hopefully no Christian actually feels that way towards Jesus, the use of the term implies that, and it is VERY misleading. Do not stumble the younger brethren, please. We are to love Christ with all our hearts, but a romantic or sexual relationship with Him is both sinful and blasphemous. Unfortunately, it can be a HUGE stumbling block to both unbelievers and young Christians when we use the term “in love” with Christ. “In love” in both the New Testament language (Greek) and any English dictionary, refers to romantic and/or sexual love. Even though hopefully no Christian actually feels that way towards Jesus, the use of the term implies that, and it is VERY misleading. Do not stumble the younger brethren, please. We are to love Christ with all our hearts, but a romantic or sexual relationship with Him is both sinful and blasphemous.

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-13836 Tiffany Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:17:54 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-13836 YES! I am "in love" with Jesus - completely, and it is NOT a sexual thing. I love the way He talks - how He questions those who question Him - He relly gets the point across with few words (He didn't have to preach me to death for sure), I love the way He just wanders off - usually when a guy gets lost(ie. going out in the dessert for days) its because he's doing something he shouldn't - but He and God are really tight. I am in love with Him because He can hang out with a bunch of losers (Pharisees, prostitutes, tax collectors...really vile people) and He doesn't leave the evening in a bad mood - in few words He changed lives. I am in love with the fact that He loves and genuinely cares for everyone - seemingly random people! Me! And He totally loves to surprise me (some call this blessing) - with my friends I refer to them as bonuses. Love Christ, recieve a bonus - all the time! So yes, I am IN LOVE with JESUS CHRIST my very own, intimately known SUPERSTAR! So if you are not IN LOVE with Jesus then maybe you should trade in those beer googles for a pair of Jesus goggles then you can see His many, mighty, works and love and you too will fall IN LOVE with my Jesus. YES! I am “in love” with Jesus - completely, and it is NOT a sexual thing. I love the way He talks - how He questions those who question Him - He relly gets the point across with few words (He didn’t have to preach me to death for sure), I love the way He just wanders off - usually when a guy gets lost(ie. going out in the dessert for days) its because he’s doing something he shouldn’t - but He and God are really tight. I am in love with Him because He can hang out with a bunch of losers (Pharisees, prostitutes, tax collectors…really vile people) and He doesn’t leave the evening in a bad mood - in few words He changed lives. I am in love with the fact that He loves and genuinely cares for everyone - seemingly random people! Me! And He totally loves to surprise me (some call this blessing) - with my friends I refer to them as bonuses. Love Christ, recieve a bonus - all the time! So yes, I am IN LOVE with JESUS CHRIST my very own, intimately known SUPERSTAR! So if you are not IN LOVE with Jesus then maybe you should trade in those beer googles for a pair of Jesus goggles then you can see His many, mighty, works and love and you too will fall IN LOVE with my Jesus.

]]> By: DAT http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-10152 DAT Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:15:31 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-10152 How is it even possible that "in love" was ever introduced into "christian church worship"? The fact that this has happened says that their is something terribly wrong. Something really obsecene and derrogatory i am sure. Whatever opened this door is realy the problem. How is it even possible that “in love” was ever introduced into “christian church worship”?

The fact that this has happened says that their is something terribly wrong. Something really obsecene and derrogatory i am sure.

Whatever opened this door is realy the problem.

]]> By: Stu http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-9782 Stu Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:05:05 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-9782 Perhaps it is time to coin more words for our english word, Love, just as the Greek language does. Misplaced connotations would be replaced by understanding. Perhaps it is time to coin more words for our english word, Love, just as the Greek language does. Misplaced connotations would be replaced by understanding.

]]> By: Jason http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-4100 Jason Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:27:10 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-4100 I do understand Prof.Stackhouses concerns with the language of love but I must say that they are misplaced. Being "in love" with Jesus in no way forces men to enter into a spiritual homosexuality and refusing to be "in love" with Jesus raises greater spiritual concerns by far. Jesus says in Luke 14:25-26 that if we do not love Him more than our mother, father, wife, children, brothers, sisters and our own lives we CANNOT be His disciples. AS a matter of fact you KJVers will see that Jesus says our love for Him should make it seem like we hate those others in comparison. We ARE called to enter into a passionate love relationship with Jesus that is even more intense than our love for our wives and our children!! One of the reasons why the church and individual Christians are so weak today is that we do not take the clear words of Christ here seriously. If you are tryin to live as a disciple of Jesus but you only love Him as intensely as you do your Dad (a common and comfortable kind of love for most heterosexual guys like me) you CANNOT be His disciple! Our love for Christ should burn brighter and more fiercely than anything else in our hearts and until it does we perhaps can call ouselves a cultural Christian but we cannot call ourselves His disciple. I do understand Prof.Stackhouses concerns with the language of love but I must say that they are misplaced. Being “in love” with Jesus in no way forces men to enter into a spiritual homosexuality and refusing to be “in love” with Jesus raises greater spiritual concerns by far. Jesus says in Luke 14:25-26 that if we do not love Him more than our mother, father, wife, children, brothers, sisters and our own lives we CANNOT be His disciples. AS a matter of fact you KJVers will see that Jesus says our love for Him should make it seem like we hate those others in comparison. We ARE called to enter into a passionate love relationship with Jesus that is even more intense than our love for our wives and our children!! One of the reasons why the church and individual Christians are so weak today is that we do not take the clear words of Christ here seriously. If you are tryin to live as a disciple of Jesus but you only love Him as intensely as you do your Dad (a common and comfortable kind of love for most heterosexual guys like me) you CANNOT be His disciple! Our love for Christ should burn brighter and more fiercely than anything else in our hearts and until it does we perhaps can call ouselves a cultural Christian but we cannot call ourselves His disciple.

]]> By: Ken http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-3752 Ken Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:08:58 +0000 http://www.pastorblog.com/2007/09/17/in-love-with-jesus/#comment-3752 Sounds like Prof. Stackhouse is a crusty old fogey who has a Pharisaical hangup. Get a life. Sounds like Prof. Stackhouse is a crusty old fogey who has a Pharisaical hangup. Get a life.

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