The American Bible Society once interviewed fourteen thousand people to find out what they believed about the Bible. Some of the most-often heard, and heartbreaking, statements fell into two categories: “I believe the Bible is going to make me feel bad about myself;” and “I believe the Bible is anti-_____”–they finished that second statement in a variety of ways, like anti-gay, anti-women, etc. This investigation into what people are hearing about the Bible from churches or Christian media or Christian culture found they are hearing this: God is against you and all those who are like you.
Somehow what people are perceiving about the Bible is not what is actually published in the Bible. What Christians are proclaiming about the Bible is not what is actually professed in the Bible. Because if there is one clear message in Scripture, it is this: God is for you. It shows up in this surprising image used by Jesus:
And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” (Matt. 9:15 ESV)
Walking with Jesus is like attending a wedding. Disciples are wedding guests. Jesus is a bridegroom. Jesus wants us to picture a wedding when we consider what it means to follow him.
Ancient Jewish weddings were grand celebrations. They could last as long as fouteen days. The feast itself could last as long as seven days. Thus, for up to two weeks people’s attention was on one thing–a romantic relationship between a loving couple. Jesus uses this image to describe discipleship.
He is evoking texts from the Old Testament like this one:
4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (Is. 62:4-5 ESV)
God rejoices over you. God delights in you. Others may label you Forsaken. Desolate. But God calls you his Beloved.
According to an old Jewish story, there was once a young boy named Mortakai who refused to study the Torah. His parents would march him, hand in hand, to school. But once they returned home, Mortakai would sneak off to the playground. The parents and teachers tried eveything. Mortakai remained defiant.
Finally, in desperation, Mortakai’s parents brought him to a local rabbi. The parents explained their plight. The rabbi listened. Then, without saying a word, the rabbi picked up Mortakai and held him close to his chest. The rabbi held Mortakai close enough that he could feel the beating of the rabbi’s heart. Then, after several moments, without a word, he handed the child back to his parents. From that day, Mortakai listened to his parents, studied the Torah and, when it was appropriate, enjoyed the playground.
This, in so many ways, is the central image and message of the Bible.
In The Shack God speaks these words to Mack as he wrestles with pain and with the sense that he is unloved (99):
“You… were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around… Living unloved is like clipping a bird’s wing and removing its ability to fly… A bird is not defined by being grounded but by his ability to fly. Remember this, humans are defined not by their limitations, but by the intentions I have for them; not by what they seem to be, but by everything it means to be created in my image. Love is NOT the limitation; love is the flying.”
You are loved. You were created to be loved. Let this divine love be the wings with which you fly today.
