Romanced by God?

So Sarah and I are still reading and discussing this same book and this week’s chapter is also very controversial. The main idea here is that God is romancing us – like a lover pursues his interest! Now I have to admit that thought is a bit disturbing to me, but don’t tune out yet. The authors talk about being “kissed” by God and a few other ideas that just seem wrong, but in trying to read it objectively, I think they’re trying to put into human terms something we have a difficult time comprehending.


The thing that stood out to me most in this chapter is the idea that God wants to love us intimately. Don’t go all ewww on me! I really don’t see this as a physical thing. Think about your most intimate relationships here on earth…what do they look like? Trust? Honest conversation? Strong desire to spend nearly every moment together?

We’ll come back to that idea in a moment, but I want to mention another significant idea in this chapter first – how we view God’s love. Many of us are stuck in one of the following mindsets:
    •   Childlike, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so”
    •   “God loves me because He has to”
    •   “God loves me because I _____” (you fill in the blank)
But are any of those truly how God loves us? Several times in the New Testament, we are referred to as the “bride” of Christ. Does a husband love his bride because he’s obligated to? Is that what love looks like?

What is your view of God’s love? This chapter has helped me see that I have been viewing God’s love as rather impersonal. More like an acquaintance than even a friendship. Certainly not intimate. He’s my Savior…the Lover of my soul…and at best I ask him for stuff. Some days I don’t even think about him at all. How sad is that?

Granted, I thought this chapter was a little weird, but I think I got the message. God wants an intimate relationship with me. He desires ME! Why won’t I respond?

This book has given me a lot of insight to myself and I am very grateful for the challenges it’s brought to light.