The Most Shocking Truth Learned about God's Love in Chaplaincy Ministry
In recent years, I have heard an increasing number of evangelical Christians who have stated that the church speaks too much about the love of God. Just a casual search on social media revealed the following comments—note that the comments have been reworded for the sake of confidentiality:
“There is too much modern preaching on God’s love.”
“Jesus would never have been crucified if he only preached love.”
“People need truth and not love.”
“No one has been transformed by hearing messages on God’s love.”
Since last September, I have worked as a hospice chaplain. Due to HIPAA laws, I cannot afford personal details concerning any individual visit. However, I can share generalized trends. Chaplain services are often accepted across a vast demographic that includes non-churchgoers, skeptics, doubters, faithful church attendees, and church dropouts. When I visit patients and they permit me to read from the Scripture, I almost always read Romans 8:35-39 which says,
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35, 37-39).[1]
The most shocking truth that I have learned in chaplaincy ministry is that people from across the board will respond to this Scripture while smiling and with a tear in their eye, saying, “I have never heard that passage before,” or “I never knew that about God.” Thus, from my personal observations, it would appear that rather than talking too much about God’s love, the modern church does not speak on God’s love enough. The shock received doesn’t end there. On numerous occasions, I have heard yet an equally shocking question. From across the demographic spectrum, people will then ask, “Where do you pastor? I want to go to a church like that.”
As a theologian, it is estimated that many modern Christians do not understand God’s love. Four theological characteristics of God’s love must be explained, which will hopefully clear some confusion when thinking about God’s love.
1. God’s love is at the center of the gospel. God is under no obligation to save anyone. God would have been perfectly justified had he never saved anyone. God is the ultimate Lover of humanity. In Psalm 23:6, the CSB notes that God’s “goodness and faithful love will pursue me.”[2] The Hebrew word radaph indicates one chasing after someone or something. In this case, God’s love actively pursues his children. As Dr. Baggett has often said, “Not only does God love us, but he also likes us.” Psalm 23:6 seems to indicate that very truth. Additionally, the NT expresses that the ultimate act of love is found in one sacrificing oneself on behalf of another (John 15:13). A person is not saved by loving God, but rather by accepting God’s love first given to them (Rom. 5:8). Rather than being a secondary issue, the concept of divine love is the cornerstone of Christian theology.
2. God’s love is the focus of Christian living. Jesus heavily emphasizes love in his messages. He noted that the mark of Christian discipleship is love, saying, “By this shall all people know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Furthermore, the two greatest commandments are centered on a person’s love for God and others (Mark 12:28-31). The love of God must not be deemphasized if one is to focus on the things that Jesus did.
3. God’s love is rooted in his holiness and truth. Too often, people create a false bifurcation between God’s holiness or truth and love. Paul described the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Among the traits listed were that love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness” (1 Cor. 13:6) but “rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6). Deception and sinfulness are not virtuous traits. Thus, truth and righteousness are rooted and centered in the love of God and, thereby, cannot be found outside of the morally benevolent nature of God. Ironically, objectors do not seem to realize that the very truth and holiness they are espousing are intricately interlocked with the very thing that is being shunned.
4. God’s love can be dangerous. Some tend to think that messages of love are innocent and passive. However, genuine love is vulnerable, addresses injustices, and stands up for the rights of the oppressed. Jesus defended the rights of the oppressed. When he overturned the tables, he stood against the political and religious institution that had made the temple of God into a business. Quoting Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11, Jesus said, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers” (Matt. 21:13). Historically speaking, it was because of Jesus’s love for the Father and the oppressed that he found himself on a cross. Theologically speaking, it was because of Jesus’s love for humanity that he willingly sacrificed himself for the atonement of sins.
Love is difficult. People often desire to worship a God like themselves. As such, it is easier to view God as vindictive and instantly righting wrongs as they are committed. Yet, those who are quick to cast a condemning voice against others fail to realize that it was also for their sins that Jesus died. Each person is guilty of some sin and for harming another person in some way, albeit unintentionally. What if God condemned us as we sometimes wish God would condemn others? Love makes us vulnerable. That is why it is often eschewed. Yet if we really want to see a move of God, we need to emphasize God’s love more, not less. As God’s love is stressed, it will include his truthful and holy nature. It was not the judgmental nature of God that saved us, it was by his all-encompassing love we were set free.
About the Author
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. Brian is a Ph.D. Candidate of the Theology and Apologetics program at Liberty University. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years. He currently serves as a clinical chaplain.
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