Reckless Worship

One year ago I was attending a church leadership conference and the worship band sang the song Reckless Love. I have a love/hate relationship with this song. I love the opening lyrics. I hate the chorus.  I remember turning to my husband and asking him with just one word how would you describe God's love.

I have my word and when I hear Reckless Love--I use my word in place of the word Reckless.  This is not actually something I like to do.  I am a word person. I was raised with an understanding that I needed to respect the power of words. I try to choose my words carefully.  I believe lyrics are a work of art and should not be altered.  The use of reckless as an adjective of God's love, (I know the artist was not calling God reckless.) left my heart unsettled.  It didn't just rub me the wrong way because the definition usually carries a negative connotation (my word does too). It went deeper. I did my research and understand why he chose that word to reveal the deeper understanding he gained of God's love as he himself became a father. This sent a odd jolt to my heart and revealed a deeper reason why this word bothered me so much.   

I am going to walk a fine line here and be a little vague to protect the privacy of others, so bare with me.  I have seen the aftermath of a parent's reckless love. It was nothing like the love God has for me. It stirs up doubt, not faith. The love of a parent is impossible to understand until you become one, and it definitely reveals new aspects of God's love for us as our Father, but it should never be reckless. 

I have been told that I am missing the point, that the point is that God loves me enough to leave the ninety-nine.  This is other reason I hate the chorus.  Who is the ninety-nine?  Who is being left behind, unguarded so that God can recklessly love on the one (who we all claim to be) who strayed? If we are all the ones who strayed, and there is not one among us who is righteous as Paul suggests in Romans (Romans 3:10-11) then who are the ninety-nine?  I have heard it was meant to explain to the Pharisees why Jesus ate with sinners instead of them. But that can't be--Jesus ate with Pharisees (Luke 7:36).  Maybe the 99 are Christians who already strayed and now they are behaving? That can't be--Jesus commissioned his followers to go out and make disciples of all the nations--find and preach to the lost (Matthew 28:19).  If the 99 are Christians they should be out finding the lost sheep as well.

The parable of the lost sheep in the Gospel of Luke is followed by the parable of the lost coin.  I have not heard a worship song comparing me to a lost coin or one of the nine the woman did not lose. That would be an interesting song.  The parable of the lost coin is followed by the parable of the prodigal son or the lost son.  This parable is slightly different than the first two in that the lost sheep and lost coin have become a lost son and the 99 sheep and 9 coins have become a brother.  Unlike the lost sheep-the Father does not leave one son to search for the other.  We focus on the words lost, found, and Father. There is a word that we miss, and it is such an important word. It actually pulls in the context we ignored around these parables Jesus shared.

Luke 15:6 (NASB) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!"

Luke 15:9 (NASB) When she found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I has lost!"

Luke 15:23-24 (NASB) "and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." And they began to celebrate.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Celebrate.  I believe the theme of Luke chapter 15 -- all three parables-- is Celebrate!  When the father of the prodigal is speaking to his sulking other son he says, "But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found." Luke 15:32

Why is Jesus telling stories about having parties?  

Luke 15:7 (NASB) I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10: (NASB) In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

These parables are not about God pursuing us - they are about the celebration in heaven when we repent! 

Context --the words before and after another word--are important--they mean something. The Word of God is no different - what is said before and after- is important.  Before these parables Jesus talks about the cost of being a disciple. Before that is the Parable of the Dinner in which invited guests slight their host-so he extends the invitation to everyone else. Before that was the Parable of the Guests -- leave your ego at the door- so the host can give you honor. Before these 2 parables he healed a man on the Sabbath and asked the Pharisees to consider their obedience to their laws.  

(Luke 14)

Why stop there? Luke 13 ends with Jesus prophesying his death when the Pharisees tell him to leave because Herod wanted to kill him. Before that He warns that many will not be saved, even if they claim to have spent time with him.  Those who try to gain access to heaven by association will be angry and destroy each other.  Before this warning He told the Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven -- the Kingdom of God will grow. Before this He healed a woman on the Sabbath and indignant synagogue leaders told the people to come for healing during the work week.  Before He healed the woman He told the parable of the fig tree - the man wanted to remove a 3-year fruitless tree from his garden but the gardener asked for one year in which he could nurture and fertilize it and he could remove it if it remained fruitless.  Before the parable Jesus said all who do not repent will perish.  

"I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish"

The prodigal repented, the prodigal was destined to perish- dead, but has begun to live. We must celebrate.  

After the prodigal comes home and that party of over, Jesus uses the parable of the Unjust Servant to caution us to be good stewards with what God gives us because we cannot serve God and wealth. Any wealth that we have is a blessing from God.  He then warns the Pharisees that God knows all our hearts and the law that they love cannot endure forever.  He follows this with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus --how we treat others will be how we are treated and once we die it is too late to repent.

In Luke 17, Jesus tells us to lead carefully, forgive abundantly, act faithfully and obediently. Jesus then heals Ten lepers, is thanked by only 1 and reminds us give God the glory for His goodness. 

The purpose of our worship is to give God the Glory.

Come running like a prodigal. (lyric from "Prodigal" by for King and Country).  Worship the God who loves you so much that He sent his son Jesus who willingly died for us-while we were still sinners-so that his blood would justify us-reconciling us to God. Allowing us to run away from our lives of sin - repentant - into the arms of the Father. Serve God with the blessings He gave you. Lead carefully. Forgive Abundantly. Act faithfully and obediently. Thank God and give Him the glory. 

Let's embrace the words David who also worshipped God in song.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

My challenge to you (whether you agree with me or not): Weigh the words of your worship with the Word of God.  Does the Bible (the whole thing) align with the words that you sing?