Our Theology of Love...Is it in the Bible?

Of course love is in the Bible! I just used the title as a rhetorical tool similar to those edgy questions the less orthodox theologians like to use. For them, it is not always about good theology but questioning everything. For example, Trinitarian Theology is a target b/c "Trinity" is not found in the Bible. However, I do find it curious that the resurgence of Abelardian atonement theory seems to be used as a tools to rubbish other parts of God's character.

Indeed, the Apostle John says, "God is love" (1John4:8b, 1 John4:16b). Before you let the warm-fuzzies sink in, there is much context to be sorted through in that same passage. First, this letter is written against the Gnostics who are claiming special revelation and hidden truth concerning God. This part of 1 John declares God's revelation to be evident, unveiled for all to see. Finally, the Apostle is giving assurance to those under attack from the Gnostics. What you do is the sign that God is working in your life because God has given His Spirit, so do not fear those who say they have a special knowledge of things godly.

Crammed between the two God-is-Love statements above is this passage, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1John4:10). Oh Dear! How is whipping and beating and hanging your Son on a Cross love?

To my point: Jesus never claims to be Love. One would think that God himself would plainly reveal such a salient aspect to His character. Jesus said: I am the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way the Truth and the Life, and the Vine. Jesus also called God Good and Holy. Jesus refers to the Father as a King full of power and glory. Where Jesus most directly addressed love in in the Great Commandment and the second: Love God and Love neighbor.

If I am to look upon the Cross and see only a divine example of how to live my life, then I walk away from that setting intellectually discourage because I am presented with and incoherent picture that does not reflect the full story of the Bible. I am forced to ignore much of the Old Testament, I must now think of the Letter to the Hebrews as extra-biblical, and 1John4:10 must be redacted from in between the two God-is Love statements that surround it. So, I am left in a conundrum. Either my emotional response to the violence of the Cross must be placated by denying that sin is the ultimate problem of this world. Or I must be intellectually curious and explore further what Jesus means when he says, "Only God is Good."

I think the philosophical underpinning of this overemphasis on Abelardian thought is tolerance. Our society, ironically, condemns intolerance. Everything is permissible except for declaring something impermissible. We want God to do the same. There is no judgment on the cross because then we must start wondering why God would be judgmental. So, God is not judging from the cross, his is shouting his love for us, desiring our attention. For when we see this love on the cross, we will seek to change and follow that example of good living in Jesus Christ.

This sounds somewhat good because there is real truth there. God does display love on the cross, although it does not come in the form of tolerance. The love on the cross is God himself meeting the full penalty of law under the curse...death. That God would subject himself to evil for the sake of relationship with his people is love. The atonement is more than affective it is also effective. I am glad that I understand God's judgment upon and intolerance of sin, for I can understand the great cost of salvation. It is with affection that I love God because the judgment upon and the atonement for sin has provided for intimacy with God that was lost in sin. The indwelling Spirit is the only reason that I do good because, "Only God is Good." Without the cross there is no Spirit, without the Spirit there is not Good, without Good we cannot properly love.