Introduction

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love.

1 John 4:8

 

What if the essence of God is not found in infinite power, righteous judgment, or absolute control, but in an unrelenting, self-giving love? What if the Bible’s most profound revelation is not a list of rules to follow or doctrines to defend, but an invitation to experience the radical, transformative power of a God whose nature is LOVE?

In these pages, we will explore a faith that redefines power through vulnerability, security through trust, and perfection through restoration. This is a journey into the heart of a God who is bigger than our fears, freer than our doctrines, and more inclusive than we dare imagine. Together, let’s reimagine the God whose name is LOVE.


When the Gospel writer Luke began Acts, he addressed his reader as Theophilus—a name meaning ‘Loved by God’ or ‘Love of God.’ This greeting, rich in meaning, invited all who love God into a greater story: one of divine presence and unending love.

While most scholars believe that Luke was writing to an individual, I cannot help but wonder if he was writing to all who love God, reminding them, and us, that we are loved by God and part of the unfolding story of God’s presence in our world.

Just as in Luke’s time, we need to be reminded about God’s profound love, so I invite you, as a modern-day Theophilus to join me as we take some time to remind ourselves of the depth of God’s love, and the significance of why Jesus came.

Theology is the study of God[1], and while I have no formal theological training, I think about God a lot.

Given my lack of scholarly training, it should come as no surprise that this book does not aim to present a systematic theology or to tackle every doctrine of Christian faith. Instead, it offers my personal reflections on the nature of God.

As a starting point, I believe God’s character remains consistent wherever we encounter God’s presence—whether in the world or throughout scripture. The challenge lies in uniting the Bible’s diverse perspectives and narratives into a coherent view of God’s love, holiness, mercy, and justice, which I believe are most clearly displayed in the person of Jesus.

I’ve come to describe this perspective as ‘the lens of LOVE’ — a metaphor I will use throughout this book to explore God’s nature and character more deeply.

The Bible describes God as the creative energy that permeates and sustains the universe[2]. God is the force for good, working to draw all people into a shared experience of God’s presence[3], and is more committed to our wellbeing than we can possibly imagine.[4] In short, God IS love.

I believe that God cannot deviate from God’s fundamental nature[5], therefore there is nothing that God does which is contrary to love. It is who God is at God’s deepest core. Everything I believe about God is built on that foundation. God’s grace, mercy, justice, and holiness are in perfect harmony with God’s love and all equally contribute to the presence of God in our world.

Our challenge as students of God is to discern God’s true character as portrayed in the Bible. This is particularly important given the different portrayals of God’s character and actions presented in the early Old Testament books and the person of Jesus revealed in the New Testament. Our goal is to find God in the words and actions of Jesus as told in the pages of scripture and use that perspective to be God’s ambassadors in our world.

I’ve learned to embrace the complexity and nuance of theological questions. There is a Jewish saying “Ten Jews, eleven opinions”[6] which epitomizes the different opinions that people hold about God, and that they will all hold some truth. This saying reflects the richness of theological diversity and the importance of asking questions—a practice that has shaped my own journey of inquiry. Embracing this diversity of thought has helped me develop foundational beliefs about God and inspired the reflections I share in this book.

From these reflections, I’ve come to hold certain core beliefs about God:

  • God is kind.[7]
  • God is consistent.[8]
  • Everything God does is good.[9]
  • God gives self-sacrificially to achieve Gods’ goals.[10]
  • God looks like Jesus,[11]
  • God is LOVE.[12]

During this journey, I’ve developed what some may see as an unorthodox theology that sometimes puts me, as Richard Rohr says, “On the edge of the inside[13]” of some commonly held beliefs. So, it is with some hesitation and real trepidation, that I step into this space, recognizing that everyone has a slightly different view about God. I’m completely comfortable that there is such a range of beliefs because we can’t fully understand God, if we could, we would be God! As it is, we are all students of theology and disciples in our knowledge of God’s ways, always learning, always growing.

As a naturally curious student, I’ve never accepted answers that left me painted into a corner by simplistic thinking. My questions drive me to seek deeper understanding, instead of easy answers. I ask questions in search of satisfactory explanations.

This is important to me because I believe we need to know why we believe, not simply what to believe.

LOVE Theology brings together and expands on short essays I have written over the past several years covering a range of topics. I hope these thoughts will inspire reflection, spark new questions, and deepen your understanding of God’s boundless love which calls us to a deeper connection—with God, with ourselves and with others, and with our environment and that it will help us explore these profound implications for our lives.

 

Blessings for the journey,

Brian

 

37 And he (Jesus) said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)

[1] I will avoid using pronouns to describe God because I do not believe that God is gendered. As a result, you will see that I use the word God or Godself whenever a pronoun would normally have been used.

[2] Colossians 1:16-17

[3] John 12:32, Revelation 21:3

[4] Matthew 6:26, Philippians 4:19

[5] James 1:17

[6] http://bethel-harrisonburg.org/rabbis-blog-my-word/2020/12/22/ten-jews-eleven-opinions

[7] Isiah 54:8, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 2:7, Titus 3:4-6,

[8] Psalm 119:90, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17

[9] Genesis 1:31, Psalms 145:17-18, Romans 8:28, James 1:17

[10] Luke 9:22, John 12:32

[11] Romans 8:39, Colossians 1:15

[12] 1 John 4:8-20

[13] Adapted from Richard Rohr, “On the Edge of the Inside: The Prophetic Position,” Radical Grace 25, no. 4, The Eight Core Principles (Fall 2012): 23–26.

 

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