JESUS AS "LOVER"?? - Andrew Strom
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
-by Andrew Strom.
What does the term "Passion for Jesus" mean to you? Would it
surprise you to learn that whole Christian movements are now using
it to mean a kind-of "eros" love for Jesus - a 'passion' for Him similar
to what an earthly husband and wife have for each other? (-From the
word "eros" we get the word 'erotic'). And what does the term
"Intimacy with Jesus" mean to you? Would it surprise you to learn
that many are now using it to mean sensual "eros"-type encounters
with Jesus - with Him as the Bridegroom and them as the 'Bride'?
You may think that such unscriptural practices must be out on
the "fringe" somewhere. Surely they cannot be part of mainstream
Christianity? Well, look around you, because this stuff is now
everywhere. I live very close to one of the world's largest and most
influential prayer centers here in Kansas City - and it has been a
major source of this type of teaching for many years. And now it
is all around the world. At this center you will find hundreds of
young men and women who will tell you about being "ravished"
for Jesus, "kissing" Jesus and 'swooning' in His arms, etc. Their
entire understanding of "WHO GOD IS" and their relationship with
Him is being shaped by this teaching. -And it is an utter twisting of
Scripture.
Why is it important to have a right concept of "WHO GOD IS"?
Why does it matter so much? Well, this one thing shapes every-
thing else about our faith and our relationship with the Lord. At the
heart of a lot of cults and deceptions is a fundamental mis-
apprehension of the true character and nature of God - ie. "Who
He is - How we approach Him". It really does affect EVERYTHING.
Now, imagine that there is a new doctrine that re-invents our very
understanding of God - a doctrine that sweeps the world and
catches up many young people. So, is this new doctrine based
on a careful exegesis of the New Testament, you ask? -No! To
your surprise you find that it is largely based on "spiritualizing"
the SONG OF SOLOMON. Yes, that's right. An entire re-inventing
of our relationship with God based not on the New Testament, but
on Solomon's lovestruck poetry about the body and breasts and
comeliness of one of his 700 wives. -Wonderful poetry to be sure,
but what kind of basis is that for such a drastic change in our basic beliefs?
(So is there no benefit to be gained from an 'allegorical' understanding
of the Song Of Solomon? -Certainly there is! Hudson Taylor and
others used it this way. But that is not the point I am making. The
real issue is this:- Should we re-invent our entire understanding of
"Who God is" and how we approach Him - to fit in with a tiny book
of semi-erotic poetry from the Old Testament? Should this become
our dominant understanding of God?)
As history shows us again and again, to the equal degree that we
lose our grasp of the real character and nature of God - to this
same degree we will lose genuine Christianity. You cannot have
the true New Testament Faith if you have lost the true New
Testament Jesus. -Which is why it is so serious when people say
that in the West today we have invented a kind-of "American Jesus"
to suit our self-centered, "me"-focused lifestyle. They point out that
today you mostly hear of a Jesus who exists to make you "happy"
rather than holy, a Jesus who is always a "friend" but never a Judge,
a Jesus who does not any longer hate sin or demand repentance,
but only wants you prosperous and 'blessed'. This is a Jesus that
utterly suits our selfish Western mindset, but is found nowhere in the Bible.
And the new "Jesus As Lover" doctrine is just another twist in the
ongoing tale of modern Christians distorting the character and nature of God.
Does Jesus love us? Of course He does - more than words can
tell. And are we to love Him? Of course! -With all our heart, mind,
soul and strength! But does this mean that we are to approach Him
with a sensual "eros" love, like some sexual adolescent schoolgirl,
"swooning" and smooching with our 'lover' Jesus? Is that what
God's love means? Are we to exchange 'agape' for sensual "eros"
and act like Jesus's "girlfriend" here on earth? (-Men as well as
women?) God forbid!
Of course we know that in Scripture the corporate body of Christ
(particularly at the end of the age) is described as the "Bride" of
Christ. But isn't it obvious that this is talking about the 'CORPORATE'
Body - not individual Christians? Are we each to become Jesus's
little "girlfriends" here on earth - or is it the "WHOLE BODY" that
is to one day be the Bride of Christ? -Clearly it is the latter.
The effect of this doctrine on young men is particularly distressing.
To describe it as "effeminate" is quite an understatement. As it is,
the modern church is already known for being an "anti-masculine"
zone, with its flower displays, pink walls, mauve carpets, emotion-
laden music, etc. A lot of commentators point to this when
discussing the low attendance of men in our churches. But this
new doctrine takes this theme to undreamt-of depths.
Can you imagine zealous praying young men who relate to Jesus
(ie. another MALE) as a "lover" whom they kiss and 'swoon' over?
Can you imagine what happens when this becomes their basic
approach to God? -And this is just the beginning of the gender-
bending weirdness that is starting to become "normal" in this
movement. (Some are in such deception that they even have
experiences of "Jesus" kissing them on the mouth, etc. The
movement itself warns against "sensual encounters" but their
very teaching leads directly to this kind of thing. Deceiving spirits
are always super-active in this kind of environment. Where do you
think the famed 'incubus' and 'succubus' originate from?)
The ironic thing is that a lot of the people who are into this doctrine
claim to be "seeking Revival". They really think that this is the kind
of 'intimacy' that God desires. It is greatly influencing the modern
'Prayer' movement, the Prophetic movement and the 'Worship'
movement (-which explains the recent rash of songs with "Song
of Solomon" type themes: "I kiss you with the kisses of my mouth",
"Take me into your chamber", etc).
I find their talk of "Revival" particularly ironic, because I have studied
Revival for many years, and I am aware that all the old Revivalists
prayed to a God who is very different from what is being presented
here. -And their understanding of "WHO GOD IS" was utterly crucial
to their obtaining Revival. They prayed to a God of holiness and
majesty and awe - a God of glory who hates sin, yet sent His son
to die for sinners.
The God that the old Revivalists prayed to was the "throneroom"
God that Isaiah described- "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple... And one
cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts:
The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved
at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of
unclean lips..." (Is 6:1-5).
This is the "throneroom" God who is described again in Revelation
chapter 4 - where we are told that the four beasts cry, "Holy, holy,
holy" day and night without ceasing, and the 24 elders cast down
their crowns before His throne - over and over again. It is "HOLINESS"
that is the chief characteristic of God! No other characteristic is
ever repeated three times together in the Bible - let alone over and
over, day and night! -"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY."
And actually, the full title of the book of Revelation is the "Revelation
of Jesus Christ". So in other words, it is a 'revealing' of who Jesus
is and what He is really like. And when John (the 'beloved' disciple)
first sees the glorified Christ in Revelation 1, we are told that such
is His terror-inducing holiness and glory that John fell at his feet
"as though dead." -This is the true Jesus - as He really is.
In every true Revival, it is the God of majesty who reveals himself.
For Revival is the "Glory of God" coming down. It is His very
'throneroom' presence coming down amongst men. The God of
Revival has always been a God of holiness - a God of great glory.
This is who we have for a 'Father'. Thus, even His children should
approach Him with awe. And if we do not pray to this God, then
we should not expect Revival at all. -That is one of the basic
lessons of Revival history. -We must pray to the 'RIGHT GOD' if
we are going to see true Revival.
Incidentally, the 'Bride of Christ' in Revelation is described as a
'holy city' - a "new Jerusalem" coming down from heaven. (Rev 21).
So it is clearly a 'CORPORATE' entity that exists at the end of the
age. -Not some individualized "girlfriend of Jesus" in the here-and-now.
It is a very serious thing to tamper with our understanding of 'WHO
GOD IS' and how we relate to Him. In a lot of ways it is like
preaching "another Jesus". -It really is that bad. If you hear phrases
today like 'Lovesick for Jesus', 'Bridal Paradigm', "Bridal intimacy",
"Wooing", 'Romancing', "Kisses of our mouth", 'Fascinated', etc,
then you can be pretty sure that you are being exposed to this
deceptive doctrine. I believe it is serious error, and I urge you to
flee from it as far as you can, my friends. Please forward this to
anyone whom you believe may be influenced by this doctrine.
Feedback welcome! Our email- prophetic@revivalschool.com
This article is being discussed on the Forum at-
http://www.revivalschool.com
God bless you all.
Andrew Strom.