In the Bible, so much of the marriage language about weddings, brides, and grooms is discussing the relationship between God and his people. In the Bible, in spite of humanity’s sin, turning away from God, the Lord is depicted as a faithful groom.
In the New Testament, the church is depicted as the bride and Christ is the groom. That’s part of the reason why our passage said “husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (more…)
Love.
In Evangelical circles, we, righty, have a high view of scripture and studying God’s word. That’s important.
But I sometimes feel like it can be so easy to get caught up in having proper theology we forget the most practical application OF the theology. Love for God and love for people.
If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
-1 Corinthians 13:2
I think for Christians, some excel at theology and the intellectual pursuits. Others re more focused on showing grace, compassion, and love to people but perhaps don’t care as much about theology.
Both are valuable.
It’s a message I have to remind myself. It’s easy for me to study these things. And certainly in studying these things, we are exposing ourselves to Godly wisdom.
But it can also be easy to get bogged down in the theology to the point of losing sight of simply living lives of love.
What’s your strength in those areas? May you work on cultivating your weaknesses in these areas.
Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.
