Is God’s Love Reckless?

Reckless Love is a  beautiful song by Bethel’s Cory Asbury which has raised many interesting questions amongst believers. Some hate it, some love it but I think anything that gets people talking is a good thing.  The lyric that has caused all the commotion is from the chorus.

“Oh, the  overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”

And the big question is: Is God’s love reckless? To which I believe the answer to be both yes and no.

If you interpret the text literally then no God’s love is not reckless. Reckless according to google’s dictionary is “heedless of danger or the consequences of one’s actions; rash or impetuous.” In this regard, God certainly is not rash or ignorant of the consequences of his actions. In fact, God is very much the opposite. He is omniscient meaning all-knowing. And as a being who exists outside of time, none of his decisions can be considered rash or rushed.

But music is not a science and lyrics are often poetic in nature, filled with metaphors and similies. And in this respect, reckless love paints a  beautiful picture of how we as humans can interpret aspects of God’s love. God’s love is reckless in that God wasn’t concerned about the cost or consequences that it would have on himself. While God was not ignorant of the results of his love He did choose to overlook them and choosing to love us despite the negative impact it would have on himself.

It was because of God’s love that he humbled himself, became a human, and then took our death sentence upon himself by dying on a cross. If this sort of love came from a mere human it would dangerous, reckless, and harmful. But because it is from God it is unfathomably good and indescribable.

Is it inappropriate for Christians to use poetry that may cause confusion and be misinterpreted?

It’s a complex question. I do not believe that it is inappropriate for an artist to express their gratitude to God through their art form. However, it is important to be mindful of the context in which the work is going to be used. If the song was designed to reach non-believers then it probably wouldn’t be appropriate. Similarly, if it was to be used to communicate solid theology and Christian doctrine then it would go in the definitely not category. But it would be perfect for casual listening during the week.

There are many churches that both sing this song and refuse to sing this song as part of their service. Both sides of the fence have valid reasons but I believe it is not something worth getting offended about. Grace allows us to hold different views of other people and yet still come together and worship. And sometimes grace is more important than being right or winning an argument.

If you’d like more of an in-depth analysis of the song check out Mike Winger’s video.