I remember those girls who seemed almost perfect, when I was a young Christian. I was 19, maybe 20, and they were there at my church, or in my bible studies, or hanging out with my group of friends. I admired their wit, faith, and perspective... and they were beautiful (hey, I notice that too :-P).
I, or one of my friends, would find them incredibly attractive, to the point that conversations routinely turned to dating. This is where things often got awkward.
See, at this time, and perhaps still now, it was extremely popular to say that Jesus was your boyfriend. Girls would talk about how He fulfilled their every desire, and how they couldn't even look at another guy romantically because they didn't measure up. Some guys would keep the conversation going, trying to find a way around the impenetrable Jesus wall. I usually just gave up, though.
I mean, who can compete with the Creator of the Universe? Seriously... it's one thing to look for Christ-like traits in a guy, but it's another entirely to claim our Lord and Savior as your Significant Other. I couldn't keep on trying to talk with those girls. I mean, if a girl was willing to cheat on JESUS with me... I don't think I'd want to be with her anyway.
We perpetuate this type of behavior with some of the songs we sing, though. I remember leading one that said "Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place". That line always freaked me out. There are a bunch of other songs that I'd refer to as the sloppy make-out songs for Jesus. They had the spiritual depth of an old rain puddle, but they were arranged in such a way that you felt tingles at a certain spot and felt completely spent at the end. I can't actually remember any of those songs, because their words weren't at all memorable. If I encounter any more, I'll let you know.
I don't know if there are still some out there who are "in a relationship" with Jesus, but I think we'd all be better off if we viewed God as our sustainer, provider, friend, savior, creator... heck, even husband... any of the amazing traits He explicitly holds to each of us. Taking the church's "bride of Christ" status and bringing it down to the level of a schoolgirl crush on God Incarnate is kinda gross and creepy. It is probably also quite detrimental to spiritual development.
Besides, what guy wants to compete with the Messiah for a young woman's affections? Romantic love should flow out of a healthy relationship with Christ, not stand in direct competition with Christ. You are either single or in a relationship.
Jesus is your Savior. The Church, as a whole, is His bride. He is not your boyfriend.
The paradox of insular language
1 year ago
4 comments:
Although I have never personally heard anyone claim Jesus as their boyfriend, I do agree with your post.
And my youth pastor recently moved to Texas for a church plant. He misses California. We have In-n-Out.
In response to your comment...Bah ha!...sorry. That's such a sad story.
despite the fact that i am still laughing at your post, i must say that i agree a little. as much as the jesus-is-my-boyfriend idea might keep a lot of kids doing more productive things with their time than date a new guy every five seconds, it should always go much, much deeper. he is so much more than the homeboy on our tshirts.
Last week an uncle of mine sat me down to watch a documentary about crazy way out Christians. It was a cult thing which I’m sure he was equating with whatever he perceived I was into (maybe another story for another post). In it one of the kids said something along the lines of what you wrote, “how they couldn't even look at another guy romantically because they didn't measure up.”
Again a few days later while in the car over a relatively evangelical Christian radio station a tune crooned out a love to Jesus which left me wondering if I or the artist had missed plot.
With Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:2 I’d affirm that, “But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.”
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