“One of the great tragedies in life…
… is historically that the Bible gets interpreted by people who are not in love…When I read this, it’s a thing of beauty, but I realize that for most people it’s an imprisonment. It’s a set of scriptures that are restricting and binding because they’re not held in the context of this One who is so wild about us, so extreme in His love for us. It’s so easy to read this and come off with this edge that is hostile and caustic and abrasive towards people—it comes from the hearts of people who are just not in love. Something happens when you read this stuff in the context of your affection for Jesus, and realize that the heartbeat of God is for people. Suddenly that edge disappears and you realize you can’t preach people into change by telling them how bad sin is. There’s gotta be something that gives people hope, something that brings them into encounter with the person you’re actually living in. People in love are infectious! And I pray you would never again for the rest of your life have to sit under the teaching of anyone that isn’t in love, and that the words of your mouth for the rest of your life are words that come from your love for Christ, your absolute wonder for this One.” -Bill Johnson
