The Strangely Unattractive Love of God

"If only true love was even half as attractive as it is beautiful."

Bart Campolo

from "Street Warriors" in Conspire's Winter 2012 issue

Bart Campolo tells the story of an adopted son in an urban neighborhood, loved, fed and nurtured but still sadly drawn to life on the streets. Street life doesn't give real life: "There is no peace in the midst of these struggles, but there is plenty of drama, excitement, and singular purpose". I thought of this article from Conspire when my wife mentioned something she'd read in a Madeleine L'Engle book. L'Engle said, "we're not providing legitimate adventure for many of them...so they seek it illegitimately." 

I see her point and in some ways agree with it, in another way though I've seen Christianity try so hard to keep up with a sensational culture (X-treme Teen Bible, orgasmic worship music, etc.).  The truth is following Jesus isn't all that exciting most of the time. Real life in general is made out of lots of tiny somewhat boring things. I  know everyone who shaves or brushes their teeth on commercials looks excited and is almost instantly greeted by a sexy counterpart. Usually when I brush my teeth (and I don't shave very often) I just put my toothbrush back, cap the toothpaste, and nothing fantastic happens next. 

I spoke for a pretty large youth weekend in Memphis once and the theme was about getting young people to do amazing things. So I talked about reading your Bible and praying everyday. That would be amazing, and nothing else very amazing will happen until that happens first. War is exciting, fame looks like an adventure, street life feels dangerous and intriguing - following Jesus is an adventure of a different kind. But it's as different as the bread in a sandwich is from the Bread of the Word of God. 

I have a really hard time getting up in the morning. Sleep feels so good to my body. When I spend time in prayer and Scripture regularly I get rest for my soul. But honestly, I usually prefer sleep for my body than rest for my soul. One is attractive, one is beautiful.  I see myself choosing the attractive, exciting, sensational option over and over again rather than the beautiful, deepening, sensitive way of Jesus. 

I don't have much hope for ever really trying to use the world's tactics to make the Gospel attractive and exciting. It's just not attractive or exciting in the way the world wants. As long as we are faithful, the Gospel will remain foolish and boring to those who are perishing.  But as long as we are faithful, we also have something more real and substantial to offer than the world does: when I tire of sleep, I may long finally for rest - when excitement has scorched the earth, I may follow my thirst for depth to a living well - when attractiveness withers my soul, I may begin to prefer the beauty of holiness.