In this series, I take a look at some of the very modern worship songs, as a fan of the older hymns. I try not to criticize them. You can always find good things in them. The one thing that I found odd about today’s hymn is the word “reckless”.
It reminds me of Wreckless Eric, a British new wave star from my youth. But, “reckless” is actually the correct spelling, not wreckless 😃.
The word reckless means acting without thinking about the consequences, showing little or no concern for risks or dangers. But why would God’s love be reckless? It’s clearly an analogy, perhaps not a very good analogy, but it’s something that gets us thinking. You can read the lyrics in the second video or on the collaborateworship.com site.
Reckless Love was first released in 2017. Cory Asbury explained that the phrase “reckless love of God” doesn’t mean God is reckless, but that His love is extravagant, selfless, and relentless.
In my own mind, I could think of the following as an illustration of reckless love. Suppose someone knew how dangerous it was to walk across an icy lake. They plead with a friend not to do it, and despite their pleas, the friend goes out on the lake. They fall through the ice and the very person who warned them goes out to save them, knowing that it’s a reckless thing to do, and dies.
I can’t think of any other songs that describe God as reckless, but I can think of hymns that express amazement at God’s grace and love.
Amazing love, how can it be, that thou my God should die for me!
I don’t know what Cory Asbury’s theological outlook is, but the hymn has a strong Calvinist tone. Calvin, perhaps the greatest of the Reformation theologians, emphasized that God chooses his followers. In one sense, we choose God, but it’s his work in us that sets us free to choose him. Ironically, Charles Wesley, who would have disagreed with Calvin, brought this out in his And Can it Be (Amazing Love) hymn:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
In my experience, most Christians give God the credit for their salvation. And the Apostle Paul brings that out in Ephesians and Romans:
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 8:30
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
And, even if Cory Asbury doesn’t hold that theological outlook, so much of the lyrics emphasize God’s work on him:
- Before I spoke a word You were singing over me
- Before I took a breath You breathed Your life in me
- Oh it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still You give Yourself away - When I was Your foe still Your love fought for me
- When I felt no worth You paid it all for me
Romans 5:6-8
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
My own theological outlook is Calvinistic, but I understand that not everyone wants to think it all through so deeply. It’s something that often gives rise to heated debates. It raises the question of why doesn’t God save everyone. Some even think that he eventually will – universalism. But you need to ignore much of the teaching of the Scriptures to believe that. Though Calvin went a long way towards comprehending the truth, I think we all need to accept that it’s probably more complicated than that. And from our own perspective, we do need to repent and trust in Jesus. And after we do that, it’s very natural for us to give all the credit to God. You don’t hear hymns where people praise themselves for coming to Jesus. Still, you do get some where people express gladness that they did, even if they don’t explicitly give God the credit.
An example is I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. I often hear this sung at believer’s baptisms. These aren’t baby baptisms, but baptisms where people have already come to Christ and get baptized to publicly commit themselves and celebrate.
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back; no turning back.
2. If no one joins me, still I will follow;
If no one joins me, still I will follow;
If no one joins me, still I will follow;
No turning back; no turning back.
3. The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
No turning back, no turning back.
4. Will you decide now to follow Jesus;
Will you decide now to follow Jesus;
Will you decide now to follow Jesus;
No turning back; no turning back.
So is this one all about “me” rather than God? I’m sure that the writer would say that the Holy Spirit drew him to Jesus and enables him to persevere in his faith.
Hibernia Gospel 