If Loving God Was A Crime

There was a band some ten years ago called Big Tent Revival. I really need to buy some of their music because they were kind of bluesy and I like that style of music.

One song they sang that used to haunt me is “If Loving God Was A Crime” and the first stanza says:

    If loving God was a crime, I’d be an outlaw
    I would join the fight
    They could not shut me down;
    I would stand tall for what I know is right

It used to haunt because when I would sing along I knew I was singing words that were not true in my life.

C’mon Bro Dave you don’t think Jesus expects you to go to jail just for loving you do you?

Nah, you’re right…American Christians have a special charter from Jesus that says, “I do not expect you to do what other brothers and sisters across the world are doing. My American Church…she’s special to me. When I said…

    “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

“…I did not expect my comfortable and overly blessed American Church to have to face persecution and revilement. That’s only for those Christians living in third world and communist nations.”

Here’s the problem and it is what the Lord showed me in His Word.

I love me more than Jesus.

Oh, but Lord, you know that I love you.

Yes David, but are you in love with me. I know you would take a bullet for your wife and kids but would you take a bullet for Me?

But Lord…Shh…remember when I said:

    “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

You love you and your family more than me David. You not only won’t take a bullet for Me but you won’t even take ridicule for Me. You’d never stand for your family being ridiculed and yet…

Yes Lord, I confess my sin.

I have so many examples in the Bible of what it means to be in love with Jesus. There is Stephen the Martyr.

Oh and the Apostle Paul. What a mighty man of God:

    “Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’” (Acts 21:13)

There is no doubt that I would go to jail and even die for my family.

I pray that by now in my relationship with Jesus that He would affirm my words that I am willing to be bound and to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.

I pray that my Dear Jesus knows that I am so in love with Him.

I pray that my Dear Jesus knows that I am not ashamed of Him.

I pray I would not be ashamed as the chorus in our song says:

    Would you stand with me for the world to see
    When all is on the line
    Would you be ashamed of Jesus’ name
    If loving God was a crime

How about you?

Will you stand with me or are you ashamed of Jesus’ name?

What if loving God becomes a crime in America? It’s getting more and more that way.

If a law ever gets passed forbidden the open worship of Jesus Christ, will you have anything to be worried about?

Would there be enough evidence in your life to convict you if loving God was a crime?

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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