HOME / PROCLAMATION! MAGAZINE / 2015 / SUMMER / THE LIFE EXAMINED WITH CAROLYN MACOMBER

I was scammed! In fact, the scam was so deceptive I am still reeling. I went to a search engine to find the customer support number for a large company. After clicking on what seemed to be the “official” website, I called the number listed. I was transferred to a “supervisor” and told I had a horrible network virus and needed to purchase their virus-removal software immediately. Finally, I smartened up and ended the conversation, but not before giving them access to my computer. Ugh!

I have realized I have also been scammed regarding the love of God. Often as an Adventist I heard the phrase, “God loves you,” and I was also taught that God’s love was “unconditional”. Unfortunately, the words used in Adventism to teach me about God’s unconditional love were contradictory and legalistic. I understood God’s love to be something I earned. I felt like His love was disappointed in me for not being perfect.

I have gotten into trouble when I have compared God’s love with human love. Often I have expected too much from humans. Human love at times will disappoint, either because of rejection, insensitivity, or blindness to needs. Too often human love is fraught with hidden selfishness and strings attached. God’s love is completely “other”, because He is God, not human. Human love falls short by comparison.

This year I am reading through the Bible looking for only one thing: what the Bible says about God’s love. I am also praying that He will move my understanding of His love from my head to my heart. It is a prayer I know He will answer, because He “loves” to grow me up in His perfect character.

My Bible is quickly becoming marked. Slowly the knowledge of His great love for me is traveling from my head to my heart, and I am constantly finding myself in worship and praise.

Here are a few of the gems I have found: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, His love endures for ever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures for ever” (Ps. 136: 1-2).

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken or my covenant of peace be removed.’ Says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (Is. 54:10).

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Is. 64:4).

The gospel of John is full of statements regarding God’s love, and they are related to his main purpose stated in John 20:31, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

In the book of John, Jesus instructs His disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn. 13:34). Jesus said it clearly, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him” (Jn. 14:23). “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love” (Jn. 15:9-10a).

I do not desire to be scammed any longer regarding God’s great love for me. Slowly, I am allowing His love to penetrate me at a deep level and my joy is increasing. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:11-13). †

 

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Carolyn Macomber was a doctoral student at Andrews University when she discovered inconsistencies between Adventism and the Bible. She withdrew her membership from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2009. She is a marriage and family counselor and is the contact person for former Adventists at The Chapel Evangelical Free Church in St. Joseph, Michigan.

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