Making Sense Of God - Timothy KellerSample

“Love Relationships Require a Loss of Independence”

Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is both your author and your redeemer. In Matthew 11 Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

Jesus essentially says to us: “I call you only to do those things you were created to do, and you will find therefore that my yoke is easy. I put on you the burden of following me, but I have already paid the price, so that when you fail you will be forgiven. I’ve taken off you the burdens that other people have. I’ve removed the burden of earning your own salvation through your striving and effort. I’ve removed the burden of guilt or shame for past failures. I’ve taken off the burden of having to prove yourself worthy of love. I am therefore the only Lord and master who, if you find me, will satisfy you, and, if you fail me, will forgive you.”

The claim is that Jesus is the only master, the only thing to live for that will not exploit you. And here is why. We observed that love relationships require the loss of independence but that both parties must give it up together. You must say to the other person: “You first. I will adjust for you, I will give up my freedom for you, I will sacrifice for you.” However, both parties must say that. If only one person does that and not the other, that is exploitation.

Excerpt from Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical by Timothy Keller

Reprinted by arrangement with Viking Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2016 by Timothy Keller