When Cory Asbury‘s “Reckless Love” first came out (2017), I remember all sorts of online commentary and concern about it. I mean, come on: God’s love is NOT reckless!
In one sense, I get that. God isn’t careless, irrational, or out of control. He’s holy, wise, and purposeful.
But after listening to Asbury’s own explanation at the time, I actually think he’s right.
I think a lot of the disagreement comes down to the sense in which “reckless” is being considered… and whose perspective we’re assuming.
But take Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) as an example.
“Prodigal” basically means wastefully extravagant (reckless) – the younger son blows everything. But the twist is that by the end of the story, the younger son isn’t the only one who looks “prodigal.” The father does things that, in that culture, would look undignified and totally excessive. He absorbs the shame of the son’s request, watches him leave, and when the boy returns, the father runs – then embraces him and kisses him, and before the son can even finish his rehearsed ‘please take me back’ speech, the father’s organising a celebration feast.
Of course, that’s not reckless in the sense of sinfulness. But it is “reckless” in the way it looks from the older brother’s vantage point – the way love looks when it refuses to be cautious, reputation-protecting, or “fair” by older-brother standards.
In other words, “reckless” isn’t the Father’s character so much as it is the elder brother’s accusation of the Father’s love.
But the Father’s love IS lavish. It IS scandalous. It is… well… grace.
I mean, isn’t there a sense in which grace just is lavish prodigality? It “wastes” (so to speak) mercy on people who can’t pay it back, because love isn’t a transaction – because love refuses to be “efficient.”
Sometimes I wonder if the people most incensed by such “recklessness” are those who have been near the Father’s house the whole time.
Food for thought (… literally – there’s a feast! Come inside!)
