Jesus is my Lover

Writing for Christianity Today, Agnieszka Tennant, writes an interesting article about our use of erotic language in describing our relationship to Jesus. She says:

I don't question the devotion of anyone who says she loves Christ intensely, whatever language she uses to express it.

But I have little patience for taking biblical metaphors too far and giving one's relationship with God an air of irreverent chumminess. Somehow, the scenario in which "his princess" shaves her legs for a date with Jesus seems to leave little room for fear of God.

And consider how unhelpful this misreading must be to single women who are hormonally awake. The cruel message they get is: If Jesus is really your husband, what's your problem? Be satisfied!

The Bible is replete with breathtaking metaphors that hint at God's love for us. Thank God, we don't always take them to illogical ends: I've never heard a preacher take the Good Shepherd image to mean that God raises his children to ultimately kill and eat them.

So, yes, in addition to being the Shepherd, the Bread of Life, and the Vine, Jesus is, poetically speaking, the Bridegroom. And we—the church—are his bride.
But that doesn't mean I'll be getting into my wedding gown anytime soon. Not that it would fit.

This past weekend we sang a song (iTunes) in church that has the line in it, "Jesus I am so in love with you." How do you feel about this? One side would say that this line is too close to something that I might say to my wife, thus it feels a bit uncomfortable speaking the same words to Jesus and that this just contributes to the feminization of evangelicalism. Another side might say that our language of deepest affection should be used in speaking to Jesus since the Psalmist "pants" for the living God and "yearns" for his presence. Personally, I think these sorts of issues are not black and white and as long our people are taught (all issues in the church are teaching issues) what the potential dangers could be, and why we are singing what we are singing, it is ok to use as long it is mixed with other types of songs that may be content driven. What say you?

(HT: Think Christian)