The only pen that writes on the heart

I think there’s a very real tension between a gospel where we’re taught to obey commands as evidence of our faith and a gospel where we grow in love as the natural expression of our relationship with God. 

Our brains are wired to be transformed through relationship, not knowledge. Our identity center is wholly formed by relationship, not knowledge. Neuroscience has proven this. Yet the predominant model is centered on knowledge rather than loving attachment—the strongest force for transformation within us. 

I deeply believe that being transformed by love leads to an innate desire to do the things we refer to as Jesus’ commands. It’s the way Jeremiah expressed God’s plan: “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts.” That’s transformation from within—transformation of the heart. And transformation of the heart transforms everything else. 

Knowledge will just never do that. Only loving attachment in relationship will do that. And I think, honestly, this is wholly foreign to the Western model.