In fact, I’m pretty sure Pat Benetar is one of the only reasons I managed to pass high school P.E. You see, back then there were few things I hated more than the thrice-weekly runs that made up the majority of our Physical Education class grade. Years of ballet class (and a natural clumsiness that any of my friends can attest to) had made me anything but a track-star. But nevertheless, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’d begrudgingly trudge my way around the track, relying on my ipod to keep pace. And of course, at the top of my ultimate playlist was Pat Benetar, pushing me onward.
Then, earlier this summer, I discovered (and immediately became obsessed with) this cover by Thao & Mirah.
New, Improved, LIVE: Thao & Mirah - "Love is a Battlefield" from The Bay Bridged on Vimeo.
Both songs were promptly re-added to my “most-played list” on itunes.
All that to say, I think my relationship with God could use a little more spandex and 80s bar-fight fierceness.
It sounds ridiculous, but it all comes down to the simple, yet profound truth in Pat Benetar’s iconic words— love IS a battlefield. It is not passive, weak or half-hearted, and if we make the mistake of treating it as such we will quickly find ourselves being conquered by our enemy, losing the battle.
About a year ago, I listened to a sermon (May 23, 2010) that illuminated Matthew 22:37, where Jesus cites Deuteronomy 6:5 as the most important commandment:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Scholars believe the word may represent one of any number of combinations of pre-existing Greek words. I’ll go into the others later, but for now I’ll just stick to the first theory of origin:
A mix of αγαν and ποιειν, meaning to act vehemently or intensely.
Fiercely. Ardently. With passion.
This is not a weak love. This is a love of action, a love worth fighting for. This is the way we are called to love God— with all our heart, soul and mind.
And this is the way we MUST love God if we are to have a real relationship with him, because unfortunately, (sing it with me now…) love is a battlefield.
It reminds me of this passage from the book Captivating, by John & Staci Eldridge, where Staci describes the personal time she set aside to spend with God:
“I made room for it in my life’s schedule and fought to protect the time. Whether it required unplugging the phone, arranging childcare for my young boys, or staying up after everyone was asleep, it was worth it. I became captivated by his beauty. It was rich. It was good. And it was opposed. To pursue intimacy with Christ, you will have to fight for it. You’ll need to fight busyness. You’ll need to fight accusations. You’ll need to fight the Thief that would steal you Lover’s gifts to you outright.”
Throughout Captivating, the Eldridges reveal God as a divine lover who passionately pursues us and wants to restore us to who he created us to be. Yet they also call attention to the opposition we face from an enemy that wants desperately to separate us from the healing power of God’s love.
Jesus fought for us. He took on the evil of our sin and died on our behalf, only to rise again as conqueror. His love is fierce. And the more I begin to know him, the more I want to follow his example.
His and Pat Benetar’s, of course (Seriously— fierce!). :)
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