Bob Goff’s Theology of Self in “Love Does”

“I think God’s hope and plan for us is pretty simple to figure out…add your whole life, your loves, your passions, and your interests together with what God said He wants us to be about, and that’s your answer…what’s God’s plan for the whole world?—buckle up: it’s us. We’re God’s plan, and we always have been….Tell me about the God you love; tell me about what He has inspired uniquely in you; tell me about what you’re going to do about it, and a plan for your life will be pretty easy to figure out from there. ”

— "Love Does" (143)

Here is one small quotation from Goff with several doctrinal issues that should raise alarms for Christians who compare what they hear with God’s Word to see if it is true (Acts 17:11). In this blog, I will break apart the above quote to demonstrate the significant theological issues contained throughout this book.

“I think God’s hope and plan for us is pretty simple to figure out…add your whole life, your loves, your passions, and your interests together with what God said He wants us to be about”

The problem with this statement is two-fold. 1) it places God in a position of needing something from man, and 2) it indicates that your passions and interests align with God’s. However, there are sinful loves, sinful passions, and sinful interests. Finally, throughout the book, Goff continually refers to God as “wanting and hoping we will be a certain way, and that we will just live in his circle of love.”

Here is a breakdown of the theological issues:

1. God doesn’t need us; we wholly and utterly rely and depend on Him for everything (Job 33:4; Acts 17:24-28)

2. We are transformed from death to life when we are saved. Our passions and desires change as we continue in our sanctification process. God demands perfection that we cannot provide apart from the saving grace of Christ Jesus. There is no amalgamation of us bringing anything to the table with what “God said He wants us to be about.”  It is a complete change of the mind, heart, desire, and actions and is brought into submission to God's commands. (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10; Eph. 2:1-3; Eph. 4:17-19)

The next section of this quote is:

“what’s God’s plan for the whole world?—buckle up: it’s us…We’re God’s plan, and we always have been.”

The issue with this quote is again compounded when you read the entirety of Love Does, as it places mankind in the center and moves God to the sidelines. This statement would be immediately dismissed if the modern church taught their congregation doctrine instead of tickling their ears every Sunday. This statement comes down to a gigantic misunderstanding of the purpose of Scripture and the atoning work of Christ. Here is a simplistic breakdown.

1. The Bible is about God redeeming His creation to Himself. (John 1:1-3; Gal. 4:4; Luke 1:72-73; Luke 1:69-70)

2. Through Jesus by putting His glorious grace and mercy on display (John 10:11)

3. God’s plan for the whole world is Jesus. Not us. (2 Cor. 5:14-15; 1 Tim.2:6; )

4. Everything in Scripture points to the culmination of the incarnation, atonement, and resurrection. (2 Pet.3:9; Rom. 3:23-24; Rom. 5:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:3-4)

5. Mankind is wholly dependent on Christ for salvation. (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 6:23; 1 Pet.2:24)

This next section is the most concerning area of it all.

“Tell me about the God you love; tell me about what He has inspired uniquely in you; tell me about what you’re going to do about it, and a plan for your life will be pretty easy to figure out from there.”

Here is the issue with this quote. Seventeen times Goff uses the phrase “religious people” (pages; 14, 56, 57, 81, 82, 93, 97, 113, 156 2x, 161 3x, 193 3x, and 202).  In this phrase, he never distinguishes who or what he refers to. However, he does give us insight into whom he is referring to as he states:

“The religious people are the only ones who tease out the missing word or phrase needed to fall in line with their view of faith or doctrine.” (161)

So, using Goff’s words, the God he references in his quote on page 143 is any god you love. This indicates his lean towards a type of universalism. If he is referencing the God described in Scripture, he is negating the biblical God by stating that we do not need to state what we believe or have a view of faith or doctrine. What Goff describes on page 143 are forms of universalism, relativism, and adoptionism as it relates to us and also his idea of who God is.

This is an extremely brief look at just one quotation. Where Goff demonstrates his theology of self. I know several people who have read this book and were deeply encouraged by it. However, throughout the book, he only paraphrases Scriptural passages, emphasizing the love of God solely, and never mentions sin in the book. If I were to attempt to describe Goff’s view of salvation (which I believe he would scoff at the thought as it would be against everything in his book), it would be a “you are good enough where you are at, but let's move you along a little bit more so you can experience the love God so desperately wants to show you, you are fine where you are but God wants bigger and better for you, so just love.”

I want to remind you that you can read any book you wish for entertainment or encouragement value. However, a book such as “Love Does” teaches you theology; the problem is that it is not biblically grounded. It is the theology of self and the theology of man. This is why caution and discernment must be at the forefront when you pick up any book outside Scripture that attempts to tell you about God and yourself. Where is the book grounding their standard of truth? Is it in the writer? Or is it in the Scriptures? Everything you read or interact with is teaching and influencing you; let us be rooted and grounded in Scripture and not man's empty philosophy.