Redeeming Love: What Do Christians Need to Know About It?

Redeeming Love is a historical romance by Francine Rivers, published in 91. Rivers says that when she became a Christian, she began to adapt true Bible stories into fictional romance. Redeeming Love is a retelling of Hosea, set in the American Old West.

In the Bible, God told Hosea, Go take for yourself a wife of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord. So he married a harlot named Gomer, who represented Israel's unfaithfulness.

Hosea, Gomer, and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

Hosea prophesied of the judgment of God, who is faithful to his promise, though his people were not faithful to him. The only similarities Redeeming Love has to the Bible story are that the main character's last name is Hosea, and he marries a prostitute.

Gomer is replaced by Angel, a victim of sex abuse her whole life. Gomer and Israel were not victims. Angel catches the eye of Michael Hosea, who hears God tell him to marry her. After getting married, Angel runs away and goes back to prostitution, but Michael forgives her, and Angel learns true love.

Christian Film, Sexual Immorality, and Biblical Redemption

The story is now a movie, pitched as a Christian film, though it contains nudity and lengthy sex scenes. Do not be entertained by sin. Christ gave His life to redeem you from. The Bible says, flee from sexual immorality.

You were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body, even in what you set before your eyes. Redeeming Love is a perversion of Scripture and of people. Call out to the Lord, Psalm 44 -26. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love when we understand the text.