From J.K. MacKenzie re "a warm and fuzzy faith". (Letters to the Editor).The following statements in the article "A warm and fuzzy faith" (C.I., April 2003) must be challenged. They are -- "God loves us unconditionally, and yes, He meets us 'where we're at.'" Although the author subsequently modifies the purport of that thesis, it would be helpful to expose the fallacy of the phrase, "God's unconditional love This article is about concept of unconditional love. For other uses, see Unconditional love (disambiguation). Unconditional love is a concept that means showing love towards someone regardless of his or her actions or beliefs. ." Father Paul Trinchard addresses the subject in his book Apostasy apostasy, in religion: see heresy. Apostasy See also Sacrilege. Aholah and Aholibah symbolize Samaria’s and Jerusalem’s abandonment to idols. [O.T. Within -- "Yes, the unconditional love of God is a Lie -- (God loves you just as you are). ... It denies God's fundamental will for each rational human being. A fundamental truth...is that God loves each of us conditionally. If you know, love, and serve God as you should, if you obey Him, then you will go to Heaven. If you reject God by seriously disobeying Him and dying in the state of unrepentant mortal sin mortal sin n. Christianity A sin, such as murder or blasphemy, that is so heinous it deprives the soul of sanctifying grace and causes damnation if unpardoned at the time of death. , then you will experience the eternal wrath of God and not His unconditional love." He goes on to stress that the God's-unconditional-love indoctrination in·doc·tri·nate tr.v. in·doc·tri·nat·ed, in·doc·tri·nat·ing, in·doc·tri·nates 1. To instruct in a body of doctrine or principles. 2. ultimately leads one "to believe in some version of universal salvation, and/or to commit the horribly serious sin of presumption." Furthermore, we have the ultimate authority of Divine Revelation Noun 1. divine revelation - communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency revelation making known, informing - a speech act that conveys information against such an impugned thesis--"He who obeys the commandments he has from Me is the man who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I too will love him and reveal Myself to him" (John 14:21). It follows that, if a man disobeys the commandments revealed by Jesus Christ Jesus Christ: see Jesus. Jesus Christ 40 days after Resurrection, ascended into heaven. [N.T.: Acts 1:1–11] See : Ascension Jesus Christ kind to the poor, forgiving to the sinful. [N.T. , he, therefore, does not love Him. He, then, will not be loved by God the Father, nor by Jesus Christ, for the reason that the love for a man by God Almighty is conditional on the man loving God by keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ. Finally, yes, objectively speaking, ''the unconditional love of God" is a falsity. London, ON Mariette Ulrich responds The suggestion that God's love for us is somehow conditional upon our own merits and actions is contrary to Catholic teaching. Consider] John 4:10: "Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God but that He has loved us." Also Romans 5:8: "It is precisely in this that God proves his love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus died for everyone, not only those who would eventually choose to follow Him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church The Catechism of the Catholic Church, or CCC, is an official exposition of the teachings of the Catholic Church, first published in French in 1992 by the authority of Pope John Paul II. states: "[God's] love will be victorious over even the worst infidelities and will extend to His most precious gift: ...His only Son"'(#219); "God's love is "everlasting" (#220); "St. John goes even further when he affirms that 'God is love.' God's very being is love" (#22 1). If God is love, and He denies love to sinners (even unrepentant ones), then He denies His very essence. This He will not do. St. Paul St. Paul as a missionary he fearlessly confronts the “perils of waters, of robbers, in the city, in the wilderness.” [N.T.: II Cor. 11:26] See : Bravery tells us, "There is no limit to love 's forbearance Refraining from doing something that one has a legal right to do. Giving of further time for repayment of an obligation or agreement; not to enforce claim at its due date. A delay in enforcing a legal right. , to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love never fails" (1 Cor 13:7-8). God condemns no one to hell. Unrepentant sinners freely choose it, and God allows it because He will not interfere with man's free will. I suggest that far from withdrawing His love from such sinners, God weeps over them, as Our Lord wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). As for the sin of presumption, perhaps it comes from confusing 'love' with 'salvation.' God loves us all, but many will choose not to be saved. Scott, SK |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion