God's love.In response to remarks by Lise Anglin (C.I., Oct/03) J.K. MacKenzie (Dec/03) noted that the issue under discussion was whether or not God's love for us is unconditional HEIR, UNCONDITIONAL. A term used in the civil law, adopted by the Civil Code of Louisiana. Unconditional heirs are those who inherit without any reservation, or without making an inventory, whether their acceptance be express or tacit. Civ. Code of Lo. art. 878.UNCONDITIONAL. . He answered: "God's love is conditional. 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. Himself tells us that we are His friends if we do the things He has commanded. Hell tells us that God's love is not unconditional...." In my opinion, J.K. MacKenzie is correct. Confusion abounds concerning whether God's love is unconditional. God certainly gives life to good and bad, and gives rain to good and bad, just as parents continue to offer love and support to a child who has turned away from them. But to be saved we must be in the state of grace. And, if we have left God, we must repent re·pent 1 v. re·pent·ed, re·pent·ing, re·pents v.intr. 1. To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite. 2. in order to be in the state of grace. Partial truths can be damaging. To speak of 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. without mention of sin and repentance is contradictory. It leads Catholics to think the following: * Heaven is easily attainable. * There is no Satan, no Hell. * We can decide for ourselves how to act (relativism relativism Any view that maintains that the truth or falsity of statements of a certain class depends on the person making the statement or upon his circumstances or society. Historically the most prevalent form of relativism has been See also ethical relativism. ). * We must be tolerant; we must not make anyone feel bad. * We can be saved without the Church; we don't need the sacraments, especially confession confession, in law, the formal admission of criminal guilt, usually obtained in the course of examination by the police or prosecutor or at trial. For a confession to be admissible as evidence against an accused individual, it generally must have been procured . * We can receive God's grace when we wish or when we pray. (But can spouses receive their partner's love, sharing, or patience, simply by wishing it, or asking for it?) * Everyone goes directly to heaven. How could a loving God send anyone anywhere else? (At funerals today the deceased is often declared to be in heaven.) Regina, SK Comments by Fr. Leonard Kennedy There are two kinds of love, love of benevolence BENEVOLENCE, duty. The doing a kind action to another, from mere good will, without any legal obligation. It is a moral duty only, and it cannot be enforced by law. A good wan is benevolent to the poor, but no law can compel him to be so. BENEVOLENCE, English law. and love of friendship. God's love of benevolence is unconditional. It is given to all, good and bad. God wants everyone to be saved, and gives everyone enough grace to be saved. But God's love of friendship is conditional on persons being in the state of grace. Only they are the friends of God. As Mr. Boyer says, it is extremely harmful to say simply that God's love is unconditional; a half-truth is not the truth. Ed: This closes the correspondence on this subject. |
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