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All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Note: The term "unconditional love" is not found in Scripture; none of the church fathers ever used the term; nor did any other Christian author before the 20th century. Ironically, far from being a Biblical term it was actually coined by Erich Fromm, an atheist, in 1934. He rejected all forms of authoritarian government including God's. Not only did he not see God’s love as unconditional He portrayed the God of the Old Testament as a self-seeking authoritarian. As an atheist he argued against the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Among the stellar emotional needs of humanistic psychology are unconditional acceptance, unconditional self-regard, unconditional self-acceptance, and unconditional love. The usual meaning of the word unconditional is "without conditions or reservations; absolute." The practical extension of the theories of unconditional love is a permissive attitude and a morally nonrestrictive atmosphere. That means no conditions or restrictions in child rearing, counseling, and other human relationships. It must be an absolute love, unrestricted by human feelings or failings, since the very meaning of the word is "absolute."

But, if there is any absolute when it comes to love, it is that human love is limited. It is not what it was originally created to be, even in the best of people and circumstances, except when Jesus Himself is loving in and through a person.

Humanistic psychologists Alfred Adler and Abraham Maslow considered these "unconditionals" to be basic human needs, essential to a person's sense of well-being. They taught that people need to be loved and accepted unconditionally -- without any conditions of performance. Thus, their followers also teach and encourage all people to love and accept themselves unconditionally.

Men such as Adler, Maslow, and Rogers believed that a human being would find answers to his own dilemmas and naturally blossom into his best self in an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance (by which they meant a permissive, unstructured atmosphere). Nevertheless, as much as they would like to think that they themselves loved their clients unconditionally, the truth of the matter is this: people are NOT able to love unconditionally.

The Myth of Unconditional Love

Unconditional love is a myth. That is because humans are naturally self-biased and the human heart is so deceitful that one can fool himself into thinking that he is loving unconditionally, when in fact he has all kinds of conditions. For instance, what kind of "unconditional" love is at work when the psychiatrist's client can no longer pay for services and therapy is discontinued?


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Unconditional love cannot be based upon performance or it wouldn't be unconditional. Therefore, it must be based on the intrinsic worth of the person. Paul Brownback, in his book The Danger of Self-Love, explains it this way:

"... by unconditional love we are speaking of love on the basis of being rather than doing. One implication of this teaching is the place of grandeur that it gives to the human being. I am lovable just because I am human; therefore being human, in and of itself, regardless of what I do with my humanness, must have some sort of independent value or worth. It is by itself a sufficient claim to respect and esteem" (p. 66).

Thus, according to the self theories, everyone is born with the right to receive unconditional love and unconditional acceptance throughout his entire life, no matter what!

James Dobson, one of the chief proponents of unconditional love, believes that all people need it. Dobson declares: "I'm convinced the human spirit craves this kind of unconditional love and experiences something akin to 'soul hunger' when it cannot be achieved." Then as an extra bonus, Dobson brings God in as the primary person who gives this unconditional love and acceptance -- he says "God's acceptance is unconditional." Dobson is not alone in that conclusion. A host of well-respected professing Christian leaders describe God's love as unconditional.

Pastors should have been alert to the subtleties of deception that would turn a believer's eyes from God to self. But alas, rather than warning the sheep, many of the "shepherds" have joined the psychologists and embrace their teachings of unconditional love and acceptance.

Fallen Away

The basis for their eager embrace is a misunderstanding of "the love of Christ which passeth knowledge" (Eph. 3:19). They equate unconditional love and acceptance with the fact that God's love is vast, unfathomable, and unmerited. Then they follow that with the idea that if God loves and accepts people unconditionally, they should also love and accept themselves unconditionally. While this may sound like a logical progression, there are some serious problems with the basic assumptions.

Therefore, we must address the question: Is God's love unconditional? Or are there any conditions that must be met to become a recipient of His love?

Paul prayed that the believers in Ephesus would be able to comprehend the length, width, depth, and height of God's love. He desired that they know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, so that they would be filled with the fullness of God (Eph. 3:16-19). The wide expanse of God's love has been the theme of the gospel throughout the ages, for to know His love is to know Him. Therefore, any consideration of His love is highly important and must be based upon His revelation of Himself rather than upon the imagination of men.

Love According to Secular Humanism

Ever since the rise of secular humanism in this country, and especially since the establishment of humanistic psychology, the popular, "relevant" term to describe God's love has been unconditional. The thrust of this word in humanistic psychology has been both to give and to expect unconditional love from one another with no strings attached. While unconditional love and acceptance supposedly promote change and growth, they make no requirements. But God, who is love, requires change and enables his children to grow in righteousness.

In humanistic psychology, parents and society are always the culprits. Since they believe that every person is born with intrinsic worth and innate goodness, psychologists contend that one main reason people experience emotional and behavioral problems is because they have not received unconditional love from their parents. Following that thesis, Christians have come to believe that the best kind of love is unconditional love. It is the highest love secular humanists know. It is touted as a love that makes no demands for performance, good behavior, or the like. It has also been associated with a kind of permissiveness, since it makes no demands and has no conditions, even though the promoters of the unconditional love jargon would say that unconditional love does not have to dispense with discipline.

God's Love Revealed through Scripture

Because the concept of unconditional love permeates society and because it is often thought of as the highest form of human love, it is natural for a Christian to mistakenly use this term to describe God. After all, His love is far greater than any human love imaginable. God's love for humanity is so great that "He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Oh, the magnitude of the cost! We cannot even fathom His love even though our very breath depends upon it! His love indeed reaches to the heights and depths. But again, is God's love truly unconditional?

God's love is available to human beings by grace alone. There is nothing that men can do to earn that love. There is no good work that is either demanded or even possible. But does that make God's love unconditional? "That whosoever will" is most certainly not a work, but it is a condition. Otherwise we would end up with universalism (all people saved) rather than salvation by grace received through faith.

God chooses upon whom He will place His love and the benefits of His love. Did Jesus ever imply that God's love is unconditional? He said to His disciples:

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21).

One might argue that the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11ff) proves unconditional love (as Charles Stanley teaches). It indeed illustrates the vastness of God's love, forgiveness, and longsuffering. However, the son repented! If he had a prosperous evil life he may never have repented. And while the father would have waited and hoped, he would not have extended his love. After all, he did not go out searching for him to support his folly.

Up to a point, this seems to indicate unconditional love, and yet, God is not waiting in ignorance, not knowing what those for whom His Son died might be doing. It is difficult enough to understand God's love without adding the term unconditional love which is loaded with secular, humanistic, psychological connotations. The story of the prodigal son teaches grace, forgiveness and mercy -- but unconditional love? No!

While God loves with a greater love than humans can comprehend, His holiness and justice also must be taken into consideration. Therefore, the term unconditional love is inadequate for defining God. It does not account for God's reaction to pompous men who devise plans against Him and His anointed. The psalmist goes so far as to say:

"He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure" (Psalm 2:4-5).

And what about Lot's wife as she turned to look at the smoldering cities? Or what about Jesus' words to the cities that refused to repent? Does this sound like unconditional love?:

"Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell ... it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (Matthew 11:21-24).

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Conclusion

But perhaps one could say that God's love for the Christian is unconditional since the Christian partakes of His love and grace through faith. Wouldn't it be better to say that the conditions have been met? Jesus met the first condition, to wash away the sin that God hates. The believer meets the second condition, but only by God's grace through faith.

Or perhaps it would be better to say that God's love extended to a person is conditioned by His plan to give eternal life to those whom He has enabled to believe on His Son. The conditions of God's love are resident within Himself. As our opening Bible verse says: He hath MADE us accepted!

There is a strong temptation to use vocabulary that is popular in society in order to make Christianity sound relevant. Christians have something far better than what the world offers, but in expressing that good news, they confuse people by using words that are already loaded with humanistic connotations and systems of thought. It would be better not to use the expression unconditional love when describing God's love. There are plenty of other good words (1 John 4:91016):

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ...

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

The incomprehensible magnitude of God's love surpasses any concept of love devised by humanistic psychologists. The doctrine of unconditional love is a myth that glorifies man rather than God.


Scriptural references:

"Indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of My house! I will love them no more." (Hosea 9:15).

"The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates (Ps. 11:5).

"The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity" (Ps. 5:5).

"And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them" (Lev. 20:23)

"These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:16-19)

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father" (John 14:21).

"But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:35).

"Let no one deceive you with empty words....the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 5:56)

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Please convince me....you haven't.

 Reply by thewatchman 21 hours ago

Please convince me....you haven't.

Watchman, I have no intentions of trying to convince you of God's unconditional Love, my advice to you though would be to find it, it's for whoso ever will. You can't earn it, so it must be unconditional.

1 Corinthians 2:13-15 (KJV)
13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

You've been and have been repeating the same line of Scriptures.....perhaps assuming that those who do not believe the same as you are "foolish" and "unspiritually discerned".  I understand completely.  Perhaps it is a benevolent love you speak of, but it's certainly not an unconditional love, period.  Otherwise ALL would be saved, correct???  And we both know, Biblically speaking not everyone is going to be saved.  Not everyone made it to the Promised Land either, correct????  The Bible is explicit about those who will be saved and those who won't.  My advice would be to heed the Word of our Precious LORD and Savior, follow Him, do what He commands, live a life of holiness, bear fruit, etc.  You are not being a do gooder by making false promises that our LORD never stated throughout His Holy Word.  If the Holy Ghost is telling you these things....it is a false spirit.  If you believe that you are spiritually discerning, then how can you possibly be so misinformed about God's precious & Holy Word?  

You've got it all twisted....it's not about earning....it's about believing what the LORD says and to follow Him!  You either believe Him or you don't.  I don't follow Him to "earn" eternal salvation, I follow Him because I believe the LORD at His Word!!!  Stop spinning His Truth's and take them AS Truth or do not take them at all.

 Otherwise ALL would be saved, correct???

Absolutely not!!!

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD!!, Not if the World loved Him first!!!

He didn’t die just for those that love Him, He died for the world because He Loved them. This doesn’t mean they are all going to heaven just because He loved them, they will be going to heaven because they accepted His Son as their savior.

1 John 4:19 (KJV)
19 We love him, because he first loved us.

 Does this mean that the whole world will be saved just because He loved them? Of course not.

Sounds as though you don’t believe the Word of God, when He said that in John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

What did the world do to warrant His Love, or, His Grace, and His Mercy?

I’m sorry, but I just can’t wrap my mind around your way of thinking, that God’s Love is conditional, based on my or “the worlds” performance; What must I, or “the world” do to get God to love me, or “them”?

The invitation is to “the whole world” But if any of them will accept His invitation, they will be saved.

 So, if “accepting His Son as Savior” is what you are calling “conditional” then you would be right, as far as being saved, or going to heaven is concerned; however, “God’s LOVE” is to the whole world, whether or not they accept Him. Making it “unconditional “on His part.

Maybe you can explain to me your definition of “conditional”

Thank you, Watchman, looking forward to it.

Thanks again, Lord Bless.

JB

  

 

So is this unconditional love?

Could be,  I don't know what you are referring to.

Your comments....Is the LORD giving unconditional love to everyone?...according to the Bible???

If there is nothing they can do to earn it, or to get it, and they are part of the world that He loved so much that He died for it, wouldn't that make it unconditional? Or do you think I have the wrong definition of "unconditional"?

I'm guessing that you did not read the article JB.  If there is nothing that anyone can do, why does anyone go to hell?  If there are those people that will not ever believe upon Jesus, have faith, follow His commands going to hell?  Does that mean that God loves them less????  Or is that a condition of the love of God????  Why is there punishment for those who don't believe?

You cannot conjoin the 2. The LORD tells us of 2 kinds of people, the unrighteous and the righteous, the wicked and the Holy, the evil and the good.  Where in the Bible does it define that the LORD loves both?  

Unconditional certainly means that anything you or I do is still being loved by God....no where in the entire Word of God is that displayed.  Nothing in the whole of Scripture says that.  

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