Where does the concept of "unconditional love toward others" come from?
score:-1
The short answer: universal atonement. It is a doctrine which, as far as I can tell, has been systematically edged out of the western church as the doctrines of Calvinism have become the de facto standard. Personally, my beliefs reflect a bit of each of Calvinism and Arminianism. Universal atonement is a fundamental part of the Arminian system and has a LOT of strong support in scripture.
Please don't confuse it, though, with universal reconciliation. Universal atonement refers to the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice for all men. We have been forgiven and must therefore repent and believe (ie. turn from our sins and live by faith) in order that God might consider us reconciled through his son. Universal reconciliation is the more radical view that all will be saved due to God's great 'love.'
When you put your Arminian hat on, verses like John 3:16 look quite a bit different. God so loved the world to give his only son... but he also fought pretty ferociously with that same world when he arrived. Particularly with the religious leaders of the day. Did God love those men and wish them to come to repentance? I believe so. Did he make blind their eyes and deaf their ears that they could not hear and repent? I believe he did that too.
'Unconditional love' is a pretty broad and ill-defined notion that our society loves to throw around. In the political arena especially, we worship the idea of acceptance and inclusion of all orientations and creeds. It seems to me that it stems from the radicalized view of God's love and grace rather than the time-honored doctrine by which the church used to abide. Can I love those people thanks to the example God has given me on the cross? Absolutely. Do I need to consider all people to be co-laborers and fellow heirs of our glorious inheritance? Not for a moment.
P.S. I just got that radio soundbyte to play on my computer. Crap like that is NOT biblical teaching. It's just a bunch of wishy-washy feel-good nonsense to keep you tithing and/or buying their books ;) Check out a guy named Paul Washer for more critical commentary on the state of the modern church. Just remember that he's a pretty hard-core Calvinist so I don't agree with everything he says.
Upvote:0
I would submit that the numerous times God forgave Israel, the love he expressed to David even after sinning, and ultimately the very fact that a plan of salvation was established from the very beginning, all point to and demonstrate unconditional love
The need of repentance and "process", assuming you're speaking of Titus 3:4-7, is that plan of salvation in which demonstrated/demonstrates unconditional love.
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Psalms 78:36-38
But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.
Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Upvote:0
Where does the concept of “unconditional love toward others” come from?
There are various levels in the expression of love.
Luke 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
At the other extreme we have love for enemies.
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
We have the example of the love God has for the whole world.
John 3:16 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.
While the universal love of God is seen in the verse above, the granting of eternal life is on the “condition” of belief.
The word “unconditional” may have been originally selected to emphasize the universality of love, however, it also can carry with it a sense of inhibited discernment and a withholding of prudence that may have been originally not intended.
It is possible to misrepresent the character of God by an emphasis one just one attribute. Some preachers emphasize a sort of hellfire and brimstone presentation of God that does not fully present his mercy and love. Others present God as a sort of doddering old grandfather who gushes unrestrained affection.
The phrase has an intrinsic imprecision that allows for an emotional sensation of unrestricted acceptance, indulgence, and tolerance. The use of the phrase “unconditional love” may originate with those who want to present God as one who will not object to sin. It may also originate with those who suggest that Christians also resist objecting to sin.
More post
- 📝 What, historically, was the age of accountability for Latter-Day-Saints before D&C 68:27?
- 📝 What is the Catholic interpretation of Romans 14:5?
- 📝 Why are there people in Protestant countries with the last name "Pope"?
- 📝 How does a person become a godparent in the Roman Catholic Church?
- 📝 Why do many who believe that “all are born sinful” hold that “none are born gay or trans”?
- 📝 How is it possible that Saint Andrew was an apostle of Jesus Christ?
- 📝 Was adelphopoiesis a plural rite?
- 📝 On Method in Catholic Moral Theology
- 📝 According to Catholic Tradition, can God the Father and Jesus disagree?
- 📝 Why was Paul allowed to write in jail?
- 📝 Why do Matthew and Luke contain genealogies of Jesus, while Mark and John do not?
- 📝 What are the differences/connections between the Churches of Christ and the Congregational Churches?
- 📝 Hearing Bell sounds - What does the Bible say about bells?
- 📝 What name was used by Peter for Baptism?
- 📝 Is the King James Version Bible in the Public Domain
- 📝 When did knowledge of Christ's sacrifice become necessary for salvation?
- 📝 What is a mystical experience according to Catholicism?
- 📝 According to Catholic doctrine, why did Jesus Christ have to die to save mankind if only the physical body is involved in death?
- 📝 What is process eschatology?
- 📝 Is there a difference between "co-redeemer" and "co-redemptrix"?
- 📝 Why was eating meat on Fridays forbidden in the Catholic Church for so many years?
- 📝 What is the protestant apologetic for James' explicit statement that we are justified by works?
- 📝 Why does Scripture imply Jesus had siblings if Mary was "ever virgin" per Catholic belief?
- 📝 Are there any denominations that do NOT practice "laying on of hands" with the specific goal of having a new believer receive the Holy Ghost?
- 📝 Has a born again Baptist believer or a Jehovah’s Witnesses ever approached Catholic authorities for an official exorcism?
- 📝 What is the significance of what Jesus ate after his resurrection?
- 📝 What is the Scriptural evidence for the Protestant view that the AntiChrist will be Jewish?
- 📝 Since when have JWs said that United Nations will launch an attack on religion?
- 📝 Is John Piper a five point Calvinist?
- 📝 How accurate is King James' Bible?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Where does the concept of "unconditional love toward others" come from?
- 📝 From where does the tradition come that Mary rode on a donkey to Bethlehem prior to the birth of Jesus?
- 📝 Where does the tradition come from that Noah's sons went separate directions?
- 📝 Where does Taizé Community phrase, “Stay With Me” come from in the bible?
- 📝 Where does the idea come from that the KJV is the proper bible to be used?
- 📝 Where does the principle of applying the concept of model to the Church come from?
- 📝 Where does the concept of a "God-shaped hole" originate?
- 📝 From where does the doctrine that there is no time in heaven originate?
- 📝 Where does the story of the spider on the cross come from?
- 📝 Where does the Catholic tradition that Mary did not have pain giving birth to Jesus come from?
- 📝 Where does the story of "the Cross on top of Adam's Skull" come from?
- 📝 Where does the belief that the Earth is relatively young (6000 years) come from?
- 📝 From a Trinitarian perspective, does the term 'only begotten Son' make sense outside of the concept of the incarnation?
- 📝 Where did the belief that Saul fell from a horse come from?
- 📝 Where did the concept of Christians attending a church building come from?
- 📝 Where does this famous St. Augustine quote about the repentant thief come from?
- 📝 Where does the belief the Bible is written by the Holy Spirit come from?
- 📝 Where did the hierarchical designations of priest, cardinal, bishop, and pope come from in the Catholic church?
- 📝 Where does the book of Job come from?
- 📝 From where did the Pearl of Great Price come and how did it become recognized as Scripture in the LDS church?
- 📝 From where did the Book of Abraham come and how did it become part of LDS Scripture?
- 📝 According to the Jehovah's Witnesses, where does the Devil come from?
- 📝 From where does the teaching on women in ministry come?
- 📝 Where in the Bible does the greeting ("Dominus Vobiscum") used at Mass come from?
- 📝 Where did all the water come from and go during the flood?
- 📝 Where does the LDS section heading for 1 Corinthians 7 come from?
- 📝 Where does the practice of sprinkling as a mode of baptism come from?
- 📝 Where does this definition of humility come from, if not the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
- 📝 Where is the italicization in the King James translation of the Bible from and what does it mean?
- 📝 Where did the idea of deacon's benches come from and what are they for?
