When I say, “God’s love is better than unconditional,” I usually get skeptical looks. Many (most) people think calling God’s love unconditional is the highest compliment. But it's not.
Unconditional means “not subject to any conditions.” If we buy something with an “unconditional warranty,” the seller will replace or repair it no matter how it's damaged.
If we have an unconditional marriage, we'll not be bothered if our spouse has affairs or beats us.
If God loved unconditionally, everyone would go to heaven, have the same rewards, and never be punished. God would feel exactly the same about serial killers and martyrs. Jesus would never say:
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38
Everybody is worthy if love is unconditional.
We might like an unconditional warranty, but only evil people would like a God without standards of goodness, holiness, and justice.
It's amazing how a word that contradicts Scripture is so stubbornly defended by Christians. Our first priority must be God's Word. No Greek or Hebrew words in Scripture mean unconditional, nor is it found in any legitimate translation.
God's love is better than unconditional.
✞✞✞
And it explains the many heresies that have developed from defining God's love as unconditional.
If you are ready to be challenged, encouraged, and equipped, this chapter alone is worth your investment in Lies in Disguise. And it’s a great chapter to discuss with your small group or a Christian friend.
💙 Currently available from the publisher with a discount: Lies in Disguise. Also available on Amazon and CBD. And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.
Hi Gail. First off, I love your books and my ladies group is using them as studies.
ReplyDeleteI have a thought on God's unconditional love. I feel as though His love is unconditional but His blessings and promises for eternity with Him are not. Aren't we told to love the sinner but hate the sin? We love Him because He first loved us. God's Word is very clear in telling us what we need to do to be part of His kingdom. If we reject that then eternity is in our hands. I just can't see that He ever stops loving man who is created in His image.
Hi Lu,
DeleteThis is the hardest "lie-in-disguise" for people to identify. They don't realize that the word unconditional degrades God's love. Studies show that when people have heard something repeatedly, they have trouble giving it up, even when it's wrong. And I'm guilty of that myself, so I'm not trying to insult you. But please consider these things:
1. God's holy, precious, divinely inspired Word never once uses any word or combination of words that means "unconditional." Yet, it is the most popular way most Christians define God's Love. I won't go into all the details in my book because this comment would be too long, but this description appears to have started in secular, atheistic psychology. We shouldn't describe God's love in ways not found in Scripture.
2. God is love...perfect love...and every act of God is an example of His love. We cannot say that the greatest act of His love toward us, Salvation, is conditional but His love is not conditional. This word has led many to downplay God's righteous wrath as if it's harsh because wrath doesn't fit the definition of unconditional. Separating love from actions is like saying, "My husband's love for me is completely faithful. He still has affairs with other women, but his acts don't define his love."
3. Unconditional love is evil, not good. It must have no values, expectations, or rules because all of those things are conditions.
4. It presents God's love as something we deserve, as if we deserve His love not matter what we do or believe. It has lead to the belief that everyone will be saved giving people false hope. Again, I won't go into all of the details in my book, but it has also lead to a number of other false teachings which are affecting the faith of believers.
5. I can give you multiple other points, but let me come back to the first and best argument: It contradicts God's Word. And we must stop defending it because it degrades God's love and leaves it void of righteousness, purity, and justice. Let me offer a few key verses from God's Word besides John 3:16 that talk about the perfect conditional love of God:
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus, Matthew 10:37-38
"If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." Jesus, John 15:10
"without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Jesus, John 14:21
I believe the majority of genuine Christians who use this term do so with only good intentions. But we must realize that it's not only incorrect and misleading, but it has helped the cultural view of a "cool" Jesus who likes to hang out with sinners and never confront them.
Lu,
DeleteI'm sorry I didn't include it in my first comment, but I'm very encouraged that your women's group is using my books. Please let me know any feedback you have like this. I'm hoping to make up a study guide for Lies in Disguise to give to subscribers and your questions help. Thanks!