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To: Forest Keeper; Kolokotronis
But you're implying that God both loves us all and that He doesn't care whether we choose Him

So, you are implying that a loving God should make us love Him, as much as He makes others hate Him? Tue love is never selfish, FK. What we often call love is self-love or selfishness.

God cares if we love HIm, but He doesn't compel us to love Him. Reason tells us that it is better to choose God over evil, yet evil has the power over us because evil things are something we can see and believe, which is why our Lord reminded us that blessed are those who believe and have not seen (cf Jn 20:29). Evil things we can feel instantly, physically, etc. and although we know they are perishable, while they last they seem forever rewarding.

Faith is hope and hope is of things that have yet to come, which is why it is so difficult for us, subject to sin, to live in hope. Our mind tells us we should, but our flesh says otherwise.

Once your children are grown, no matter how much you love them, you must let them go -- if you love them! It doesn't mean you don't care, it only means that love is giving freedom and not keeping captive.

As for Him creaing us with the kowledge that we will fall, you must look at it transcendentally; otherwise you have an evil God back on stage. :-)

2,309 posted on 02/05/2006 5:53:12 PM PST by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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To: kosta50
So, you are implying that a loving God should make us love Him, as much as He makes others hate Him? True love is never selfish, FK. What we often call love is self-love or selfishness.

I am saying that a loving GOD will bring His pre-selected elect home to Him, regardless of their human natures. I don't believe God makes people hate Him, instead He allows some to follow their own natures without Him interfering. I understand what you're saying about love. How can love be true if it isn't a choice, right? I believe this is a perspective argument. From our POV, we experience the free will choice of accepting God in all love, etc. However, from God's POV everything was sealed from the beginning, He ordained that a specific sum of us would be saved, and gave them the grace to come to Him. It was an offer we couldn't refuse! :)

Once your children are grown, no matter how much you love them, you must let them go -- if you love them! It doesn't mean you don't care, it only means that love is giving freedom and not keeping captive.

I agree with what you say, but I don't see how the closest comparison to our relationship with God is ours with our adult children. Are we not like sheep, among the dumbest animals? I believe the closest comparison is that of a human parent and a small child, who doesn't know what is good for him, who is completely dependent, and needs guidance every step of the way or else doom is certain. In some manner do you believe that God sees and respects us as we might our adult children?

As for Him creating us with the knowledge that we will fall, you must look at it transcendentally; otherwise you have an evil God back on stage. :-)

Transcendentally??? That sounds like code for "trust me"! :) We must have very different definitions of "evil".

2,444 posted on 02/09/2006 12:54:37 AM PST by Forest Keeper
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