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| Jennifer: (07/29/07) My close friend and I disagree on this issue, and it is kind of a problem. He believes that God doesn't love the unbeliever, and I believe that He does. I've read some commentaries on John 3:16 that argue both ways although I don't know how credible they are. My friend knows to treat people kindly, and I think that he does love unbelievers, but it's such a fundamental difference in my mind. I mean, wouldn't it make a huge difference in your heart when witnessing to an unbeliever if you thought God loved them or not? I think my friend thinks that God's love is not the point in evangelism, but God's glory and bringing His kingdom are. I think they all matter. Doesn't this matter? This is such a big deal, how can we think differently about this and still minister together? We're sending contrasting messages to some degree to the unbeliever. |
| Jack: Jennifer, I find your friend's concept that God doesn't love the unbeliever rather strange. I wonder if he is an extreme Calvinist who believes that Jesus only died for the elect and thus limits his love to believers. But I've never heard of anyone suggesting that God doesn't love the unbeliever.
1) Does God love the unbeliever. Here are some helpful texts: - John 3:16 - You mentioned this one. "God so loved the world." Is not the world full of unbelievers? When I evangelize I often ask the person to substitute his or her name for "world," to make it personal. Jesus asked God to forgive the soldiers who were nailing Him to the cross. Is this not love? Were they not unbelievers? - Romans 5:8 - "God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He loved us before we knew Him. - 1 Corinthians 13:2 - "If I have not love, I am nothing." Was Paul speaking of only love for believers? Where was this love to come from? - 1 John 4:9 - "Not that we loved God but He loved us." John gives the idea that it was the seeking love of God that reaches us before we turn to Him, and it is because of His love (4:19) that we are enabled to love Him. 2) Does loving people make a difference in evangelism? - 2 Corinthians 5:14 - "Christ's love compels us." Paul seems to think so. He gives the idea that it is the love from Christ that compels him in his evangelistic ministry. 3) The point in evangelism. Your friend has a good point that God's glory is the basis of all we do. (However, we don't bring in the Kingdom. We witness to the Kingdom, and God in His sovereignty does the work.) However, this does not exclude the motivation of love. An evangelist who doesn't love people would be an oxymoron to me. I love Mark's detail in the story of the Rich Young Ruler (10:21). "Jesus looked at him and loved him" (an unbeliever). So we are to love, with His love. 4) Can you work together? A good question. I would encourage you to study these and other passages and come to a conclusion. Otherwise, as Amos questions, "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?;" all the more in evangelizing together. Jack |
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