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Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christians?

Aunt Spiker

Aunt Spiker

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Or even amongst themselves - to each other.

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I was fussing with some book publishing tonight and noticed a book on the new release list in which the author states in the preface: "...I want to encourage you that no matter what seemly impossible negative circumstances or situations that you may find yourself in presently (or in the future) GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. HE is able to restore you back to HIS original purpose and plan for your life...."

And I guess because i was raised in a religious family I never thought about it before. But why is it so essential to almost every religious person I know to enforce this belief?

How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way? Is this sense of being loved by a greater being the reason why people are drawn to religion - seeking out acceptance and love, especially if life doesn't seem to give it to you.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

It's like a self esteem issue they project on themselves and others.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
Or even amongst themselves - to each other.

--

I was fussing with some book publishing tonight and noticed a book on the new release list in which the author states in the preface: "...I want to encourage you that no matter what seemly impossible negative circumstances or situations that you may find yourself in presently (or in the future) GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. HE is able to restore you back to HIS original purpose and plan for your life...."

And I guess because i was raised in a religious family I never thought about it before. But why is it so essential to almost every religious person I know to enforce this belief?

How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way? Is this sense of being loved by a greater being the reason why people are drawn to religion - seeking out acceptance and love, especially if life doesn't seem to give it to you.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the Greater Being loves you thing. I watch atheists acting just like Christian preachers all the time.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
Or even amongst themselves - to each other.

--

I was fussing with some book publishing tonight and noticed a book on the new release list in which the author states in the preface: "...I want to encourage you that no matter what seemly impossible negative circumstances or situations that you may find yourself in presently (or in the future) GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. HE is able to restore you back to HIS original purpose and plan for your life...."

And I guess because i was raised in a religious family I never thought about it before. But why is it so essential to almost every religious person I know to enforce this belief?

How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way? Is this sense of being loved by a greater being the reason why people are drawn to religion - seeking out acceptance and love, especially if life doesn't seem to give it to you.
Click to expand...



I find the question to be insulting. Condescending twaddle masked as Enlightened rhetoric. (a very dim enlightenment)

Why do they? They CHOOSE to.

Now, have they really given themselves a choice? That's an honest question and the one which comes after the clip above smacks the viewer in the face.

Can you choose to believe if you've never given yourself the opportunity not to?

But if we are going to go down the same line as the question posed I'd ask the counter --is it the angst one feels when unable to come to grips with the infinite (and as a result an over emphasis of the finite) which forces them to each press on one another and onto others their demand that there is no God and no universal love to be had?
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
Or even amongst themselves - to each other.

--

I was fussing with some book publishing tonight and noticed a book on the new release list in which the author states in the preface: "...I want to encourage you that no matter what seemly impossible negative circumstances or situations that you may find yourself in presently (or in the future) GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. HE is able to restore you back to HIS original purpose and plan for your life...."

And I guess because i was raised in a religious family I never thought about it before. But why is it so essential to almost every religious person I know to enforce this belief?

How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way? Is this sense of being loved by a greater being the reason why people are drawn to religion - seeking out acceptance and love, especially if life doesn't seem to give it to you.
Click to expand...

Off the top of my head...

1. Because they cannot reconcile the needy and vengeful God that commands 'absolute morality' with the knowledge that their own 'relative morality' is actually far more ethical and moral.

2. It is not unconditional, the only way you can apparently save yourself from eternal torment is to suck up to God through a form of self righteous patronage.

3. Because they know the absurdity of a fictional God that supposedly created sentient beings equipped with natural curiosity and an ability to learn about reality then condemns those beings for being as they are.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
Or even amongst themselves - to each other.

--

I was fussing with some book publishing tonight and noticed a book on the new release list in which the author states in the preface: "...I want to encourage you that no matter what seemly impossible negative circumstances or situations that you may find yourself in presently (or in the future) GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. HE is able to restore you back to HIS original purpose and plan for your life...."

And I guess because i was raised in a religious family I never thought about it before. But why is it so essential to almost every religious person I know to enforce this belief?

How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way? Is this sense of being loved by a greater being the reason why people are drawn to religion - seeking out acceptance and love, especially if life doesn't seem to give it to you.
Click to expand...

I think it's a backlash against the kind of fire and brimstone theology that was popular in the 80s. Christianity seems to go through cycles, like a pendelum, constantly swinging towards focusing on either the mercy side of God's personality or the justice side. The 60s and 70s brought a focus on love, the 80s and 90s brought us back to 'fire and brimstone', and now we are back on the love side for a season.

So, to answer your question, it's not essential, it's seasonal.
 
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Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

CrabCake said:
This is a newer phenomenon. I think it's a backlash against the kind of fire and brimstone theology that was popular in the 80s. Christianity seems to go through cycles where it is like a pendelum, constantly swinging towards focusing on either the mercy side of God's personality or the justice side. The 60s and 70s brought a focus on love, the 80s and 90s brought us back to 'fire and brimstone', and now we are back on the love side for a season.
Click to expand...

That's something I haven't thought of - you know, I think my father used to be Fire and Brimstone in the 80's and now he's far more mello. I always associated that with his new denomination, never thought of it as being related to a larger religious construct more akin to an 'era' of ministry.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
That's something I haven't thought of - you know, I think my father used to be Fire and Brimstone in the 80's and now he's far more mello. I always associated that with his new denomination, never thought of it as being related to a larger religious construct more akin to an 'era' of ministry.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think if you stick to the popular books, you can see the transition happen around the early 2000s with the release of The Purpose Driven Life and the waning of the Left Behind series. I could be a bit off, I haven't exactly studied it to reach a conclusion but it seems that's around the time you see the transition happen. This also happens to be shortly after fears of a Y2K-driven apocalypse proved to be misplaced.
 
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Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
Or even amongst themselves - to each other.

--

I was fussing with some book publishing tonight and noticed a book on the new release list in which the author states in the preface: "...I want to encourage you that no matter what seemly impossible negative circumstances or situations that you may find yourself in presently (or in the future) GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. HE is able to restore you back to HIS original purpose and plan for your life...."

And I guess because i was raised in a religious family I never thought about it before. But why is it so essential to almost every religious person I know to enforce this belief?

How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way? Is this sense of being loved by a greater being the reason why people are drawn to religion - seeking out acceptance and love, especially if life doesn't seem to give it to you.
Click to expand...

If you set yourself a set of impossible moral codes which clearly are self contradictory then you know you have failed them all the time. Thus you know that you are a failure with God. So you need to change the rules so that you will go the heaven.

Making everyone go to heaven does that and makes your behavior irrelevant so you don't need to stop lying.

Sorted!:)
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
Or even amongst themselves - to each other.

--

I was fussing with some book publishing tonight and noticed a book on the new release list in which the author states in the preface: "...I want to encourage you that no matter what seemly impossible negative circumstances or situations that you may find yourself in presently (or in the future) GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY. HE is able to restore you back to HIS original purpose and plan for your life...."

And I guess because i was raised in a religious family I never thought about it before. But why is it so essential to almost every religious person I know to enforce this belief?

How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way? Is this sense of being loved by a greater being the reason why people are drawn to religion - seeking out acceptance and love, especially if life doesn't seem to give it to you.
Click to expand...

Why is it essential for Christians to enforce "God Loves You" to non-Christians? It isn't being ENFORCED at all. Enforce is a wrong choice of word.

It's vital information that's being shared (especially to those who haven't heard about the good news). Christians remind fellow-Christians of that love - especially when one is feeling down or facing difficulties in life.
It buoys up the spirit.



How essential is it for people to feel loved by God in this way?
Click to expand...


How essential is it for people to feel loved, period?

What happens when a person doesn't feel loved? One may be surrounded by people, but does that mean one is indeed loved?
 
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Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

William Rea said:
Off the top of my head...

1. Because they cannot reconcile the needy and vengeful God that commands 'absolute morality' with the knowledge that their own 'relative morality' is actually far more ethical and moral.
Click to expand...

What does "more ethical" mean? How can I determine what is "more ethical" objectively?

2. It is not unconditional, the only way you can apparently save yourself from eternal torment is to suck up to God through a form of self righteous patronage.
Click to expand...

If you are the head of a family and one of your sons constantly brings drugs into the home and is putting into danger your other children, how would you respond?

3. Because they know the absurdity of a fictional God that supposedly created sentient beings equipped with natural curiosity and an ability to learn about reality then condemns those beings for being as they are.
Click to expand...

How are we condemned for being as we are? Are we judged for being human?
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

CrabCake said:
I think it's a backlash against the kind of fire and brimstone theology that was popular in the 80s.
Click to expand...

Where was that popular?
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

tosca1 said:
Why is it essential for Christians to enforce "God Loves You" to non-Christians? It isn't being ENFORCED at all. Enforce is a wrong choice of word.

It's vital information that's being shared (especially to those who haven't heard about the good news). Christians remind fellow-Christians of that love - especially when one is feeling down or facing difficulties in life.
It buoys up the spirit.



How essential is it for people to feel loved, period?
Click to expand...

Love as a human - human to human and even human to animal - makes sense. For one, there's a tangible component.

But God is a concept, not a person.

When I was a kid I remember always singing "Jesus Loves Me..." but now I don't see why that's essential for people to believe in.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

tosca1 said:
Why is it essential for Christians to enforce "God Loves You" to non-Christians? It isn't being ENFORCED at all. Enforce is a wrong choice of word.

It's vital information that's being shared (especially to those who haven't heard about the good news). Christians remind fellow-Christians of that love - especially when one is feeling down or facing difficulties in life.
It buoys up the spirit.






How essential is it for people to feel loved, period?

What happens when a person doesn't feel loved? One may be surrounded by people, but does that mean one is indeed loved?
Click to expand...

I thought I'd share a relevant quote from Fr. Z's blog that he posted this morning:

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf said:
All created things, including people, can be lost. They cannot be the foundation of lasting peace. Even the fear of their loss lessens our peace in this world. God alone gives the peace and happiness we seek. He alone is eternal, unchanging, forever trustworthy. We cannot lose God unless we ourselves reject Him. And, in the end, God, the source of peace, remains in command.
Click to expand...

WDTPRS 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time: "In His will is our peace." | Fr. Z's BlogFr. Z's Blog
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
But God is a concept, not a person.
Click to expand...

Of course, non-believers will not understand.

But let me tell you that so many despondent non-believers have been lifted up from rock-bottom despair because of that great news!

So many sinners who'd committed serious crimes - I've heard testimonies from enforcers of drug lords who'd committed murders - have had a change of heart - and a change of ways - because of God's enduring love.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

tosca1 said:
Of course, non-believers will not understand.

But let me tell you that so many despondent non-believers have been lifted up from rock-bottom despair because of that great news!

So many sinners who'd committed serious crimes - I've heard testimonies from enforcers of drug lords who'd committed murders - have had a change of heart - and a change of ways - because of God's enduring love.
Click to expand...

I used to be a believer - and yet I never really understood it. It was just hand-in-hand with childhood and yet something I never really thought about beyond that.

And yet I do wonder why, to some people as is in your example, does it matter *that* much. Why wasn't Mom's love enough? Or a spouses?
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
When I was a kid I remember always singing "Jesus Loves Me..." but now I don't see why that's essential for people to believe in.
Click to expand...

I was an adult and yet that love never registered - even though I was raised a believer. But when I found Him again, and looked back to my past - I see His love, even then when I was astray.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Because it says so in the Bible.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
I used to be a believer - and yet I never really understood it. It was just hand-in-hand with childhood and yet something I never really thought about beyond that.

And yet I do wonder why, to some people as is in your example, does it matter *that* much. Why wasn't Mom's love enough? Or a spouses?
Click to expand...


So many questions can also be asked. Why should those love be enough?

How many spouses' love turned out to be lip service? What happens when parents die?

It's one thing for someone to say he/she loves you......it's quite another to actually prove it.

How many had experienced love so deep that somebody gave their life for you? Parents included?

Can one - especially this days - really say that your parents will give the ultimate sacrifice for you?


What's so surprising about being happy in knowing your Creator loves you?
 
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Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Aunt Spiker said:
I used to be a believer - and yet I never really understood it. It was just hand-in-hand with childhood and yet something I never really thought about beyond that.

And yet I do wonder why, to some people as is in your example, does it matter *that* much. Why wasn't Mom's love enough? Or a spouses?
Click to expand...

Because people die; that love is not permanent.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

tosca1 said:
What's so surprising about being happy in knowing your Creator loves you?
Click to expand...

Does he love all the children that he inflicts with cancer? I've heard of tough love but that is taking it too far.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

zyzygy said:
Does he love all the children that he inflicts with cancer?
Click to expand...

Have you never read the Bible zyzygy??

You need to review what's in the link below. And don't miss the part where God is healing the diseases Satan is causing.

Where in the Bible does it say that Satan causes sickness?

I think next time you try to sell this kind of argument that you present it in it's proper light.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

Logicman said:
Have you never read the Bible zyzygy??

You need to review what's in the link below. And don't miss the part where God is healing the diseases Satan is causing.
Click to expand...

Children die of cancer every day. Your god is not very effective, and the children who recover do so with the aid of science. Science and doctors saved my daughter, not an imaginary being.
 
Re: Why is it so essential for Christian to enforced 'God Loves You' with non-Christi

zyzygy said:
Children die of cancer every day. Your god is not very effective, and the children who recover do so with the aid of science. Science and doctors saved my daughter, not an imaginary being.
Click to expand...

So it's ok for you to blather out a false narrative that God inflicts a certain child with cancer?
 
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