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Add to FavoritesWhen thinking about this topic, we have to think biblically. I don't remember God saying anywhere in the bible that He didn't love someone or that He loved someone more.
God does not love any of us more or less than the other. We are all creations of His and He desires the best for us. He gives us all free will as humans, but His desire is for us to submit to His will.
The bible does speak of God showing favor to certain people. When God looks upon a certain person with favor, this does not mean He loves them more than anyone else. This just simply means that a person found favor in His eyes. When people found favor in the sight of God in the bible, they were people who had a strong walk with God.
One example of this is Noah. When God saw how wicked the human race was becoming, He decided to wipe them out. The bible says that He regretted that He had created mankind. You will see that in Genesis 6:8, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. I don't think this means that He loved Noah more than anyone else. Noah had a strong walk with God.
God tells us in Leviticus 26:3-12 that if we obey His commandments, He will look upon us with favor. He also says that if we do not obey His commandments, there are consequences (Leviticus 26:14-45). This does not mean that He hates or doesn't love those of us who have not kept His commandments. By reading Leviticus 26:40-45, we know that God gives us a chance to confess our sins and repent. After doing so, He says He will remember the covenant. Then we will be shown favor.
It also reveals to us in the bible that sin separates us from God. It pulls us farther and farther away from Him. It doesn't take long to get so far away from Him that you don't desire to do His will anymore. However, this doesn't mean that He loves us any less. You will also find in the bible certain behaviors that God hates. This does not meant that He hates us, but He does hate some behaviors.
God Showing favor to certain individuals is no indication that He loves them more. He loves us all the same and wants the best for us. We can all pray and ask God for favor. Just the simple fact that God sent His Son to earth to die for the sins of mankind, shows that He loves us all. He didn't just send Jesus here to die for any specific person or race of people. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world. He loves us all the same and His desire is for us to have that kind of love for Him as well as for each other.
Learn more about this author, Javohn Perry.
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Yes
"Does G-d love some more than others" is impossible to answer without a definition of "love". Does G-d "love" in the convention sense as, say, human love? Is, as the proverbial saying goes "Love blind?" Is love a feeling, a response, an action? Bertrand Russel describes love as a condition of "absolute value" as opposed to "relative value". G-d does place "value" on all of his creation. If this is what is meant, then G-d does love all of mankind. Robert Sternberg's definition of love (triangular theory) says love involves intimacy, commitment and passion. If so, (and I agree most closely with this definition) then, no, G-d does not love each person on the earth equally. If love implies a connectedness and a closeness, then "no" G-d does not regard all men the same. Quite frankly, anyone reading the Bible would realize this immediately. There are those who reach out to G-d in ways that cause G-d to respond back with greater interaction and favor. The story of Cain and Able. The story of Jacob and Esau. The story of Moses talking to G-d as a man talks with a "friend". What an amazing concept to be called a "friend" of G-d. And what of King David, beloved...a man after G-d's own heart. G-d tells us plainly that if we "draw close" to Him, He will in turn "draw close" to us.
Quite frankly, I think the idea of a non-partisan G-d who loves everyone the same is destructive. This would imply that G-d does not have an element of justice and wisdom in His approach to His creation. It suggests that He does not have the ability to form close relationships with mankind. Yes, G-d loves all of His creation, but if we can "please" G-d, bring joy to G-d, as opposed to blatantly opposing G-d and harming His creation thru sin and disobedience, then we have the ability to illicit his favor and His closeness. This is free will. The Christian scriptures go as far as to imply that G-d actually dislikes some people. Romans 9:13 says "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" (I'm sure there is some Christian apologetic that translates "hated' in another way), but we find the original concept in Malachi 1:3. We also know that certain behaviors illicit the "hate" of G-d, as found in Proverbs 6:16...and other places. G-d hates lying, shedding of innocent blood, etc. So, logically, those who do the things that G-d hates, can they be as close to G-d as those we do what G-d loves?
I'm not sure I'm getting my point across as I would like. Perhaps you could imagine being a parent of thousands of children. Some of those children stay close to you, love you, interact with you everyday. These children respect, honor and adore you. Yet there are those (your children) who have actually killed another one of your children, or stolen directly from you, without respect. Those children are certainly not in the same position as those who choose to honor you. Your heart is broken by their actions. A heart can only be broken if there remains an element of love. It is those children who are near to you that bring you joy. These children you honor and love and bless with your affections. These are the children that bring joy into your world. They become your favorites. The other are far from you...of their own choosing...but far..none the less.
Learn more about this author, Ginger Betzer.
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