Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: daveh@sequent.com Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: the love that is forced Message-ID: Date: 14 Jun 91 03:36:32 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc. Lines: 25 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article henning@acsu.buffalo.edu (Karl jam Henning) writes: > >Love cannot be forced (by the lovee). > >When I love someone, and that person does not return my love, >I have to accept that situation. It is not necessary for me >to respond vindictively to the person who (for whatever >reason) cannot, or chooses not to, reciprocate my affection. > >Is god prepared to be that selfless and big-hearted? > >kph You are forgeting other aspects of God's nature: Holy and Just. The "vindictively" you mention is not vindictive it is His dealing justly with the offense (sins) commited by the guilty. It would be against God's nature to ignore sin. If one trusts in Christ then God accepts Christ's punishment (the cross) in place of punishing the guilty - substitutionary atonement. For those that don't trust in Christ, their on their own. Would our Justice system be just if after sentencing, the guilty was just set free? Is this true love? Love for what/whom? -- Dave Hall daveh@sequent.com