UNCONDITIONAL HYPOCRISY

The scripture does not say, for God so "unconditionally loved" the world, that He gave His only begotten son. “To say that He loved us enough to give His greatest gift to us was enough. Did He need to add a pre-qualifier to that love? If God says He loves, He means it.

While Gods' love is abiding and faithful, He is also whole. He is holy. He is honest. He is true. He is just. Now, the terms of the covenant agreement are conditional. It is based on the reception of the covenant by both parties. Two cannot walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3).

The Bible says, "let your yes be yes and your no be no", to avoid condemnation (James 5:12). Not to be double minded (saying one thing and doing another; being "two souled"; a person "split in half," vacillating like a "spiritual schizophrenic.") so that God's promises do not become void to you (James 1:8). To not say one thing and then do another. By God's standard and by most people, that would be called "hypocritical". In Greek, the word is "Hupokrites". The meaning is: a judging under, like a performer acting under a mask (i.e. a theater-actor); a two-faced person; a "hypocrite," whose profession does not match their practice – i.e. someone who "says one thing but does another."

So shouldn’t stand to reason then, if you conditionally love, that it really should be called "hypocritical love"? Since there is a disclaimer when we say our love is unconditional. As if just regular 'love' is not as great God created it to be.

Love, by its very definition and intention, is giving. It is kind. It is respectful to another. In fact, this is what God says love is: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. That is power all by itself. Power to change the world. God knows what He is doing.

Being authentic in an inauthentic world is scary. But with God, all things are possible. If God has your back, you can stand in the face of adversity. If someone does not love you, they can not love you >>>>> 'over there'. You don't have to accept another's inauthenticity. God doesn't either. But He also does not say to return inauthenticity back either. In fact, He says, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" Romans 12:9.

Let's hear the end of the matter. The truth is, if you say you love (unconditionally or hypocritically) God, whom you cannot see. And yet you do not love another person, that you can see, God says, you are a liar (1 John 4:20). That's the summary. But the subject is "Love". And, "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10). Now that, is unconditional.

Dawne DeAnne Basler