A retired Baptist minister recently said to me: "Fundamentalists have no concept whatsoever of unconditional love." He made reference to a church that threw me out in January 2003 because of my dressing the way I do and living under the identity of "Paula". A pastor at this particular church said: "We'll welcome you with open arms" with the condition that I change back to living as Larry and wear male attire.

Recently the pastor of a downtown street church/mission said that God's promises have a "condition", i.e., "if you'll do this, then [God will] do that." He made reference to such scriptures as I John 1:9 and Acts 2:38. If we confess our sins, God will forgive us. If we repent and be baptized we will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. In both of these passages, there is something we do, and something that God does in return.

I have been prayerfully considering both statements, one that says God's love is unconditional, and the other that says God's promises come with a condition. Are they contradictory? Does not the Word of God declare that "God's promises are yea and amen?" Just last night the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said that God's love is truly unconditional. God gave His only begotton son out of that unconditional love. The reason that many scriptures say that when we do one thing, God in return bestows spiritual power and blessing is this: BECAUSE OF GOD'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, GOD GIVES US A CHOICE. God forces nothing on any human being -- not even His love. We serve God by choice. God loves us that much. And when Jesus looked out on the multitude and was "moved with compassion" and "healed them all" the love that flowed from his innermost being was unconditional.

This week I have been reviewing some books in my personal library. About two years ago I sold many of them to Powell's Bookstore. Yet, many of the books I just couldn't part with. One such book is entitled COME SHARE THE BEING, published in 1974, authored by Bob Benson who held a seminary degree from the Nazarene Theological Seminary and was an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. I am using past tense here inasmuch as this man of God went home to be with the Lord. When, I don't know -- I do remember hearing someone on Trinity Broadcasting satellite television network saying that.

There are three main words in the Greek language for love. "Eros", "Philos" and "Agape."

EROS is based on a desire to have and to own. Usually material things, such as antiques or new cars.

PHILOS is a word that describes a deeper level of love, connoting friendship, or fellowship.

Both of these have to do with the object of the affection.

THE JESUS KIND OF LOVE is called AGAPE. It is a love that JUST LOVES. Following is a quotation from the above-mentioned book:

It is a love that doesn't have a set of scales,

or a yardstick or a ruler,

It doesn't weigh, sift, divide, test,

examine, qualify, or measure.

It doesn't seek merit or worth

or beauty, skill or talents.

It doesn't see warts, freckles,

blemishes or scars.

It doesn't keep ledgers or accounts

and there is no periodic prinout

of profit and loss

and there are no columns

for debits and credits,

assets and liabilities.

It doesn't talk about inches,

pounds, cups, miles, quarts;

It just comes in one all-encompassing,

far-reaching form.

It doesn't have a watch

or a calendar or a deadline

and does not require a bond

or a down payment or a credit check.

It doesn't have to be repaid by this Saturday

or any other for that matter.

And whatever it is you are doing

when you a judging, qualifying, or bargaining,

one thing is for sure -- you are not loving,

not the Jesus kind of loving.

Whenever you say I will "if"

you have taken a giant step

away from loving,

for Jesus loving just says I will,

now, then, in between and all around.

Love just loves -

warm, redeeming, forgiving, life-changing

love.

In John 13:1 Jesus refers to His "hour". ..."the one focal hour for which He had been born. It was the hour for which He had lived....The finest hour of His life was going to be at the very place when He showed the deepest point of His love. Not the day He preached the Sermon on the Mount, nor the day he fed the five thousand, not the times he saved or healed or blessed, but His "hour", the noblest hour of his life was to become, as it revealed to the world, the fullest extent of His love.

"So He came to earth in love -- love drew Him. He lived in love and compassion drew Him to the homes of sinners and to the lepers and demoniacs. And His love drew Him to His death."

--

And the love that drew Jesus to His death was unconditional. Any "condition" is based on that "UNconditional" love -- a love which does not force itself on anyone - rather a love that gives each person the choice to accept or reject it.

With all of my faults and flaws, I cherish this unconditional love more than anything I may own -- it is my my most priceless possession. The Jesus kind of loving -- a love that just loves.

And always remember, there's someone who loves you, who is with you whenever you pray. That One is Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of God, ever living to make intercession for us -- One who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities -- One who understands are cares. Know that!

-- SISTER PAULA NIELSEN