Jesus Loves the Little Children????

I would never have thought a five minute, off topic, conversation at the end of a radio program could have spurned one of the deepest theological discussions I have been a part of in years, but it did. The doctrine of "common grace" or to borrow a term from Dr. Matthew McMahon "God's indiscriminate providence" is at the core of way more theologies than I would have ever considered. This doctrine is a root for discussions on the nature of God's love, election, predestination, the nature of sin, the nature of grace, God's purpose in government and a few others I have not had time to consider. The more I have studied it and looked at its history the more I realize just how little has been written on it in the last few years and how important it really is. Especially with the abuse of the it in various areas, such as what has already been pointed out concerning Christians "worshiping" with Mormons or the opposite approach that says it doesn't exist. Maybe I am making to big a deal of it. Maybe I am more ignorant than I realize and you are saying, "boy Scott you sure are behind on this discussion" but I doubt it.

The old children's song "Jesus Love Me" is pack with great theology, but what about "Jesus Loves the Little Children" Jesus love the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His site Jesus loves the little children of the world. Have you ever considered if this song is true. Would it ever cross you mind that some might say "No" it is not true. Jesus does not love all the children"

In my discussion over the last few weeks one of the doctrines that this touched on is God's love. Particularly God's love for the non-elect. While it is usually assumed God loves everyone, not everyone believes this. There are groups of hyper-Calvinist that belief God only loves the elect and only hates the non-elect. Also if you do believe God loves everyone, does He love everyone equally? What is the nature of this love for the non-elect? Why is this important? I am going to make an attempt to answer these questions for myself and hopefully it will at least spurn some discussion on the subject.

‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11).

Luke 6:32 says, 32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

The parallel passage in Matthew 5 states 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

These are a few passages that I think without question point out God does love the non-elect in some sense. You can put your exegetical spin on these and say "God does "favors" for the non-elect, but does not show them "favor", but aside from the fact that it sounds stupid it also doesn't help your argument. God demonstrates intended goodness on the reprobate. God's ultimate purpose is to display His glory and the men are objects of means wherewith God will draw all men to Himself. To paraphrase Jonathan Edwards the very fact that the rejection of this kindness heaps more judgment on the non-elect proves that it is actual kindness, else it would be of no consequence to the reprobate. The fact that wicked men abuse these good gifts and heap more wrath on themselves does not negate the intent of the gift. John Calvin states, “Proofs of the love of God towards the whole human race exist innumerable, all which demonstrate the ingratitude of those who perish or come to perdition.” One of the practical implications of this doctrine effects how we treat our neighbor. Our love for the wicked is somewhat limited for we are not to be unevenly yoked (which implies that there are limits to the extent of our love). Our main source of fellowship is supposed to within the church. We should even have a special love for our own Christian brothers and sisters. Thinking through this logically tells us that the best way that we can show love toward our unsaved neighbor is to give them the gospel. God has a love for all His men, but that there is a special sense in which He loves and hates the elect.

Here is an expert from a brilliant article by Dr. C Matthew Mcmahon

God also hates the elect in Adam. Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” God’s immutability teaches us that He does not change (Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). If He hates or loves it is an eternal hatred or love for sin or good work in Christ. He continually, in Adam, hates our rebellion. Yet, He eternally loves us in Jesus Christ. That is why we are not consumed as Jacob’s sons. Hyper-Calvinism teaches that the elect are not hated in Adam, but only loved in Christ. I suppose, then, Paul was wrong in saying we were children of wrath like the others. Is wrath a form of love? I think not; unless the Hyper-Calvinist would like to admit that God loves all! No, wrath, like the others, is real wrath intended for damnation. If it were not for Christ we would not escape this. The reprobate are only hated in Adam, though generally loved by God seen in His indiscriminate love for all men and the whole world as he upholds it. The elect are exceedingly grateful (though not as they should be) for the deliverance they have in Christ. If God did not, or does not hate their sin, then why are they grateful, and what did Christ die on the cross for?

We also know that God has a particular love for the elect. This is obvious from scripture and should not be ignored. For a good application of this special love for the elect listen to Jason's sermon from 4/22/07 on sermon audio. It will be up Tuesday morning. Maybe he'll give us the cliff notes in a post.