Can non-Christians really love anyone?

[David from New Bern]

If man in his unregenerate state is hopelessly self-centered, can he truly love someone? Or is his fondness for others simply utilitarian in nature, or is it simply possessiveness posing as love? Is one of the discoveries when we get saved is how to genuinely love someone (1 Corinthians 13)? I guess another progression of this thought might be; If a non-Christian is capable of loving someone, are there are degrees of love that a non-Christian can't approach? See the kind of questions that people with a supposed creative minds can come up with when sit around pontificating in the wee hours of the morning.

[Copper Scroll]

No. Non-christians are not capable of love. They have some vague idea of what love is supposed to be, but that's as far as it goes. Love is a fruit of the Spirit. John also said Love is of God because God is Love. That being said, it is impossible for an unredeemed person to have love, because they don't have God.

The closest an unsaved person comes to love is lust.

Is it lust then that drives a non-Christian to risk his life to save others?

Also, if non-Christians were completely without God, wouldn't they be in hell now? (Isn't hell essentially separation from God?)

Edited March 7, 2006 by Copper Scroll

[His Ambassador]

If man in his unregenerate state is hopelessly self-centered, can he truly love someone? Or is his fondness for others simply utilitarian in nature, or is it simply possessiveness posing as love? Is one of the discoveries when we get saved is how to genuinely love someone (1 Corinthians 13)? I guess another progression of this thought might be; If a non-Christian is capable of loving someone, are there are degrees of love that a non-Christian can't approach? See the kind of questions that people with a supposed creative minds can come up with when sit around pontificating in the wee hours of the morning.

No. Non-christians are not capable of love. They have some vague idea of what love is supposed to be, but that's as far as it goes. Love is a fruit of the Spirit. John also said Love is of God because God is Love. That being said, it is impossible for an unredeemed person to have love, because they don't have God.

The closest an unsaved person comes to love is lust.

Non-christians (and I assume you are referring to non-believers rather than just non-members of the Christian religion) are just as capable of "falling in love" as anyone else. The "falling in love" is the state of attraction (for whatever reason) that begins a relationship but is short-lived (anywhere from a few weeks to a few years). It is the committed state of love that takes over after the "in love" state (lust/attraction) dies that non-believers cannot maintain as they have nothing on which to base that committed love. That is agape love that comes only from God and without God in one's life it is not possible to know that love.

[Copper Scroll]

Is it lust then that drives a non-Christian to risk his life to save others?

Depends. Some people get paid to do that, its their job.

What good is a paycheck if you're dead? You simply ignore the issue in this response. People have risked their lives and died to save others--sometimes people not even related to them--and very often without getting "paid to do that". Not all of these people were Christian. What sort of emotion or attribute is this that drives people to "do that" if it's not love?

No, they wouldn't be in hell now. They are still in a mortal body right now, but when they die, if they haven't repented and asked the Lord into their lives, then they are going to go to hell. Hell is not merely seperation from God. Hell is torment AND seperation from God.

As long as God loves them, they are capable of reflecting God's love--whether they've accepted the Gospel or not.

Edited March 7, 2006 by Copper Scroll

[Scarletprayers]

Jesus said that even we who are evil when our son ask for a fish, do we give him a stone instead. Of course people can love regardless of the saved or unsaved state!

[David from New Bern]

You guys really are a lot of fun. You dive right into the subject and create 3-4 threads. Unlike talking over coffee when you have to sometime figure out where people's comments are originating. Is love as black and white (don't create a thread on prejudice now) as love the genuine article (1 Corinthians 13) and counterfeit love? The love of a mother for a child is probably the closest anyone yet has come to my quandry. Is that possessiveness or the genuine article? As far as the "falling in love" thing that is probably lust and fantasy. Garry Smalley says that love is not an emotion but a decision. One that I might add you can't follow through without divine empowerment. Thats the reason for the threefold cord. Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.Ecclesiastes 4:12NKJV

[Copper Scroll]

Jesus said that even we who are evil when our son ask for a fish, do we give him a stone instead. Of course people can love regardless of the saved or unsaved state!

Correct. And Jesus defines love as regarding others as one regards oneself. One would not want wrongs committed against one, so out of love one must not commit wrongs against others. One would want others to be kind to one, so out of love one must be kind to others. Clearly, one does not have to accept the Gospel to practice love.

Edited March 7, 2006 by Copper Scroll

[Kabowd]

I don't have time for a lengthy reply right now, but here's my comment in simple terms. For one, there are different types of "love", different levels. In Hebrew there are at least 3 different words used to describe types of love (hesed, ahab, raham ) and in Greek there is agape/agapeo, phileo, stergos and eros just to name a few. (I think I got those right). Anyway, we have to remember that we are all created in the image of God, and though sin tainted everything...it didn't destroy everything that God called "good". Even unregenerate people can be instruments of God's goodness, kindness, love and compassion in the world, this is also known as "common grace". At the same time, the deeper, selfless, sacrificial love called "agapeo" I believe is something that we are only capable of through the equipping of the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, this type of love can only be accomplished by someone who's heart has been made new, redeemed (and even then I think it falls short of replicating Christ's love for us).

More later if I need to clarify.

[searchingFORsomething]

i am young and new to this site, but i believe that nonbelievers can not truly love anyone. because God is love. and with out God, how can they love?

[Scarletprayers]

i am young and new to this site, but i believe that nonbelievers can not truly love anyone. because God is love. and with out God, how can they love?

Its good that your asking questions, young old or inbetween. I however feel that love is pretty much universal, even the most hardened criminal usually loves someone. I don't think you can fully appreciate what love is however if you don't understand the love of God. So, I basically agree and disagree with you. By the way, Welcome to Worthy!