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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
love of God	catherine	Friday, June 27, 2008
Question: you said that the voice which says''you are unworthy of the love of god''comes from the devil But the bible says ''no man knows whether he is worthy of love or hatred'' so some of us are worthy of hatred not of love. which one is true?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Catherine: The Bible passage you are referring to is in Ecclesiastes: Ecc 9:1 All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred: Ecc 9:2 But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come, because all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him that offereth victims, and to him that despiseth sacrifices. As the good is, so also is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth. To interpret this properly we must see what the author is talking about in context. The Heydock Bible commentary mentions that the writer is commenting on how is seems like God treats the good and the bad alike and thus experiencing sufferings cannot be an indicator of either blessing or punishment; prosperity or adversity proves nothing. We cannot know for sure in this life whether our afflictions are of benefit as they were to Job, or they are in punishment of sin, like those of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptians. Thus, this phrase "and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred" is referring to this phenomena that good and bad things happen to both the righteous people and the evil people. Thus, we cannot be sure if our trials are for a blessing (of love), or we have the trials because of sin (of hatred). Remember, God does not hate. God is love. He loves us no matter what we do. This language was just the way the ancient Jews expressed the idea of pleasing and displeasing God. We are all worthy of God's love because we are His creation, His children; because He loves us. Do not we love our own children even if they became an axe murderer? God loves us no matter what we do, even if we reject Him. He loves those in hell. He loves us all. When a spirit tries to tell you that you are not loved by God, or that you are not worthy of God's love that is a demon speaking. It is not a spirit of God. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

love of God

catherine

Friday, June 27, 2008

Question:

you said that the voice which says''you are unworthy of the love of god''comes from the devil But the bible says ''no man knows whether he is worthy of love or hatred'' so some of us are worthy of hatred not of love. which one is true?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Catherine:

The Bible passage you are referring to is in Ecclesiastes:

Ecc 9:1 All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred:

Ecc 9:2 But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come, because all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him that offereth victims, and to him that despiseth sacrifices. As the good is, so also is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth.

To interpret this properly we must see what the author is talking about in context.

The Heydock Bible commentary mentions that the writer is commenting on how is seems like God treats the good and the bad alike and thus experiencing sufferings cannot be an indicator of either blessing or punishment; prosperity or adversity proves nothing. We cannot know for sure in this life whether our afflictions are of benefit as they were to Job, or they are in punishment of sin, like those of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptians.

Thus, this phrase "and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred" is referring to this phenomena that good and bad things happen to both the righteous people and the evil people. Thus, we cannot be sure if our trials are for a blessing (of love), or we have the trials because of sin (of hatred).

Remember, God does not hate. God is love. He loves us no matter what we do. This language was just the way the ancient Jews expressed the idea of pleasing and displeasing God.

We are all worthy of God's love because we are His creation, His children; because He loves us. Do not we love our own children even if they became an axe murderer? God loves us no matter what we do, even if we reject Him. He loves those in hell. He loves us all.

When a spirit tries to tell you that you are not loved by God, or that you are not worthy of God's love that is a demon speaking. It is not a spirit of God.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum