Unconditional Love Doesn't Always Include Unconditional Acceptance By Dan Delzell

"If God really loves me, then He should accept me just the way I am....no matter how I choose to live. After all, everyone is a sinner." Maybe you have heard someone express that sentiment, or perhaps even felt that way yourself. Let's think about that theory.
First of all, why should God's acceptance of our behavior be unconditional....while our acceptance of the behavior of our loved ones is conditional? For instance, look at all the parents who love their children unconditionally....but who do not approve of all of their behaviors. And what about all the wives and husbands who love their spouse dearly, and unconditionally, but who do not approve of certain behaviors of their spouse. Some behaviors actually jeopardize the marriage relationship. We don't question the love of those parents....or those spouses. Then why is it so easy for people to question God's unconditional love?
Our problem as sinners is that we tend to think we should be able to do whatever we feel like doing. In that sense, we are like little children. We don't always understand what is best for us....and we question whether God truly knows what is best for us. If His Word forbids something I feel like doing, then the problem must be with God's Word, right? At least that is what popular thought tends to say. "It can't be us. It can't be me. I am always right....right?"
Try and find one example in the New Testament where Jesus ever suggested that it doesn't matter how people live....and where he offered unconditional acceptance of anyone's behavior because of His love for them. He didn't "love" that way....because He would have had to contradict Himself, as well as His Father, in order to do it. He would have had to go against the truth "in the name of love." He never did such a thing. In fact, it can't be done....not by the Lord....and not by us.
Oh we try and do it sometimes. We hear folks talk about "accepting people for who they are." What they really mean is that "unconditional love should include unconditional acceptance." That is their theory....and their approach to life. It sounds extremely tolerant....and loving....until you analyze it bit. Then you realize that it doesn't work. In the end, it allows everyone to do whatever he thinks is best for him....regardless of whether or not God has an issue with it. "Well that's God's problem then....or those Christians....it's their problem....but don't make it my problem."
If we wrongly assume that we are the starting point....rather than God....then we end up having everything revolve around man's ideas, and opinions, and preferences. If on the other hand, we begin with God....then we begin at the correct point of "right and wrong." God is always right. His decrees are always right. Any violation of His decrees are always wrong. Man's feelings about God's decrees are way down the list in terms of importance. It's not that God doesn't care about our feelings on the matter....but it's just that they don't matter one iota in terms of changing right and wrong. And that's not God's problem....that is our problem....and our mindset....and our confusion which flows out of the poisoned well of moral relativism and secular humanism.