A few weeks ago this question arose at Church. Some of us were more than a little surprised to hear it stated that God does not (or may not) love everybody! Is this true? Does God love some and not others? For many years now, a popular method of witnessing or evangelising has been to tell people (sinners) that God loves them. Is this true? Is it Biblical? What does the Bible have to say on this? Can you back up your beliefs with Scripture?

Beryl has started a study with the following Scriptures:-

I have searched and studied the Bible on this subject, and this is what I read - Psalm 11:5 '….the wicked and the one who loves violence His SOUL hates.' 'His soul' is the part that makes me stop and wonder. Why not just 'God hates the wicked'?

I have always thought the wicked meant those who don't receive Jesus. BUT, when we study Scripture a bit more (especially the Psalms), we see how David often calls on God to save him from 'those who bring ruin to him; those he calls 'his enemies who do not regard the works of the Lord nor the work of His hands'… ('the work of His hands' is the person who does follow God, isn't it? Is. 29:23 says WE are 'the work of His hands') - David is saying his enemies are those who do NOT regard the work of God's hands.

It's a bit confusing but stick with it and all will become clear.

v.6 of Psalm 11 tells us what God will do to the wicked. This begs the question 'who are the wicked'?

God's work of mankind falls into 2 categories - those who follow God and those who don't (Jews & Gentiles).

There is another category (a sub-category, if you like). We can split JEWS into 2 categories : those who DO love and follow God and those who USED TO LOVE GOD BUT NOW DO NOT - they have turned their back on Him. In Rev.3:7 we read there are 'those who say they are Jews but are not. I will make them of the synagogue of satan'.

Back to David - Psalm 7:6 'Arise O Lord, in Your anger, rise up because of the rage of my adversaries.' 9:5 & end of v.10 'You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked, You have wiped out their name for ever and ever, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.'

v.17 'the wicked will be turned to Sheol and all the nations THAT FORGET GOD'. 10:3,4 the wicked boasts of his soul's desire. He blesses the greedy and despises the Lord. The wicked, through pride of his countenance will not seek God. God is not in all his thoughts' 34:21 'evil will slay the wicked AND THOSE WHO HATE THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE CONDEMNED'.

The title of Jer. 44 in my Bible is IDOLATORY LEADS TO JUDGEMENT. This chapter has some VERY STRONG words from God to Judah (once part of His Chosen Ones), because they had turned to idolatry.

Prov.28:1,4,5 'those who forsake instruction [ergo forsake God] praise the wicked, but such as keep instruction [those who follow God] contend with them. Evil men do not understand justice but those who seek the Lord understand all things'.

From all this, I believe we can see that the sub-category of God's Chosen Ones I mentioned, are the ones who WERE God followers but have chosen to go away and, worse, now make trouble for and persecute those who follow God.

God has said 'I will contend with those who contend with you - the apple of my eye' Zechariah 2:8 & Is. 49:25

To sum up : the first commandment is to love God with all our heart, body, mind and strength. Although God has said He will contend with those who contend with us, NOT ALL WICKED PEOPLE DO CONTEND WITH US but those who turn away from God AND persecute God's people, He will deal with very severely and I believe, these are they whom God's soul hates.

We may all have long-held and strong views on this subject, but can you back up what you believe with Scripture? If you can, that's great - share the Scriptures here. What if your views and beliefs do not line up with or are not in accord with what the Bible says - are you prepared to change what you have been led to believe?