It's religiously fashionable to say that God is love, and certainly He is. That's right out of Scripture. Indeed, the very song the Israelites used to sing before going to war was about God's love.After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." 2 Chronicles 20:21
Now check that out - these men praised God "for the splendor of His holiness" by saying "His love endures forever." Hmmmm. I think there's something to be noted here.
As I was saying, it's highly unusual to attend a church service anywhere and NOT hear about the love of God, but I wonder if we always give proper balance, meaning, and context to the love of God by also proclaiming His holiness.
A.W. Tozer has said, "God never changes moods or cools off in His affections or loses enthusiasm. His attitude toward sin is now the same as it was when He drove out the sinful man from the ... garden, and His attitude toward the sinner the same as when He stretched forth His hands and cried, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' "
We must realize that God is angry with sin and sinners just as much as He ever was, while remembering that His love certainly does endure forever for His chosen people, whom he has saved from sin.
Plenty of so-called "churches" (fill in the blank __________) have twisted the love of God into some gooey marshmallow fluff that winks at sin, and that is dangerous, heretical territory.
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