If God is a Loving God, why . . . ? - by Pastor Allan

If God is a loving God,
why…?

I’ve heard that question so many times! Usually, it is meant to be the ultimate question to discredit God’s character. But is it an honest question?

Recently Terri Mulberry (Hopewell Community Church, Pottstown) made an observation that responds to the root of that question. She observed that around the throne of God, you hear “holy, holy, holy” rather than “love, love, love.”
                                          
From the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:2-4) to the Apostle John (book of Revelations) we see the picture of God on his throne and EVERY living creature declaring Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!
Moses repeated the theme of God’s holiness as the basis for God’s actions. Moses also set God’s holiness as the standard for our lives (Leviticus 20:7). The Apostle Peter repeated that standard for us today (1 Peter 1:15).

Yes, the love of God is central to the gospel. It is based on God’s mercy. It is manifest in Jesus humbling himself to live on this earth and to give his life as a sacrifice in our place . . . because God IS holy, and we fall short of his glory.

In 1967, John Lennon wrote a song that became an anthem for the “Summer of Love.” The Beatles sang, “Love, love, love, all you need is love,” and that has replaced “be Holy as God is Holy” as the foundation of our religious beliefs.

The question, “If God is a loving God” is based on a faulty premise and casts God as someone who acts in ways inconsistent with His character. God’s love is expressed in mercy that permits sinful people to approach a Holy God, not permissiveness or tolerance that overlooks our sinful ways.