Is God A Loving Father Or A Strict Judge?
Some theologians believe that God is a Holy God and man in his sinful state is God’s enemy. Psalm 5 says God hates his enemies. I am confused because Romans 12 tells us to love our enemies. Why does God tell us to do this if he doesn’t love them himself?
Q. Having researched the current ’seeker friendly’ movement, I am left confused regarding the teaching of a ‘man friendly Gospel’ that these churches have adopted. Seemingly this is about making man feel good about himself, saying that Christ accepts them as they are. Some theologians believe this is wrong; that God is a Holy God and man in his sinful state is God’s enemy. Psalm 5 says God hates his enemies.
The reason I am confused is that Romans 12 tells us to love our enemies. Why does God tell us to do this if he doesn’t love them himself?
Also, I have always believed that we mustn’t judge or condemn, yet this seems to suggest a ‘man centered approach’. These same theologians believe that the real Gospel, in contrast, preaches repentance and a making aware of sin; that the only way to God is through the ‘narrow gate’ by living a sacrificial life. I’m not sure what this means anymore.
Having lived with very strict and controlling parents, it has taken me along time to shake off the idea that God is annoyed with me - that I never quite ‘hit the spot’.
Now I feel the familiar feeling of condemnation returning; that God isn’t a loving father, but a strict judge. Does he not love us and want us to feel good about ourselves, and does that make it wrong to ask God to meet our emotional and material needs?
A. You’ve touched on several important points here. First of all, everything changed at the cross. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and you’ll see that although by our nature we were objects of wrath, God in the greatest manifestation of grace ever seen, saved us, gave us eternal life and raised us up to be seated with Him in the heavenlies.
Colossians 1:19-20 says that at the cross God reconciled Himself to us and made peace with us. Now man has to choose to remain outside His love by rejecting His gift of grace. We’re to love our enemies as an expression of gratitude for the love God showed to us.
The interpretation of the narrow gate in Matt. 7:13-14 as referring to a sacrificial life is man’s idea, not God’s. It helps to understand that everyone on the road is seeking salvation. The broad road and wide gate accommodate all those who follow false religions or try to earn their own way.
The narrow road with the small gate is explained a few verses earlier in Matt. 7:7-8. It consists of asking the Lord to save you and then relying on His completed work on your behalf. If it was living a sacrificial life then salvation would come through works, not grace. It would be like asking the Lord to free you, only to discover that He’s laid a heavier burden upon you.
Jesus admonished us not to judge others (Luke 6:37) and Paul confirmed it. (1 Cor. 4:5). Paul also said not to let anyone judge us (Col. 3:16).
God has given you the authority to become one of His children (John 1:12) to address Him by His most intimate name (Romans 8:15) and to come into His presence with freedom and confidence (Ephes. 3:12) Does that sound like a strict judge to you?
