Dear Editor,

This past week I saw a man strike another man in the face and then get up on stage and say he wants to demonstrate “God’s love.”

This also a man who brags about his “open” marriage.

I hear this hypocrisy all the time. God is love.

I hear the pastor, the priest, the celebrity, the politician, the transgender, the homosexual, the abortionist all say “God is love.”

But what I rarely hear from any is that God is Holy, God is Righteous, and God is Just. We make an idol if we close Him within the “God is Love” parameter. Can God hate? Most definitely.

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes (pride), a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

So these things are hated by God and God cannot allow those things which are defiled be set before Him.

So what is defilement?

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23)

But I know you believe in Jesus.

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” (James 2:19)

So just acknowledging He is God does no good.

So is there more to God than just love?

Obviously.

So before you make some celebrity your example of Christ, do something else.

Examine the Word of God and see what the Bible says of their behavior.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1st Corinthians 6:9-10)

These are not my words but the Words of the Bible.

There is hope.

“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32)

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

Randy Marple

Shadyside