“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).

This is a famous verse. It’s inspiring. It’s also a verse that is frequently abused. 

Some people use it to justify any behaviour they want, including ideas or actions which directly contradict God’s own teachings. To them, “God is love” means something like this: “God is so nice that he would never deny what makes me happy.”

Unfortunately, this can happen on both the “liberal” and “conservative” ends of the theological spectrum.

The Bible says that God is love, yes. It also says he is light (1 John 1:5). He is holy (Revelation 4:8). He is righteous (Psalm 145:17). He is incomprehensibly wise (Romans 11:33). There are times when he also exercises his wrath (Nahum 1:2).

All of these things go together. He never contradicts himself. 

Note the context of John’s statement: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” He emphasized the love of God because that’s what his readers were lacking. They needed a reminder that the love they express toward one another is overflow from the love they first saw and experienced in a God who is himself love. This love was ultimately shown in an act of sacrifice on the cross (1 John 4:10).

I recently saw a meme that had two sides. The first side included a quote from a prosperity gospel preacher saying, “God wants you to live your best life now!” (But that can mean a million different things, can’t it?) On the other side was a picture of Jesus telling his followers that they would be hated because of him. Which statement more accurately reflects the God of love?

There are times when, because of God’s love, he says “Yes” to something in your life. There are times when, because of his love, he says “No.” There are times when, because of his love, he says “Change.” There are times when, because of his love, he says “Rejoice.” There are times when, because of his love, he says “Carry a cross.”

Do we move mountains to fashion a God who resembles us, or do we move mountains to fashion ourselves to resemble God?

As we follow Christ, let’s caution ourselves against the former, and strive for the later. After all, the God of love knows what is best for his own children—the children he sent his own Son to redeem. 

Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.