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What is God like? First John 4.8 says, in the context of encouraging Christians to love one another, “God is love.” But Hebrews 12.29 says, in the context of warning Christians about divine judgment, “God is a consuming fire.” Is God love or fire? Why not both! I thought about the dual nature of God’s character when I read Romans 11.22-24: 

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

In their original context, these verses warn Gentile Christians not to get uppity about their salvation. The gospel came to them because of Israel’s belief. Using a horticultural image, Paul says that Israel was “cut off” from God like a branch from a tree. If Israel would believe, they would be “grafted” back in. And if Israel could be cut off, so could the Gentiles. The only way to remain a branch of God’s tree is to “continue in his kindness” through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Cutting off is an act of judgment. A gardener prunes dead and unproductive branches. By the same token, grafting onto is an act of love. It improves the tree, the branch, or both by introducing new life. A good gardener either cuts off or grafts onto, depending on the state of the branches. 

So does a good God. Persistent unbelief and obstinate disobedience occasion God’s judgment. God’s sternness reveals itself in his refusal to tolerate our sin. But honest faith and humble obedience prompt his mercy. His kindness shows itself in his desire to bring us sinners back into fellowship with him. 

Unfortunately, for some reason, we have a difficult time keeping love and judgment in proper balance, at least when it comes to God. Christians make equal but opposite mistakes about God. Some focus on his judgment against personal unrighteousness and social injustice, but they fail to leave room for spiritual turnarounds. Others focus on his love for prodigals but fail to mention that God’s grace results in (and requires) holiness, both in the individual and in society. 

Of course anyone who is a parent knows that childrearing requires both sternness and kindness. Combining them is the only way to raise good kids. Everyday, a parent must love the disobedient child but hate the child’s disobedience. Why can’t we see that our Heavenly Father acts the same way toward us? 

So, as Paul writes, “Consider…the kindness and sternness of God.” Not either/or, but both/and. And then do everything you can to continue in his kindness.

P.S. This past Sunday, I spoke to my Sunday school class about "The Books of God," based on Psalm 19. If you'd like to listen to my message, go here.