A quick word on the logic of love...
Imagine this: A machete'-wielding madman breaks into your home one night with every intention of killing, stealing, and destroying. You are somehow alerted to this infiltration and act in defense of your family with the timely aid of Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson - and in short order the life-altering crisis is over as the wicked man assumes room temperature and the authorities are called in to mop-up. Consequences be damned - you just saved your family.
Now the question: In the wake of this fiasco - as you hold the trembling forms of your wife and little ones (who would have suffered unimaginable things had you failed to act), who would deny that the deed you just performed was done out of love?
I assure you, it was.
And here is where the current politically correct (skewed) definition of love is shown to be a bald-faced lie. The world would have us believe that love isn't love unless it somehow impacts all participants equally at every given moment. But this has never been true and never will be. I assure you - it didn't feel like love to the machete'-wielding maniac. For the world is filled with people bereft of love - who wish for little more than to kill, steal, and destroy like their master. Standing against evil has always been one of the highest callings in the Holy name of our God.
Love and kindness (in this politically-correct world) have been rendered interchangeable - but they are NOT the same thing. Although it is true that love does manifest in kindness in most instances, sometimes it needs to be hard as stone. A father standing in the door to prevent a destructive child from making the wrong decision - or the application of needed punishment for transgression so that learning can result. Kindness, on the other hand, is ladled out empirically throughout our society - and because it is NOT balanced with tough-love (reasonable expectations), the net result is blatant narcissistic entitlement and a whole generation of shallow-minded malcontents.
We need to stand up for TRUE love and return it's definition back to basics. Our Holy Father - who is our example - taught throughout His Word that He loves those He chastises. Jesus reiterated this in Revelation 3:19 by stating, "those whom I love I rebuke and discipline". Bear in mind, that a father's discipline in that day almost always included a rod or strap of some kind - and such was the auspice under which this sentiment was relayed.
With all of this in mind, you see how it can be accurately stated: that God IS (perfect) LOVE - and yet the sons and daughters will be disciplined when needed, and the wicked will most certainly perish.
Your brother and servant in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Mark Scott Grimmett
GoldenLight Ministries
www.YeshuasArmy.com