“So, what did you learn in Sunday school, Sweetie?” We were driving home from church and
my question was directed to my six-year-old daughter.
“We learned about the Ten Commandments.”
“Did you now? Tell me something—will God love you more if you keep the Ten Commandments?”
There was a long pause in the back seat. My daughter could smell a trap. “Er, yes?” she said hesitantly.
“No,” I replied. “God loves you when you’re good, and he loves you when you’re naughty. He loves you all the time. Just like me,” I added with a smile.
Like most parents, I love my kids regardless of their behaviour. If my little girl was to grow up and break all Ten Commandments, she would still be my little girl and I would love her dearly. Yet many think God is not as loving as we are. They have been taught that his love is filtered through an anger management problem. “Sure, God loves you, but he’s also mad at you. So you’d better watch yourself.” Just as it’s rare to hear sermons on the unmixed gospel, seldom do you hear the love of God preached without hooks and qualifications. It’s unconditional love—with conditions.
How is it that we think we love our kids more than God loves us?
- Paul Ellis
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