In my last blog I asked you to identify your God; was He the God of the OT or the God of the New? Again the reason for this task came from a newspaper article written by Mr. William McKenzie in the Dallas Morning News, Tuesday, November 1, 2011. In the article Mr. McKenzie sums up a report filed in the Baylor Religion Survey. It showed that "believers" in a judgmental God (OT) have more, not fewer anxieties than "believers" in an engaged, loving God (NT).
According to the research those raised in an environment that preached "hellfire and brimstone" have 45% more concerns related to social anxiety, and 33% more concerns related to compulsions.
If on the other hand you were taught about God's love for His children and His concern for the "down and out", well you have 31% fewer mental issues.
So are these two one in the same God of course they are, but like any loving parent they must exercise their love according to needs of their children. If the child has been disobedient then there are consequences for their actions. If the child on the other hand needs loving attention and guidance, well God is there for us as well.
All we need to say about God is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." OT + NT = Salvation (enough said).
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