No fear in Exploring Gods Character

For many people, the idea that God might not destroy or kill can feel uncomfortable at first. It challenges beliefs we may have held for years, maybe even our whole lives. But there is a very important reason not to be afraid of exploring it.

What we believe about God shapes how we relate to Him, and how others see Him through us.

If God doesn’t kill, but I believed He did

Then I may have spent my life:

• Misrepresenting His character

• Fearing Him instead of loving Him

• Justifying punishment, violence or fear in His name

• Blaming God for the work of Satan or for the natural consequences of sin

The Bible gives us a foundation to reconsider this. It says that God is love in 1 John 4:8. If His essence is love, then everything about Him must be consistent with love.

Jesus also said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, God” in Mark 10:18. If God is the source of all goodness, then anything that contradicts goodness cannot truly reflect His character.

If God does kill, but I believed He didn’t

Then what kind of mistake have I made?

• I chose to believe He was kinder than I thought

• I leaned toward His mercy and patience

• I trusted that His love was gentle and non-coercive

• I followed the example of Jesus, even as He forgave His enemies

On the cross Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” in Luke 23:34. That moment shows how God actually treats His enemies, not with retaliation but with compassion.

If I am ever going to be wrong, I’d rather be wrong in thinking that God is too loving than in thinking He is not loving enough.

The safer mistake

If love is the foundation of heaven, then the safer position is to believe the highest possible good about God rather than the lowest.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18 that perfect love casts out fear. If my picture of God creates fear rather than peace, something about that picture is not aligned with His true nature.

Romans 2:4 says that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. It is not threats or punishment that change hearts. It is goodness.

Fear forces compliance.

Love creates transformation.

Why this topic matters so much

This isn’t a small theological topic. At its heart is the question:

What is God really like?

Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” in John 14:9. The most reliable picture of God is found in the life of Jesus, not in the assumptions people have made about divine justice.

When we look at Jesus we see healing, restoration, compassion, forgiveness and mercy. Even toward those who hated Him.

James 1:17 reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father and that He does not change. If God is good now, then He has always been good.

Joshua 24:15 teaches that God invites us to choose whom we will serve. Forced obedience is not part of His character.

He wins hearts the same way Jesus won hearts. Through love.

So we don’t need to be afraid of the conversation

Exploring God’s character does not take us away from Him. It brings us closer to who He really is. If we ever make an error in understanding Him, let it be this one:

Let us believe that God is better than we ever imagined.

Let us believe that His love is deeper than we were taught.

Let us believe that His character is safe, trustworthy and good.

Because the real danger is not believing that God is too good.

The real danger is believing that He is less good than He truly is.