NOT TWO GODS BUT A GROWING REVELATION | Pastor Damian Carruthers | January 11, 2026

I want to name what many of us have thought at some point: "Why does God seem so angry in the Old Testament… and so loving in the New?" Today’s two Scripture passages are chosen because they reflect this perceived contrast. In Deuteronomy, we hear a text that sounds harsh and unsettling--a command to destroy. It reflects a world of war, tribal identity, and divine protection. In 1 John, we hear a radically different tone - "God is love" - and a call to love one another because God first loved us. These readings invite us not to pick sides, but to listen deeply and ask: How is God’s character revealed across time? What changes and what remains the same?