Dear Thomas:
You said:
"How can you love a god who will kill or severely punish you if you do not love Him?"I accept and esteem all God's judiciary decisions. His administration of justice , all His standards are based on righteousness . Jehovah God is the Supreme Judge and Statue - Giver of all mankind. I love God because I love righteousness. Because God created us , it is proper for us to give Him all the Glory, Reverence, Submission, Gratitude and Worship. By doing so, we became God's Children . We were bought with a price.
1 Corinthians:" 7:23:" YOU were bought with a price........"
Jehovah God is a very loving Heavenly Father: He patiently awaits for us to turn away from what is bad. If we turn to God and Love Him, we indeed have escaped God's execution of His Adverse Judgement. Loving God means that we are following God's paths of His Justice, His commandements and as well accept His conformity regarding His thinking that is described in His Word, the Bible.These requirements are not burdensome! By submitting ourselves to God and His laws/authority, we have chosen LIFE -which God will give to us to experience forever in the New Order!
1 Corinthians 2:9:" But just as it is written:" Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, neither have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him."
Christian Love,
AAF