These days we hear of people who claim that God has told them to commit acts of violence, including killing people with explosives. This is patently untrue, there is only one true God from all eternity and he is a God of love.As Jesus taught:
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
We are called to be obedient to God and in Jesus Christ we find the perfect model of obedience. As his disciples, we follow Christ's example as well as his commands. Our motivation for obedience is love: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) One of the commandment of God is not to kill (Exodus 20:19) but to value human life:
“Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
So we are to love and value life, but there is more. What you believe matters, and who you believe God is matters. Whatever people currently believe in - a God who commands violence, a distant deity, or no God at all - there really is on one true God. And God insists that people need to change their way of thinking.
“now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act.” (Acts 17:30)
People, whatever their current religion, need to recognise that God demands love and valuing of life. Those who do not believe this, especially if it is what their religion teaches, need to change what they believe.
Whether people accept him, whatever they believe, God is real. And we are to tell people about him: both about the fact that he demands the highest standards of love and integrity and that he offers forgiveness and a new start to any and every person.