God Is Not Our Grandfather-He is More
The Triune God is surely our friend, relative, father, King, and warrior. God is not our grandfather, however.
Let me frame that a little. God is the creator of all the emotions and drives we have. He is bigger and more than all we see.
Therefore, he is more soft then the most touching mother and tougher and more demanding than the toughest father. He has everything we need. I am not saying we don’t need counselors. I am saying our relationship with God has to be based on the reality of who he is. We cannot box him in as a grandfather figure.
God hates our sin and pride and depression. He does however love us where we are. Sometimes, he sees we need tough love, and he gives it to us. Sometimes he sees we need deep and compassionate understanding, and he brings us that. We may want one or the other, but he knows what we need. He is highly committed to making us what He wants to be.
Now, the archetypal all accepting grandfather tends to spoil children and never judge but rather just have fun with the grandkid. We do something naughty, and he just passes it off.
God Is Not Our Grandfather- He Is Much More
That is not our God and Father. He may give us comfort and be there for us, but he will say, go and sin no more at precisely the right time. Jesus will spread his arms to die on a cross to make good what we just did.
He is much much more than a grandfather all the time. Are we ready for this untamed lion?
At the Cross, we have unbelievable mercy and grace, and harsh harsh judgement worthy of death all in one act. Even here we see grace and truth all in one just like Jesus was.