If you think about it, haven't just as many crimes been perpetrated in the name of 'obedience' as in the name of 'love'?

Yup. 9/11 is a good example of that. I didn't mean to favor one word over the other, but I guess I did. Maybe I was overcompensating for what I perceived as Robert-I favoring one word over the other. I don't think one should downplay the obeying part of the Christian life over the loving part. Both are important and neither infringes on the other.

I think I leaned so far to the one side because I have personally seen a lot of disobedience to God in the name love. I haven't personally seen too many atrocities committed in the name of obedience to God because I don't hang around too many terrorists and whackos, except when I use public transportation. (j/k)

I guess it's a balancing act and one should not forsake one for the other. And to clarify something, I'm not talking about obedience as one would obey Stalin, you obey or else. We should obey God for 2 reasons. There's probably more, but 2 come to mind quickly. 1) Because we love Him. 2) Because He loves us and wants what is best for us.

Dakota