a sermon delivered by an elderly pastor invited to our church some years back. In it he criticized the over-emphasis on love and downplay on reverence and fear for God's righteousness in today's churches, and I believe he is right.

If you look at today's American society, or Chinese society for that matter, love of God (or gods or buddha or whatever) is emphasized to such a point where he/she/they have turned into Santa Claus. Almost every faith in America nowadays, whether they be various branches of Christianity, Mormonism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sihkism, Scientology, Baha'i faith, or even Islam, emphasizes on love. What's the most popular doctrine in America? The Golden Rule, i.e. "God is love", therefore whatever your faith, God will give you everlasting life.