Is the God of the Old Testament a merciless monster?

by Robin Schumacher
edited by Matt Slick

Non-Christians sometimes assert that God is portrayed in the Old Testament as a cruel and ruthless deity that indiscriminately orders the execution of seemingly innocent men, women, and children, or directly carries out their deaths by various means. Such a God, the argument goes, in no way represents the loving Creator or Father figure that the New Testament offers and should in no way be worshipped or venerated.