Anything we set against the perfect nature and character of our Lord – as He revealed in Scripture – will fall like the idol of Dagon before the Ark of the Covenant. As believers, it is tempting to exalt the peace and joy of the Kingdom of God while ignoring, or fighting against, God’s righteousness. But Romans 14 says we need all three. And Jesus said to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. In a cultural age that decries righteousness as “hate-speech”, we believers need to be reminded by scripture that God’s righteousness is deeply connected to His love, and vice versa. His love and righteousness are one in the same.