Evangelical leader Franklin Graham told U.S. troops and Defense Department employees at a Christmas service this week that God "hates" as well as "loves" and is a "God of war."

Graham's remarks came at a Christmas service hosted by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer Rauchet Hegseth, on Wednesday afternoon, according to Newsmax.

Graham took the stage with Christian musicians Matthew West and Anne Wilson.

Graham began his sermon by quoting John 3:16, referencing God's love and the promise of eternal life.

"We know that God loves. But did you know that God also hates?" Graham asked.

"Did you know that God is a God of war? Many people don't like to think about that or forget about it."

Graham then referenced 1 Samuel 15, recalling how the prophet Samuel conveyed God's word to King Saul, commanding him to attack Israel's enemies and "utterly destroy them." The instruction was to spare no one—men, women, children, nursing infants, or livestock.

"People will say, 'Franklin, that's too harsh. That's not the God I believe in.' But you have to believe in Him," Graham said.

Graham stated that God punished the Amalekites for their attack on Israel after waiting 400 years, but Saul failed to obey fully by sparing some of them.

"This was a 400-year-old debt, and God waited 400 years to destroy the Amalekites for what they did. God remembers," Graham said.

"And I think about the sins of our nation, and I pray that God will forgive our nation for its sins," Graham added.

"When you think about all the things that we do and the mistakes that we make, pray that God will heal our land and that America will turn back to Him, the God of our fathers, and serve Him again."

Graham is the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham and has served as a spiritual advisor to several presidents.

Reporter Sung Ku Hong, NNP United States / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com