I want to discuss two topics that I feel go hand and hand. I don't mean that they perfectly aline like gymnast on the balance beam but I do think that one affects the other. These two concepts are the fear of the lord and the apparent choice to be ashamed of God. What I hope to expound upon in monumental effectiveness is this very simple idea, if we truly fear the Lord God then there would be no room for being ashamed.
In our society fear carries one basic definition. It is an unpleasant feeling or emotion that is brought about by the understanding or assumption that something could cause pain. This is seen in those cheesy B movies where masked men carry chain saws. They chase people down hallways and survive everything from gunshots to atomic bombs. While this is a sensible definition I am afraid this does not work in the arena of God. How horrible would it be if God chased us down darkly lit streets with an axe in one hand and a Bible in the other. I don't think this is what Solomon meant in Prov 1:7 where he states, "The FEAR of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..."
So what did he mean?
I know that multiple pastors will quickly push a cultural definition aside and jump to a historically relevant concept and simply teach that the fear of God is just reverence. Is this not a simplistic solution to a deeper issue? How can we just blow it off and state that if you have reverence for God it is the same as fear. That doesn't answer the question and it tends to lead to a concept that if I don't like the word I can pick another one that makes me happy. Fear cuts a person to the core. Its deep scars are apparent in the very marrow of a person's being. It is an all encompassing element of a person. It grips them and will not let them go. Fear persuades people like a crafty politician behind a profound podium with a deafening sound system that drowns out all sound and reverberates in the eardrum. Replacing that with simple reverence is like replacing Rambo for a Ken doll.
There is an element of reverence but that very reverence must be compelled by the fear of God. This is where modern Christianity has lost its way. We tend to sugar coat God and demean the Lion of the tribe of Judah into a cute little goat that just wants to eat his grass and be happy. He doesn't want to invite anybody over because he might offend them and doesn't want to tell people what to do because that is not very nice. He just sits, eats and gets fat.
So what does fear mean? Let me ask a question, is there anything actually wrong with God asking us to fear him? I don't think that God is requesting we hide behind rocks and run from him. I do think that without a healthy understanding of who God is and what God is capable of doing, we will never honor God in the manner he deserves. What if the fear of God was a wholistic understanding of his eternal attributes. Think about it, on one hand we would realize that God is the one who gives us our very breath. This may lead someone to worry that God may one day get tired of our existence and just remove our breath. This may cause an unhealthy fear of God but once a person read a little more they would realize that on the other hand, God is a just and righteous God and that in his very nature He does not respond in that way. This would lead one to think that maybe the fear of God is more about the understanding of who He is and the acknowledging of His ability and might.
This very issue is why I believe we are so ashamed of God or rather we live our lives in such a way that we perpetuate our shame. It seems that we fear other people and this world more than the creator of all things. How could we have come to a place that we fear the creation more than the creator? I find myself getting angry at myself, which probably is the definition of madness but still, because I cant seem rip the fear of others out of my system. I will be sitting somewhere or be in a situation that is perfect to share my faith or stand firm for some truth of the faith and in a gut instinct I become a turtle and hide in my shell. I will shrink away and remain silent or remove myself from the situation. There are always good reasons of course....right....right?
Now I am curious what you think...what are you thoughts on this subject.
6 comments:
I don't know if I get what you're saying. Especially the part when you say "It seems that we fear other people and this world more than the creator of all things."
I thought fear meant something different. I feel confused and not on the right track.
I think that 'fear of the Lord' is definitely something that comes gradually as you read and begin to study and really dig deep to figure out who this 'God Guy' really is. To be honest, I think if we took into account and truly believed the fullness and powerfulness of our God that at first it should scare the crap out of us! But with the redemption of Christ that fear should turn into faith, not gratitude. Yes we should be thankful for what God has done, but we must also have faith in what God is going to do!(John Piper plug w00t!) Anyway, fear of the Lord I don't think should make us petrified of God, because the Bible speaks of how God wants a relationship, not a overbearing king to a peasant. God desires a relationship that is more complex than any relationship we can have with another human being. So that would change the rules of what fear would mean. Fear of God is the realization of His Might, and Strength, as well as the realization, acceptance, and application of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. In short, you can't fear the Lord God on High if you just play the 'I love Jesus game'. Fear is, I believe used in the context to create faith. We fear God's wrath, but after hearing of the Good News of the Gospel we rejoice and place our faith in Christ, whom has awoken us from being dead! Was kind of long, but oh well!
So...I actually kind of understood tonight at bible study. I don't know if it's because I had a mental picture in my head of what we're talking about, or if it was because I took notes, or did I focus more. But I really liked that I understood. Coming to bible study tonight I didn't think I would understand any of the bible study tonight, because I read chapters 3 & 4 but it was just jibber-jabber to me. I guess that's what bible study is for. To learn what you couldn't at home.
Bingo, that really makes me happy Lauren. I really want you all to read and then come prepared to learn. It would make the whole process sweeter. Keep reading and asking questions
I think God has been trying to speak to me here lately about this subject... And last night I finally understood what He means... It's a respect and a trust in God, that even though He wants me to do something that I don't want to do, 'fear' His divine and soveriegn authority enough to obey Him. And now that I've obeyed, something that I though would only bring pain and sorrow, has actually brought me peace and comfort. I praise God that He has stuck with me, because lately I haven't been sticking with Him. But God being the Awesome being that He is, was able to talk to a hard-headed person like me. I think after that happens, we realize that God is so great that He deserves to be feared. Praise be to our God on High, He deserves it.
I understand completely David. I have had to make some similar decisions that were very hard and tough. I know exactly what it is like to lean to HIm and fear Him more than anything else.
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