To fear or not to fear…
We have survived what had been called “Frankenstorm” – aka hurricane Sandy. Perhaps feeling that it was their duty, the mass media in the run up to the actual storm dubbed it “the storm of the century.” In reality, it was barely a category 1 (hurricane Katrina, which devastated parts of New Orleans in 2005, was a category 5). I don’t know if journalists have a moral compulsion to warn of impending danger or if they just can’t help themselves from over-hyping a story in a vain attempt to gain ratings and viewers. The cynical me leans towards the latter, but for sake of argument, let’s go with the former and assume that the dire warnings of “stormageddon” came from journalists’ compelling desire to warn us all to save ourselves.
All this to bring up a serious subject: Fear. I have met people who are afraid of everything. One of my favorite TV characters is Detective Adrian Monk, who lists among his fears such things as snakes, mushrooms and milk! On the other hand, I have met some people who don’t seem to fear ANYTHING. Plato taught that there is a difference between courage and foolishness, fear and cowardice. According to the Bible, fear, in its’ proper context, is a GOOD thing. The wicked are described as being “without fear” (Psalm 64:4); wisdom begins with “fear of the Lord” (Psalm 111:10) – likewise, knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).
The question is not “Do we fear…” – that’s fairly obvious. Everyone fears something. The question is, “What/Whom do we fear?” Some fear too much; others fear too little (I am always struck by the number of surfers who go into the water as a hurricane approaches. They say their motto is “no fear”; I say their motto ought to be “no brains.”) Jesus put it this way: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” (Luke 12:4-5)
We fear those and that which might hurt us, but not He who has power to utterly destroy us. I would assert that many Christians have no fear of God. In fact, for many, it seems antithetical to being a Christian. After all, isn’t God our “loving Heavenly Father,” etc.? While it is true that God is our loving Heavenly Father, Defender, Shield, Deliverer, Hope, Peace, Salvation, and so on, we should never forget that He is still GOD.
If we have trusted in Christ and received his grace and forgiveness, we have no need to “be afraid” of God. But we should always maintain a “reverent fear” of our Heavenly Father…Who also happens to be the Creator and Judge of all the universe!
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. – 1 Peter 1:17-21
