The Paradox of Fear: Understanding the Fear of God
Fear is a fundamental human emotion that can be both fascinating and repulsive. As children, we loved to play pranks on our friends and shout “Boo!” But at the same time, we were scared of the dark and the monsters under our beds. This paradox of fear continues into adulthood, where we enjoy thrilling movies and activities that bring us face-to-face with our worst fears, yet agonize over the dreadful things that could happen to us.
The Biblical Perspective on Fear
When we turn to the Bible, the picture becomes even more complex. On one hand, Scripture views fear as a negative emotion that Christ has come to rescue us from. The apostle John writes, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Yet, on the other hand, we are repeatedly called to fear God. The verse that comes to mind is Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This seeming contradiction can leave us confused and wondering what it means to fear God.
The Culture of Fear
Our society today is characterized by a culture of fear. We fret about global terrorism, extreme weather, and political turmoil. Our private lives are filled with anxiety about our diets, health, and safety. We are an increasingly anxious and uncertain culture, despite living in one of the safest societies in history. This paradox is rooted in our loss of God as the proper object of fear.
The Loss of the Fear of God
With the ousting of God from our culture, other concerns have assumed a divine ultimacy in our minds. Good things have become cruel and pitiless idols, leaving us feeling helplessly fragile and anxious. The suggestion that the loss of the fear of God is the root cause of our culture’s anxiety is a blow to atheism, which promised that liberating people from belief in God would free them from fear.
The Medicalization of Fear
Our culture has responded to anxiety by medicalizing fear. Fear has become a disease to be medicated, and comfort has become a health category. This approach has effectively made fear a wholly negative emotion, leading Christians to shy away from talking about the fear of God.
The Antidote to Fear
However, the fear of God is not a negative emotion, but a healthy and happy fear that controls our other fears and reins in anxiety. It is the antidote to our fretfulness and the key to understanding the paradox of fear. By embracing the fear of God, we can find freedom from our crippling fears and discover a delightful fear that brings us joy and wonder.
Conclusion
The fear of God is a complex and multifaceted concept that requires a nuanced understanding. It is not a state of mind that can be acquired with simple self-effort, but a matter of the heart that requires a deep relationship with God. By exploring the biblical perspective on fear and the culture of fear, we can gain a deeper understanding of the fear of God and its role in our lives. Ultimately, the fear of God is not something to be feared, but something to be delighted in.
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