June 1, 2010: What's Missing? (Part 2)

I closed last week by promising to talk about one of the Bible's chief motivations for getting us to turn from sin and turn to Christ.

It's fear. Not "reverence", "awe", "respect", "honor", "deference" - nor any other of those milder terms we like to substitute for it - but just plain fear. Wholesomely biblical righteous terror.

About 15 years ago in a theology class I heard professor Wayne Grudem say to us, "When I'm traveling alone and I come back to my hotel room at night, what do you think keeps me from ordering porn on the TV?" You can imagine the stunned silence as we waited for him to answer. He said, simply, "The fear of the Lord."

It is significant that Grudem did not say, "Because I love my wife"; or, "Because I love the Lord"; or, "Because I'm so grateful to God for his grace"; or, "Because I choose to live out the gospel in the power of the Spirit." Those are all good reasons too, but when battling depravity a man will often find them insufficient. Even Wayne Grudem, a godly professor in an evangelical seminary (and a man whom I hold in highest regard), has to acknowledge that, sometimes, he's just afraid of God. And that fear helps him to do what is right.

If you are a Christian and the notion of fearing God seems alien, then I'm afraid I have two hard things to say to you: (1) You don't read your Bible enough, and (2) The preaching you are acquainted with is probably too light.

Let me recommend a dose of stern stuff from Jonathan Edwards, rightly regarded as America's foremost theologian. In 1746 he wrote, "The Scriptures place much of religion in godly fear; insomuch that it is often spoken of as the character of those that are truly religious persons, that they tremble at God's word, that they fear before Him, that their flesh trembles for fear of Him, and that they are afraid of His judgments, that His excellency makes them afraid, and His dread falls upon them, and the like: and a compellation commonly given the saints in Scripture is 'fearers of God,' or 'they that fear the Lord.' And because the fear of God is a great part of true godliness, hence true godliness in general is very commonly called by the name of the fear of God; as every one knows that knows anything of the Bible."

That last clause is a dagger, isn't it? Edwards dismisses fear-deniers as biblically illiterate! Well, he's right - they are. But to be fair to them, they do have two Bible passages in their favor. One is Romans 8:15 (For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship by whom we cry, "Abba, Father"); and the other is 1 John 4:18 (There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love).

I would say two things to those who would use the texts above as bludgeons to beat all righteous fear out of us. First, in the Romans passage, the Holy Spirit does not liberate us from all fear, just from slavery to it. Fear isn't the only way we relate to God. We also love him, and by the Spirit's gentle prompting call him "Dad". If you have had a good earthly father, you will know instinctively what it means both to fear a person and to regard him with strong affection. If you didn't have a good father, please take my word for it that these emotions of terror and delight can co-exist. Fear and love are not incompatible.

Even though 1 John 4:18 seems to suggest that they are. John says that there is no fear in love, because perfect love drives out fear. That is true. But my simple response is, "Well, do you have perfect love?" If you do, then I guess you needn't fear. But I don't have perfect love - so I do fear. The verse continues, "The one who fears is not made perfect in love." I acknowledge to my shame that I am not made perfect in love. If you have been so perfected, then please stop reading here, for I have nothing to teach you, and have no more right to instruct you than John had to baptize Jesus. I should be sitting at your feet and learning from you (if you would condescend to take me as a disciple).

To the rest of us imperfects, I say, let us give fear its rightful place. There will come a day when, perfected in glory, we will neither fear nor be able to fear. (A wonderful moment in C. S. Lewis' The Last Battle has Narnian saints in Aslan's country realizing that they can't feel afraid even if they try.)

But when I hear (this side of heaven) that a supposedly Christian man has, after 30 years of marriage, left his wife and kids to go live with a stripper, I want to ask him the same question that the penitent thief in Luke 23:40 asked the belligerent moron crucified on the other side of Jesus: "Don't you fear God?" That question retains its potency 2,000 years after it was first uttered. How is it even possible for such a sinner not to tremble with terror? How can any Bible-reader forget Hebrews 10:31: "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God"?

Last week I warned about evangelical teaching that omits any mention of the wrath of God - or that even goes as far as to deny that God is angry with us. This week I similarly warn against teaching that omits fear (or that actively crusades against it!) as a motivation for holy living. Please listen to me: fear is extremely biblical. I leave you with a series of texts below that insist upon it.

Luke 1:50: His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Luke 12:5: But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Luke 23:40: But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?"
Acts 9:31: Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Acts 10:34-35: Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
Romans 3:18: There is no fear of God before their eyes. [This is a bad thing.]
2 Corinthians 5:11: Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.
Philippians 2:12: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Revelation 19:5: Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"