Moment With The Master
“Fear and Love”
Categories: Moment With The MasterThere is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
The above words seem strange, especially in the light of such passages as
I Peter 1:17: “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear”. One passage seems to imply that one’s conduct is to be motivated by fear. The other passage seems to teach that the Christian is to have no fear. How do we resolve this supposed conflict?
The word “fear” (phobos) is a neutral word that can have both a harmful or useful connotation depending upon the context. Two common uses of phobos in classical Greek are 1) to be stricken with panic or dread, or 2) to have awe or reverence for one who is infinitely superior.
The last use of the word (reverence) certainly applies to one’s life with God. Between God and man there is intimacy, but not familiarity. Man is to be lost in wonder and praise with God. It was the impetus behind the early church: “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” (Acts 9:31) Or, Paul says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (Philippians 2:12) Thus, God’s child, living in the shadow of eternity, must stand in awe of the presence of God!
However, when fear turns to phobia it can have a crippling effect. Thus, John says “perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment”. The Christian is not to live in constant dread of punishment, but a continual awareness of God’s love and grace.
There can be no perfect walk with God without a sense of awe and reverence. It can be a great deterrent to sin. But, when such reverence turns to phobia it can stunt one’s walk, which because it has lost its grace, it has lost its assurance, and because it has lost its assurance, it has lost its glory.
by George Slover
