Since being in Southeast Asia, I have come to realize more and more how most other religions operate out of fear. Fear of fickle and distant gods, fear of not being ‘good enough’ for whatever comes after death, and fear of what exactly it is that awaits them after this life.
While it makes me so thankful to have such a sovereign and steadfast savior, it also makes me recognize that, as Christians, we often operate out of fear as well. Maybe some realize it, maybe some don’t, but I find that there are two different extremes of viewing God that people often fall into. Some have been brought up and taught about the ultra-personal God. The God that camps out in your heart, the God that is your best friend, the one that you can talk to about anything! While this is all good and so true, it often lacks the recognition of God as vastly powerful and above all. You might say that these are the same people that rock the ‘Jesus is my homeboy’ T-shirt.
On the other side of the spectrum, there is a way of teaching that borders on fire and brimstone, if you will. These kinds of people know that God is hugely powerful, mighty and omnipotent. But there tends to be a subconscious thought of God as distant, hard to reach, or not constantly accessible. The reverence and respect of the Lord is there, but knowing His full character is so pertinent to our walk with Him. We have to dwell somewhere in the middle in order to view God as He truly is. Yes, you can ask Him for everything, He will always love you and He died for you, but, He is also the same God who heals, dives out demons, and delivered an entire people from slavery. He loves you dearly and is big enough to do something about it. I love to look at the Lords prayer as an example.
The first half: “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This is such a great example of the reverence that we should give Him. His name is holy, His kingdom come, He reigns in Heaven.
The second half: “Give us today our daily bread. Forgive our debts as we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” This half is so personal and loving He provides for us, He has forgiven us only because of His love for us, and He is our protector. He is all and enough for us. We have nothing to fear because His perfect love has cast out all fear. Its my prayer as I am on this journey is that everyone we meet or even just pass will come to know the one only holy, perfect, and powerful God. He wants them to be free from their fear and to come join Him in perfect peace.
“This is how love is made complete among us that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 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.”
1 John 4:17-18
