"Fear is the mother of violence. If we weren’t afraid, then people that are different might annoy us, but they certainly would not enrage us." I found this statement from a sociologist in a clip for a new documentary entitled Anatomy of Hate, a Dialogue for Hope. It really made me think. Fear is one of the most powerful motivators, and it is very easy to breed. Even within the church, fear is frequently used. Consider the evangelist’s warning against the unpardonable sin.
So if fear is effective at getting people into the church, what is the problem? The problem is that fear is not the way God operates. "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). Let’s face it; if God wanted to use fear to motivate us, he could easily do so. Fire coming down from heaven, the earth opening up beneath your feet, deadly animals appearing from nowhere and surrounding you, each of these would be quite effective. But you cannot have a lasting relationship (which is what God ultimately wants) based on fear. That’s why God uses love. Love is a more powerful motivator, but it is much more of a challenge. It takes time, patience, and provides no guarantee that the person will respond in the way we desire.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). How many times do we see God telling his people to “fear not”? That is still his plan for us today. It is so easy to spread fear. I see it all the time among political leaders and Christian leaders. But we cannot love people and fear them at the same time. “Perfect love casts out fear.”
Are you willing to invest the time and energy required to live like Jesus, and “love people into a life-long relationship with God”?
Chad Hes
Wow. Powerful! Thank you Chad for this! Excellent!
ReplyDeleteBut if we eliminate fear - how are we going to control people?
ReplyDeleteThat's just it. God didn't create us thinking He would just control us. He never intended for us to be scared into doing something, or into not doing something. If you are thinking along the lines of committing crimes and going to jail and such, just think of how perfect the world would be if we didn't have to "scare" people into not doing these things. THAT is how God intended things to be. I do realize that the world isn't like that, and criminals do deserve punishment, God doesn't condone sin. But He never wants to have to scare us into being good. If He does that, we are still sinning in our hearts.
ReplyDelete