Tag: fear

Mike Parsons

Introduction to the Fear of God

When it comes to the fear of God, I think we need to move beyond the word “fear” as something associated with being afraid – being afraid of someone or being afraid of God. Instead, think of awe and respect, a deep sense of reverence for who God really is. In this way, there is no need to reconcile fear with love. Perfect love casts out fear, so it cannot mean being afraid of God in the sense of fearing what He might do or fearing punishment.

God didn’t kill Ananias and Sapphira

In the story of Ananias and Sapphira, it was not actually God who killed them. What happened was that, rather than administering God’s love and forgiveness, Peter spoke death over them, and the power of his words caused their deaths. Nowhere in the story does it say God killed them or took any direct action against them. It was the guilt they felt, combined with Peter’s lack of forgiveness, that caused this. God did not intend for this; His mercy would overcome anything we do. So, God does not kill people, nor does He punish. Perfect love is an expression of God’s best for people, and God wants to bring good out of every situation. When you read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, you see that it was Peter who cursed them, not God. This highlights the power of words and the authority Peter had, but he was acting out of the wrong spirit. He should have forgiven them, said, “God forgives you, let us restore you.” We are meant to carry one another’s burdens, not to punish each other.

Reverence, Respect and Honour

So, what is a practical example of the fear of God in action, when you understand it as reverence, respect and honour? It would be me going before the throne of God, falling on my face and casting my crowns before him in awe. There’s that sense of “Wow, you are so awesome, so wonderful.” There’s a weight to his presence that is amazing. But in another instance, I might sit on the Father’s lap on the throne of grace, feeling nothing but His pleasure and desire for me, simply enjoying His presence – which I do often. So, do not assume that just because the Bible says “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,” that it means being afraid of him. Honouring God for who He is as the source of all wisdom and knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. The evangelical Christian world often programmes us to fear God to keep us in line. But, in reality, it is His love, His joy, and the wonderful peace and rest I have in Him that keep me following Him – not a fear of punishment. I do not worry that if I get something wrong, He will punish me or that something bad will happen to me. In fact, if I fear that something bad will happen, that fear could invite it into my life. Fear is like negative faith, generating a negative force in my life if I believe it. But God is never going to do that to me.

Rob, Kill and Destroy

Who does function in fear? The enemy seeks to rob, kill and destroy, and he will use our fear against us. This is what happened with Ananias and Sapphira: their guilt and Peter’s words allowed life to be taken from them. They lost their future because they were not restored. But as soon as they entered the realms of heaven as part of the cloud of witnesses, which they now are, every tear and regret would have been washed away. They would hold no negative memory of what they did, having been made whole. Now, they are part of the cloud of witnesses, fully restored, having forgiven Peter, who also realises that his actions were not good. Hopefully, God would have shown him this when he entered that realm, so he would not carry any regret, fear, or negativity with him either.

Unconditional Love of God

God is unconditionally loving towards us, though there are consequences to what we do. These consequences can bring about certain outcomes, but God’s mercy seeks to overcome them. So do not feel guilt, shame or condemnation – those feelings never come from God. Always receive forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration, for those are what God brings. God wants to love you so deeply that you know you are unconditionally loved and can come to know who you truly are. From that place, you can enjoy life, resting in His goodness, mercy, and love.

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