06-30-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 30, 2024
What scares you about God? If there are things about God that scare you, then I think there is a problem. If love is the goal, and according to 1 John 4, perfect love (God’s love) casts out all fear, then how could there be something about God that is scary? If God desires to be in a loving relationship, then how can fear be an element in that relationship? If a friend approached you for some advice and said, “I love this person, and I am thinking about marrying this person, but I am terrified of this person,” what would be your advice? Can you think of a single healthy marriage where fear is part of it? If this is an experience in your life, I hope you will tell your friend to get out of the relationship and then offer to help your friend get counseling. When the Bible speaks of fearing God, I tend to reinterpret it as awe-struck or wowed. There are times when we approach something beyond what we can imagine, and our knees get a little weak. We are overwhelmed, but when it is God who is love, then I don’t think the experience can be what we know as fear and trepidation. What would the world look like if people began to truly find peace and joy in their relationship with God, and along the way, all fears and insecurities began to slip away? I tend to believe the impact would be amazing, and the repercussions would be seen in marriages, families, friendships, neighborhood associations, cities, states, and even nations. 

Release all of us from unhealthy fear within religion, O Gentle and Merciful God. Guide us to where there is peace and liberation from all that hinders us from living the abundant life, and share the Good News of life and love with all those we meet. Amen.