Letters From the Field: A Useful Fear?

Letters From the Field
Monday, March 3, 2008: Lenten Letter No. 4

A Useful Fear? Part Two

I ended my previous letter with a promise to revisit a scripture used in an earlier message. That scripture is 1John 4: 18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…but he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

On the surface, it looks as if we are being held to an impossible, unreasonable standard. “No fear” is both. We are material, mortal. Because of that, there are many things which threaten our continued existence. Hence, it is reasonable, necessary, and natural to have some fear.

Now, I don’t want to be accused of trying to rewrite the Bible, but experience tells me that it is always wise to be ready and able to put things in other, perhaps clearer words. For most people, believer or no, traditional biblical language can be confusing. Since the Bible makes some pretty impressive claims, it has tended to get the attention of a great many people. Some of those people tend to believe those claims, at least in essence. I am one of those persons and, probably, if you find my Letters interesting, you are too. We can agree that any level of a deeper understanding of the ideas contained in that “old book,” as Thoreau referred to the Bible, is important as well as useful. So it is in that spirit that I offer the following thoughts.

If we take another look at 1John 4:18 and insert the idea that an excess of fear is irrational and not of God, we could read the passage this way: “There is no reason to be overwhelmed by fear if we are given over to love, that is, if we are mutually devoted to each others’ care. One is tormented by the prospect of dreadful things, but that state of mind does not rule those who are totally confident that they can receive and give love.”

Consider this. When you love someone (and you are convinced that they love you), the idea that they will hurt of torment you doesn’t even cross your mind. When you feel an overarching sense of dread, you also feel threatened. You are not so sure everyone has your best interest in mind. Simply put, John is saying---as did Moses (Lev.19: 18, Deut. 6:15), Paul (1Cor. 13), and Jesus himself (Mark 12: 30-31)---that love, the utter devotion to each others’ care and well-being, is the solution to all our fears and worries.

And why should humans not extend that same love to God their Creator, the One who makes all opportunity for life and love possible? Is it really too much of a stretch to translate the phrase “fear the LORD” as “hate the very idea of hurting or upsetting God”? Just as we would have compassion on our neighbors and ourselves, can we not have compassion for God? Think how you would feel if someone betrayed your loving care. Think how you would feel if you realized you had just broken someone’s heart. Extend those tender mercies to God! To do so makes the circle complete! To do so is to set the stage for such a downpour of love as to wash away a universe of hurt and pain. In fact, according to John, that is exactly what God has in mind (Rev. 21: 1-5, esp. verse 5)!

So let us pursue this “fear of the LORD,” our “compassion for God,” the wise counsel to avoid our ruin. Let us give up the fear that causes torment.

Peace to you all,

W. Arthur Herring, Jr.