We all struggle with fear sometimes. But does fear have a place in a loving relationship? Is that the kind of connection that God wants us to have? To find the answers, we’ll look at fear and love in the Bible.
Fear and Love in the Bible
Probably the most telling verse in the bible about fear and love is found in I John. In fact, if you really want to know about love, read any of the books from the “disciple whom Jesus loved”, John. Here’s what John says about fear & love.
“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”(I John 4:18).
Unbiblical Fear
When I was 16 years old I went on my first mission trip. One day I was sitting almost at the top of a small tree near Jinja, Uganda. Without warning my mission trip leader started the countdown: “10, 9, 8…” I had until 1 to be inside the meeting room.
In a panicked scramble I lost my footing and fell about 8 feet landing flat on my side. The wind knocked out of me, I dragged myself up and hobbled through the door of the hut by “1.” And I was greeted wryly by the leader with, “Was it worth it?”
Still breathless from the fall, I fought back my tears and nodded yes. I had preserved the one hour a day I had as “privilege” to either take a cold shower or hand wash my clothes in a bucket.
But for me, it wasn’t the fear of losing the privilege of a shower that drove me to choose obedience over my safety. It was the fear of condemnation. It was not godly fear.
The Fear Of The Lord
I didn’t fear my looming public punishment. What I really feared was being whipped by my own sense of shame. I was in a place where I looked for any opportunity to shackle myself in the chains of self-condemnation.
There is godly fear and ungodly fear. In Matthew 10:28 Jesus says, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Those who are perishing should fear the One who has the power to throw them into hell, but there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1
In Romans 8:15, Paul encourages us, “For you have not received the Spirit of bondage again to Fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Even when we fail, there is no need to flee or be paralyzed in fear. Instead, we can run towards God in our time of need with confidence in His mercy and grace.
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Using Fear to Manipulate
Using fear as a weapon is not God’s plan for godly leadership. Neither is it his plan for His followers to be ruled by fear. True love does not use fear to get its own way.
The Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ time demonstrated the pitfalls of ruling and being ruled by fear. They feared man over God, feared losing the admiration, power, and glory of their position. They judged and thought themselves higher than the people they were meant to serve. In fear, they sought to destroy Jesus.
Perfect Love In The Bible
Jesus did not fear the religious leaders nor the people put under his care. He walked among the sick, sinful, demon-possessed, and otherwise condemned.
In Matthew 9:13, Jesus confronted the Pharisees, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus did not come wielding fear and judgment, but mercy and grace.
Perfect Love Drives Out Fear
When I think of what might have been on that mission trip so many years ago, this quote comes to mind,
“The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship.”
Oswald Chambers
Our team did good work, laying the foundation and building half of a building for the use of future ministries, but the work was done in an atmosphere of worldly fear. Without that fear, I might have been perfected in love.
If I could go back and be a caring adult in Uganda I would ask my younger self, “Are you OK?” I would give my younger self a heads up and a “Please take your time. Your safety is more important than a countdown.” I would give more attention to a person than to my power.
Fear and Love in the Bible – Final Thoughts
Now, I can be grateful to be free of the bondage of fear and shame. And I can let go of the anger of fear and shame being used to control me. I refuse to use fear to control my children. If I call them to come, they come because of what they are running to, not what they are running from.
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7 Godly Parenting Principles
How to Love Your Children Unconditionally
What do you think?