Without Fear
So some would say that most of the content of my blog is to instill fear. I cannot control reactions, but I am sympathetic with the charge.
For the mature Christian (I make no claims here) this is not much of an issue. For the rest of us, it is.
I say, for myself and others with the same concerns keep your eye on the prize. It supersedes all other issues. That prize is your relationship with Jesus. No matter what happens or what you think will happen that relationship can improve and grow. If that is our focus then the other things in life will have their proper place. Thank God there is no other way.
So we rely, and rightly so, on our faith in this relationship at whatever point we may find it. The Holy Spirit leads us with a gentle voice to the next right thing and be warned that fear will prevent hearing in most cases. So fear not for God loves you more than you can conceive.
So as we learn or relearn about the world we live in we are best counseled to take a birds’ eye view and not be afraid of personal encounters, the trials and missteps along the way. A certain detachment is warranted, but do not lose sight of your fellow man and try to understand the fear that may drive him so you can be of some use.
These will be hard times, but they will also offer up some of the best opportunities for conversion. Let us be ready and without fear.
The following is from Scott at Well Spring http://wellspring1.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/fear-of-the-lord-or-knowledge/
Fear of the Lord or Knowledge?
Everyone has a natural desire for knowledge but what good is knowledge without the fear of God” – Thomas a Kempis
Knowledge is sought after, to the ends of the earth. We have read of the Queen of Sheba and her long trek to listen to the words of Solomon. And what do we seek it for? Most often it is to get ahead in this world. Unfortunately it more often than not puffs us up with pride. Thomas a Kempis cautions us to “curb all undue desire for knowledge, for in it you will find many distractions and much delusion. Those who are learned strive to give the appearance of being wise and desire to be recognized as such; but there is much knowledge that is of little or no benefit to the soul.”
King Solomon in his teachings said in Proverbs 1:7, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”. But we seek our own wisdom and gather around us those who are pleased and impressed with our understanding. We do not often admit we do not understand, especially in Sunday school settings, in the church foyers, in the meeting rooms, in the circle of the influential. Solomon notes those that hated knowledge (or those who did not give heed to reproof) would “call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.”
This is a temptation as I grow in wisdom and the ways of the Lord…to think it is by my great understanding that I have arrived at these tiny shreds of knowledge. How utterly foolish. Only the Spirit can really reveal the deep truths of God and only those who fear the Lord can enter into this deep wisdom. The wisdom of this age cannot attain this knowing of God.
So what is this phrase “fear-of-the-Lord?” Are we supposed to be afraid of God to know Him? There are times I have been fearful, fearful of not measuring up, fearful of judgement, fearful of God, but have come to understand that this is not what God desires for His children. He welcomes them and embraces them and asks that others not hinder their coming (Matt 19:14). He is my Father and I am His child. His desire is to draw with love, not fear.
Eugene Peterson in his book Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places looks at this phrase closely and identifies it as one of the key parts of the Christian life, of Christian spirituality. He points out that fear of the Lord “is not a combination of fear + of + the+ Lord. Fear-of-the-Lord is a word all its own. So we don’t look up “fear” in the dictionary, then “God”, and then proceed to combine the two meanings: “fear”, a feeling of apprehension plus “God,” a divine being worthy of worship, is not fear-of-the-Lord. Pursuing that analytical route gets us way off the track.”
I know this track and it doesn’t work. Fear of the Lord is something totally different than being afraid. Even the apostle John said there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, I John 4:18 It is something totally different than gaining knowledge about the Almighty to show and impress the believers around you (and God too). I believe it is a life filled with the presence of God. It is an awareness of His constant presence and love. It is an awareness of His care. His power, His grace, His redemptive work. With this fear of the Lord it changes everything in your life. I have sensed the gradual change in my life from a fear of man to this wonderful fear of the Lord. Life’s little difficulties shrink even further in this fear of the Lord.
Peterson continues with his definition of fear-of-the-Lord: It “is not studying about God but living in reverence before God. We don’t so much lack knowledge, we lack reverence. Fear-of-the-Lord is not a technique for acquiring spiritual know-how but a willed not-knowing. It is not so much know-how we lack; we lack a simple being-there. Fear-of-the-Lord, nurtured in worship and prayer, silence and quiet, love and sacrifice, turns everything we do into a life of “breathing God”.
Yes, fear of the Lord is living, breathing, God. It is acknowledging His presence all the time. It is drawing near to God and letting Him draw near to you, as it says in James. Being afraid, is not knowing God, knowledge is not knowing God…Revering is knowing, dependence is knowing. Studying the word is good, but that is not knowing God. God is not a textbook to figure out. We do not worship a textbook. We worship the living God.
Back to our friend of the 1300’s, Thomas a Kempis – “If it seems to you that you know many things and thoroughly understand them all, realize that there are countless other things of which you are ignorant. Be not haughty, but admit your ignorance.”
And finally this bit of sound advice: “If you are looking for knowledge and a learning that is useful to you, then love to be unknown and be esteemed as nothing.”
So, strive to be unknown, except by God. Do not seek after knowledge without first and continually walking in the fear of the Lord. Without the Lord your knowledge will amount to nothing.
Scott for Wellspring 2008
Will we witness the great separation?
What is the great separation? It is what will likely happen here in the US amongst the population where roughly two groups of people will be distinguishable based on truth and fear. One group will cling to old paradigms, an unsustainable consumerist culture and the state. These people could be called the TV watchers, where their worldview is formed and informed by popular culture and where one of their primary activities beyond necessities is to seek entertainment. The other group will consist of those who are generally more skeptical, tend to be readers, interested in the truth, question authority and know, instinctively, that something is very wrong in America. They tend to be less motivated by fear, but very concerned about what is coming.
This is not a good guy/bad guy division. It is a common phenomena found in historical examples when societies collapse or go through massive changes. Of course, shades of grey will permeate this division, but the division will be distinct nonetheless. What is odd is that the survivors (in the secular sense of the word) in the upcoming scenario will likely be the former group rather than the latter; unlike what was seen during the founding era of the United States.
Why?
The long term manipulations by the power-elite have led us to this economic melt-down/police state/war torn precipice. They know full well the ramifications. To assume that they are not ready for the fall-out is something for simplistic thinkers. They intend to utilize the great motivator of fear to reign in the reactions from the latter group. The will use the former group to do this for them. They, these ubiquitous TV watchers (and consisting of those who are already beholden to the state either through employment or other existing arrangements – what is it – roughly 52% of the current population?), will be the ones motivated by fear and will be quite energetic in carrying out the plans of their manipulators. Think of pre-war Nazi Germany on steroids in the information age, or a more violent version of George Orwell’s vision or something similar and you will pretty much have it nailed.
Based on my research and my gut, this is, generally what I think will happen. We will probably see this happening within the next five years or so (its Sept 2009 at the time of this writing). The answer, in my not so humble opinion, is a resounding “Yes.”
What do you think?
On the face of it, this mini-no-person prediction seems pretty ugly, but rest assured this is glad tidings (especially if you believe in Jesus) and there could be some surprises along the way. The way is confrontational and loving, if you can keep your head on and His heart in view.
Prayer, prayer and prayer; it often times is its own reward.
