THE FEAR & GRACE OF THE LORD

It is an absolute understatement to say that we are living through a time of information overload and rampant fear-mongering. Due to the digital media revolution of the past several decades, we are now enduring a time in which every molehill is a 10-mile-high mountain and every single challenge is an existential crisis for humanity. From the moment we get up in the morning to the moment we go to bed, we essentially hear daily cries of “the sky is falling” or “wolf! wolf!” flooding into our minds and hearts, seeking to stir people up into a fear-soaked frenzy for the purpose of serving this or that agenda.

However, if everything is a mountain then nothing is; if everything is a crisis then nothing is. Consequently, we are so overwhelmed and burned out by the constant parade of media-ratings-driven crises that we struggle to pay attention anymore. So of course, we would be well-advised to remember the moral of the old folktales of The Boy Who Cried Wolf and Chicken Little.  In particular, if we remember the ending of the Chicken Little story then we could recall that Chicken Little got other small animal friends whipped up into his hysteria while they completely missed the real threat of the fox in their midst (who eats them all in the end).

As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, the Anointed One who is the Living Revelation of Almighty God’s mercy and forgiveness, we are partakers of his reconciling heart and compassionate mind for the sake of the world. Therefore, the divisiveness and manipulation that saturates our culture these days, seeking to divide and control at every level of society, is contrary to the grace and truth of Christ our Savior. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – (Second Timothy 1:7)

Of course, there is a good kind of biblical fear, a kind of fear that empowers our love and soundness of mind: it’s “the fear of the Lord” as the Holy Scriptures declare. That is, it’s the “fear” of awe-struck wonder at the deep mystery of God. It’s the “fearful” awe and reverence for the Eternal God that leads to insight, understanding and wisdom. As it says in the Book of Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10).

This biblical “fear of the Lord” is what leads us to be free peacemakers and free bridge-builders in our lives and world. Freeing us from all forms of human tribalism, the fear and love and faith of Christ our Lord can lead us to transcend earthly divisions for the glory of God and the benefit of all. So as we await the fullness of God’s Kingdom to come when our resurrected Lord Jesus returns to us in person someday, we can be those peacemaking “children of God” that Jesus talks about in chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew.

Moreover, as citizens of the United States of America, we are especially blessed to live in the most universally diverse of all the countries on Earth. It’s not perfect (no country has a perfect history), but we are nonetheless the most diverse country in the world, and I believe God has blessed us Americans with the task of modeling and defending the idea of e pluribus unum (unity from diversity). But more importantly, as Christians, in the name of Jesus Christ, we can be respectful and merciful in this disrespectful and wrathful time, and we can always seek to understand those who differ with us even though we might firmly disagree.

Together in Christ, Pastor Tim

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IN 2019

At a recent Sunday morning Bible study here at Mt. Olive, we were discussing the topic of “trusting in the Lord” for our future. So I offered a bit of wisdom from one of my favorite sayings: Trust in the Lord but tie up your horse. And this statement is really concerning the virtue of prudence.

Prudence is using our best judgment to consider various consequences and outcomes in order to prepare accordingly and provide for the future. Essentially, prudence is a type of good fear that has us lock our doors at night and provide for the safety and security of our loved ones, both short-term and long-term. It is a kind of good fear that promotes things like disaster preparedness. In fact, it is prudence that leads the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to encourage all U.S. citizens to maintain at least a basic three-day supply of drinking water, food, fuel and supplies.

Yes, prudence is a good kind of fear that says to us the following:

  + Pray as though it’s all up to God but work as though it’s all up to you.

  + Trust in God but tie up your horse.

However, there is a second type of good fear, and it is the “fear” of the Lord God Almighty. This is the “fear” of awe-struck wonder at the deep mystery of God. It is the “fearful” reverence for what the Native Americans call the Great Spirit — an awe and reverence that leads to insight, understanding and wisdom. As it says in the biblical Book of Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10).

This biblical “fear of the Lord” is what leads us to be peacemakers in our lives and our world, freeing us from all forms of tribalism, clannishness and cliquishness for the glory of God and the benefit of all. In other words, it is what leads us (in, with and through Christ our Lord) to transcend all earthly divisions so that we might manifest a more inclusive human community here and now — even as we await the fullness of God’s Kingdom to come when our resurrected Lord Jesus returns to us in person someday.

As citizens of the USA, we are especially blessed to live in the most universal of all the countries on Earth. It’s not perfect (no country has a perfect history), but we are nonetheless the most diverse country in the world, and I believe God has blessed us Americans with the task of modeling and defending the idea of a universal human society. We are blessed with the sacred task of advancing greater and greater unity in diversity — e pluribus unum. And as Christians, God has given to us the good news of the one universal Kingdom of God’s truth, grace and love revealed through our Lord Jesus Christ for us to share with all people. As it says in Ephesians chapter 2, “He came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:17-20).

As we begin 2019, may these two good fears guide us into the future. As prudence would demand, may we “Trust in God but tie up our horse” for our households, community, nation and world. However, as the unifying “fear of the Lord” would command, may we follow Jesus by being agents of unity in diversity for the sake of all people everywhere.

Happy New Year to all of you!!!

Pastor Tim