Fear must be given attention, not only because it plays so large part in the life of mankind, but is a major theme in Scripture, both in the fear of God and the fear of human beings – in ourselves and among ourselves. There is a fear component in human beings that serves us well, but distorted by the person in fear may be destructive even to life. There are numerous illustrations of fear as benefit (affirmative) and fear as debit (negative). In the verse cited above the fear of God is an affirmation to benefit, and the fear of mankind is a debit to loss. Fear may be intense related to the subject of fear that leads to awe and reverence. The word can be plotted along a line to the least fear component at one end, and wholly present at the other end. For example the word fear in Jude 12 really means fearless. Some persons are without fear relative to what they are doing or not doing in the God context. In verse 23, Jude admonishes his Christian readers that they should be so taken by their affirmative fear (reverence) for God in the advancement of the gospel that they press forward against all barriers. In this the concerns of God and the needs of mankind are such that the intense motivation is to be held for attitude and conduct necessary to gain the objective. It relates to a fear that one might miss the will of God for his or her purpose and conduct. We fear missing God’s way.
Again, we find ourselves on a continuum between zero at one end and a hundred percent at the other end of our measures. The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy that God is not the author of timidity related to the Gospel of Christ. Timidity is related to fear, so a word that represents mild fear is used by the Apostle. (2 Timothy 1:7) Later translations refer to craven spirit, or spirit of timidity, or spirit of cowardice. The solution to this timidity is related to fear that we have not followed God in power, love and self-discipline. The Apostle wants that corrected for anyone who might fall to it. This is not to fault timid persons for a spirit of humility that may be turned into a type of timidity, but in the matter of Gospel, undue timidity must yield to holy boldness. It doesn’t happen by accident but is chosen where needed in important matters. I have a sister-in-law who, on her own motivation, turned away from her timidity when it came to her faith and interest in others. The shift created for her the sense of meaning for purpose in reverence to God, and the sense of her value to other persons in love and concern. We recently were animated in discussion in the shift that she made from the timidity of her early years. This recognition is not to imply that the person becomes an intrusion and a bore, but does not back away. We rightly fear violation of any divine duty.
Fear of wild animals, of an oncoming tornado, of flooding waters, of marauding tough-guys is managed by taking precautions for safety, defense, locks on doors, and avoidance of this or that in order to provide safety for ourselves and those with whom we have to do. We choose our fears, if we understand Scripture, and all that begins with the attention we want to give to God, aware of dangers if we have no sense of his love to protect us in practical living. We do well to understand the context of fear, its virtues and dangers. My concepts of God’s holiness make me fear some uses of entertainment. The fear I feel about pornography causes me to avoid some features of the internet. I have read and heard the words of men who were occupied with pornography on the internet. I do not know how to access it, and I do not want to know. I might be caught in that web. I do not use drugs without clear direction from a doctor who will affirm in prescription that I need it, and an understanding about its meaning related to possible addiction. I would not recognize an illicit drug if I saw it. I want no knowledge of it except that which will help me help others to escape use and addiction. I am appalled that the fear of addiction, even death, does not reach persons knowing consequences. They have abandoned self-discipline which is related to spiritual factoring for life, even for those who reject any concept of deity. There is a self-discipline that relates to fear so to management of our lives. That self-management may not include God, but he does help those who help themselves. We do not here address the redemptive message of God, but his love for his creation for the good of that creation. For the Christian there are many aids including insightful others, prayer, Scripture and the daily monitoring of the Holy Spirit to healing and health. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020