Dangers of Fearing Man
If you have served in ministry for any measure of time, no doubt you have encountered any number of intimidating situations that made you want to run for cover and question whether bearing with such troubles is worth it. Did you serve under a leader whose philosophy of ministry is, “my way or the highway”? Maybe you endured an overbearing elder who made every board meeting and personal confrontation miserable. Did you succeed a beloved longtime pastor to whom the congregation compares you and reminds you of all things he did differently (better)? Some have left or avoided vocational ministry altogether for fear of dealing with discouraging people or circumstances. While I empathize with that mindset, the call to ministry is not the yellow brick road of career choices. Enduring hardships and hard people come with the territory. And yet, GOD does not expect His ministers to shy away from these difficult or even dangerous prospects.
The biblical witness illustrates this in the life of Joshua when GOD encourages him to be strong and courageous even though Joshua is about to face a military much greater than he and the people of Israel (Joshua 1:6-9). David, who was small even by ancient Jewish standards, faced off against a larger than life unbeatable enemy with divine fearlessness (1 Samuel 17). Even under the New Covenant GOD promises that those who abide and walk in His love will have the ability to live fearlessly for Him (2 Timothy 1:7,8; 1 John 4:18). So, is fear a bad thing? Well, yes and no. As it pertains to relating to other people and the things we face in this world, we need not live in fear. However, there is a fear that is not only not bad but totally necessary for the Christian life and to serve in vocational ministry in a way that is pleasing to GOD.
The Right Kind of Fear
The fear I’m talking about is the fear of the GOD Himself. The right kind of fear. This is not the terror that arises from the possibility of divine retribution because of sin and rebellion. Adam and Eve hid themselves from GOD for this reason (Genesis 3:10). The fear of GOD begins with understanding who He is in relation to who we are. It is knowing one’s place with GOD. To know GOD is to fear Him, and we fear Him because we have come to know Him (Proverbs 1.7; 9:10). When we take an honest assessment of who GOD is, we ask and answer questions like: What is He capable of? What has GOD done in the past? What does He plan to do in the future? How does GOD feel about me and the rest of humanity? Answering these questions compels us to consider GOD’s character and His intent for the world. This, in turn elicits a response from us. If GOD is who the Bible claims and creation touts, then we should be in awe (Psalm 33:8) and tremble (Isaiah 8:13). Even the demons, those destined for eternal punishment still shudder at His mention (James 2:19). Fearing the LORD is being responsible for the revealed things of GOD available to every human being, and preferably leads to a life of faith and obedience.
The Blessings of Fearing GOD
The faith and obedience are not without reward. Living in fear of GOD comes with many benefits and blessings. Once we know GOD more, we see how He wants to relate to us. GOD enjoys relating to us as a Father and wants to be close to His image-bearers (John 1:12,13; Acts 10:35). God is merciful and provides for those who fear Him (Psalm 34:9; Luke 1:50). There are eternal rewards for those who live in fear of GOD (Revelation 11:18).
The Consequences of Not Fearing GOD
We can choose to not take seriously what we know and could know about GOD and instead live a life in rebellion to Him. When someone decides not to fear GOD their lives reflect this choice. For those whose lives demonstrate no fear of GOD, we are told by scriptures that when they do approach GOD He will not respond to their prayers (Proverbs 1:28, 29). Those choosing to live this way also tend to descend into more sinful and destructive behavior (Psalm 36:1; Romans 1; 3). Ultimately, they will stand before GOD in judgment for their sin (Deuteronomy 28:58-59; Malachi 3:5).
Fear of GOD and ministry
To fear God is to know, love, and respect Him. The temptation in ministry is to take the easy road and not ruffle any feathers or avoid the call altogether. But this behavior shows a lack of faith in GOD and an unhealthy fear of others. It could potentially stunt your spiritual growth, kill authentic relationships, displays a lack of faith in GOD, and make your ministry endeavors ineffective. The last words of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes is a warning to all. He ends with this- When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil (Eccl 12:13-14). This is the right kind of fear.
Director of Leadership Development