Thru out the OT, man was urged to “fear God and keep His commandments.” E.g. in Deut. 28, the 1st 14 verses explain the blessings that will come upon the Israelites if they obey God — while in the last 22 verses, Moses lays out the severe curses that will come upon them if they disobey God. Solomon summarized it in Ecc. 12:13 by saying, “the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.”
“Fear” is a good motivator of obedience, but it does not make for a good relationship between us and God, or even us and our fellowman. As we proceed thru the Patriarchal and Mosaic ages, we are introduced to a man named Jesus who preached over and over again, “That’s how it was, but this is how it is.” (e.g. Mt. 5:21-22 … 27-28 … 31-32 … 38-39 … 43-44). Jesus did not teach the greatest commandment is to “fear God and obey Him” (Mt 22:37-38). Again, fear is a good motivator, but it is not what God wants motivating our obedience. In fact, John teaches us that “perfect love casts out fear” (1Jn 4:18).
Some seem to think that if you emphasize love toward God, it decreases reverence and respect for Him and His commandments. This is not true. Jesus did NOT say, “If you FEAR Me, you will keep My commandments.” He said, “If you LOVE Me, you will keep My commandments.” (Jn 14:15).
Perhaps we approach people, too often, encouraging them to “fear and obey,” rather than “Love and obey” [There’s a big difference]. If every time I sinned, God caused lightning to strike me, then I would be pretty obedient! — because I feared Him. But God does not want us to obey Him for that reason … it makes for a bad relationship. It may make an obedient relationship, but the heart would be absent. [And God’s Law is written in our hearts – Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:8-12].
[Illus: Suppose a woman has opportunity to cheat on her husband. However, she doesn’t. She remains faithful to her husband because she knows if her husband ever found out, he would kill her! Now, here’s another woman who has opportunity to cheat on her husband, but doesn’t. She remains faithful because of the great love she has for her husband. Which couple has the deepest, most enduring relationship? As we see from example after example in the OT, “FEAR” does not produce a heart-felt, committed relationship. When one learns to love God, he will find His commandments are not burdensome (1Jn 5:3). And we can only learn to love God by spending time with Him and His people …
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in His Book, and in His church. When people are not obeying the Truth, they are not loving God. The solution? Teach them to love God.
Ya know, a very subtle paradox exist in many denominational doctrines that folks fail to see, and that paradox is this: even tho they teach that “God is Love,” they are inadvertently teaching that God does not “inspire” love. [Let me explain] “Predestination” (Calvinism), teaches that God already has in mind who will and won’t be saved, and they teach there is nothing you can do to altar that. That is, even if you want to be saved, you cannot if God has elected you to be lost; and, you can’t be lost if God has elected you to be saved — it’s all been predestined. Does that kind of “god” inspire love? … if everything is already pre-planned … where would be the motivation to “kneel at the Cross?”
Another church teaches the “impossibility of apostasy,” i.e. once you’ve been saved, there is nothing you can do to be lost, regardless of the sin and unfaithfulness that may creep back into your heart. So what that doctrine is teaching is this: God will condemn unbelieving sinners, but will allow “Christians” to commit any sin without condemnation — even without repentance. They argue that “once you’re born, you can’t be unborn.” That’s true, but even tho you are born, you can die.
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Another church teaches the doctrine of total hereditary depravity (we inherit our parents sin). That false doctrine has led to another false doctrine — the doctrine of infant baptism. A god who would banish an infant to eternal punishment because of something his parents did, does not inspire love — especially since Jesus said, “Whoever humbles himself as a little child would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3-4).
One more, another church teaches the direct operation of the H.S. in salvation. I.e., God sends His H.S. on some so that they’ll be saved, but others He omits. That doctrine teaches that God is a respecter of persons, which is in direct violation of 5 specific statements in the NT.
So, while we may see a superficial “lovely-ness” in our denominational friends, they need to be taught the depth, width, and height of Agape Love ( cf. Eph. 3:18).
I sat in my office the other night watching the John Clayton DVD’s “Does God Exist,” till 2 AM. He pointed out many of the intricate delicacies God has created … from the multiple millions of galaxies … to the “lily of the fields.” He made it clear that “God created it all to be enjoyed by the spiritual mind” (cf. Isa. 45:18).
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Do you think Jesus is asking too much when He says to “Love God with ALL your heart? Look what God Himself has done for us: He went to the depth of His own heart to provide us with a Savior, His only Son, Jesus. And now He says to you and me, “You’ve sinned…you’re guilty…or, you’ve been unfaithful,” but that’s OK, I still love you and I’ll take you back if only you will repent, and begin walking in the footsteps of My Son … beginning with baptism.
Obeying God out of fear is not the meaning relationship that God wants you to have with Him — His desire is for you to obey Him because you love Him … and you love Him, not only because of this great and beautiful world He has created for us to inhabit, but also because He offers us salvation and freedom from eternal death.
Toby Miller
