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Fear Is For Children

Fear Is For Children

Recently I have heard a number of sermons which describe God as angry, which present Him as wrathful, threatening, and punishing. These sermons talk about God killing, God raining down fire, God burning people, and God slaying people.

  They talk against God’s loving, forgiving, and gracious heart. Several people have emailed me and told me that such sermons incite fear and make them afraid of God.

In response to this I know some who talk against the idea of God raising His voice, against God threatening, and make it appear that God never acts in ways to incite fear. Yet there are numerous texts which use this powerful language. Where is the balance? How can we reconcile the reality that “God is love” and “Love seeks not her own, keeps no record of wrong” and “gives his life for a friend” with statements in the Bible where God threatens to kill, punish, and destroy?

It is very simple really, love always does what is designed to heal, save, and protect and sometimes that means raising the voice, threatening, and even inciting fear.

Recently, I was counseling an adolescent young man who was struggling with powerful sexual desire and had been acting on these desires. As we talked and I tried to explore God’s principles and reasons for abstinence until marriage it became clear that he simply could not appreciate any benefit in waiting. His mind was overcome with powerful feelings of lust. Reason and evidence just were not having an impact on him. He was not mature, he was not healthy, he was not capable of functioning on the level God has designed us to operate. So I met him where he was and incited fear. I presented the truth about sexually transmitted diseases. I showed pictures of what these diseases do. I explored scenarios and situations in which he could suffer from these diseases and he became anxious, uncomfortable, and afraid. He was actually upset with me and said, “But now I just can’t go pick anyone up.”

It was then I realized fear is for children. Why does a child not cheat on an exam? Fear of getting caught. Why do childlike people not drink and drive? Fear of arrest. Why do children pick up their toys, make their bed, and do their chores? Fear of punishment.

How much more might a parent “threaten” if their child was engaged in something dangerous and not listening? If your child was riding their bike toward an oncoming car that was hidden from the child’s view and if your child didn’t stop when you told them, would you threaten them and raise your voice in an angry tone? Might you say, “If you don’t stop right now I will beat your bottom raw” or some other threatening statement in order to get them to stop? If your child didn’t stop and was hit by the car would you then get out your belt and beat them?

This is how God operates. God is love. God is working to heal and protect, working to save and restore. But sometimes, when his earthborn children are heading off into self-destruction, He raises His voice and threatens to destroy, to inflict a severe punishment, hoping we will stop and listen and be saved. But if we don’t, God will sadly let us go.  Just like a child who gets hit by the car after ignoring their parent’s threatening warning, God doesn’t have to use His power to kill or destroy, because “sin when it is full grown brings forth death” James 1:15.

Sadly, too many Christians and far too many pastors fail to recognize God is our loving Father and as our loving Father He will meet us where we are. If we are too childlike to listen, too childlike to reason or follow the truth or intelligently implement His methods, then rather than watch us die God lovingly threatens, thunders, and shouts, even inciting fear, in order to get our attention and save us from ourselves. But if we refuse to listen, if we insist on going our own way, then eventually God sadly lets go and we die. But before He lets us go our gracious God is so awesome that, like any loving parent, He will raise His voice, He will scream for us to stop, He will even threaten us with harm all designed to save us from ourselves. Yes, God does sometimes use methods designed to insight fear, but fear is for children – God is waiting for us to grow up and come to know Him as He really is. And when we do that, then we will know as Moses did at Sinai, when all the people trembled in fear, that in truth “there is no reason to be afraid.” Exodus 20:18-20.

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I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

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I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

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I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

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The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

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Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

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Ok, so last night I listened to “The Law of Liberty” and “How to Achieve Victory: Freedom, Truth and Spirtual Warfare.” These are both MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES so far! The logic is just soooooo beautiful. I had to re-listen to them a couple of times. I just want to EXPLODE! (<< we assume with joy and happiness)

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It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

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Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

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We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA