If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.
Albert Einstein
So much of who we've been as Christians is based in fear. Fear of God, fear of sin, fear of falling away, fear of falling into sin, fear of voting our salvation away, fear of facing God's judgement and being rejected in the final roll call, fear of people who are different than us, fear of being open and honest about who we really are, fear of people rejecting us, judging us and on and on. Fear has a way of permeating nearly every aspet of our faith. In many fundamentalist and other churches, fear is used as a tool to bring people to Christ. Hellfire and damnation preaching has commonly been used to scare new would-be converts into fearful submission. Unfortunately, this fire insurance brand of Christianity is all too common and those who come to God this way often remain fearful and scared of our loving Father. The bible is laced with the sentiment fear not and do not be afraid through old testament to the new. Yet we remain full of fear.
Jesus, Himself even commanded us to not be afraid. When he gave the two Greatest Commandments in Matthew 22 starting at verse 37 Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
He said love, not fear. Perfect love casts out fear. We are free to love God and love those around us without fear. Many would argue that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but that usage of fear simply means utmost respect, not actually having to fear that God will burn you for eternity. If you are fearing God and fearing people, there is no room for love. Fear causes well meaning Christians to stand against the very people that we should be embracing and loving. This should not be so.
We are free as Christians to live without fear. It's a choice, it's up to us. God has given us permission to live in love, peace, joy, kindness and freedom from fearful imaginings. We do not have to worry about His or anyone else's rejection. We do not have to live in fear.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Lord Jesus, help us to understand perfect love and how to implement it in our lives so that we may be made free from fear. So be it.