Reframing the fear of God.
“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”
definitely heard that before,
some parent lecturing or church meeting to guilt trip and/or used as a scare tactic to instill cowardice.
This word fear...
Most times framed in a way where God is depicted as some 6-year-old, tantrum-ridden-tyrant of a child who “demands” that we fear Him.
And if we dare say, “or What?”
you don’t get to go to Heaven.
*gulp*
at some point one must ask
“is that right?”
“Is God really a power hungry 1st grader in Heaven?”
An answer is given by Our Teacher Aba Gebrekidan in one of His sermons.
“The fear of God isn’t fearing punishment, rebuke from God, or that we don’t gain the kingdom
[though it is appropriate to fear that too]
It’s to [ultimately] fear His Love.”
“Huh?” “Fear His Love??!”
The Early Church Fathers elucidate this through various philosophical and symbolic avenues.
A simple understanding, however, is through the lenses of an Amharic proverb.
ምከረው እምቢ ካለ መከራ ይምከረው
“Give counsel, but if they say no, let suffering counsel them.”
Since God created us in His image, we retain an attribute of autonomy
in the present moment
at every moment of our lives.
each moment is an opportunity to return love back to the Lover of Mankind. (Abba Moses)
“Why on earth should we take a moment to love God when I see Him on Sundays?”
Because we were created to be with Him always.
Even though it’s very naïve to assume spiritual perfection over night,
We can do way more
And we know it!
It is like not breathing air...
and expecting not to die.
If this separation, spiritual decaying prevails, it makes itself apparent in ways such as despising life, not liking one’s self, or people in immediate environment,
going extra lengths to avert the discomfort of life by avoiding the present moment.
Knowing this, God does not coerce His creation.
Never manipulates.
The All-knowing God only is “jealous” (not in colloquial meaning, Irenaeus of Lyons)
seeing our despair
our suffering
out of His Love He disciplines. (Hebrews 12:6)
He calls us to fear/revere His Love.
But if one decides to cut out this Love (as it is His right)
In the words of the Virgin Mary “He scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts”(Luke 1:51)
Seek His Love
and Fear Losing it,
for He cares for us.