“Our fathers and grandfathers who poured
over the Midwest were self-reliant, rugged, God-fearing people of indomitable
courage.” -Herbert
Hoover
The above quote comes from a speech from one
of history’s worst presidents but I found it interesting because it got me
thinking about the term “God-fearing.”
It was such a prevalent term in our national culture during those early
Puritan and Victorian years, but in our current secular age we tend to focus on
our "selfies" and selves rather than harboring any great fears of our Heavenly
Father.
That terrible, wrathful God of the Old
Testament who flooded the world, and destroyed cities, and allowed his chosen
people to be conquered has been a staple of many an evangelical sermon over
that past three centuries. Along with Jesus'
own words in Matthew 12:36-37 “I
tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for
every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted,
and by your words you will be condemned.”
Those pastors highlighted passages like this simply to keep their flock
God-fearing and “on the straight and narrow path.”
It’s a relief to me to know that there’s more
to Jesus' teachings than just sin and judgment.
The Matthean Jesus also was quite concerned with things like love,
forgiveness, charity, and faith. While I
know it’s important to take the whole package I sometimes wonder if a little
more fire and brimstone isn’t needed in our modern world. Whether at the cool, suburban mega-churches
around the country, or certainly in our popular culture, “sin” isn’t talked
about that much. It doesn’t test well
with focus groups and is often left out of our public discourse. But the kicker is: without it we can’t
appreciate God’s grace.
Catholic author, Dr. Leroy Huizenga, wrote “The modern world cannot comprehend mercy because it cannot
comprehend sin, and so it often chooses to trample the pearl of mercy. In its
endless quest for affirmation, it misses out on mercy.”
Fortunately as disciples we should know both sides of this coin. For we
know how the story ends, with our salvation bought and paid for on a cross,
with victory over death preserved by an empty tomb. In a world that says “I’m alright, you’re
alright, we’re all alright,” it’s up to us as believers to say “no we’re not
alright,” but because of the triumph of Easter we may have the chance to live
without fear.
Charles West
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