I Do Not Fear God… I Love Him!
Professor Michel Abs
The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
The phrase “fear of God” is widely used among people and has become universally associated with virtue. It is commonly applied as a positive attribute to describe those of good character who are trusted and respected by their communities.
As a believer who has deeply contemplated religious faith—both in its metaphysical and social dimensions, I find that this phrase reflects an incomplete understanding of the Creator of the Universe and the role of religion in society.
To act in your daily life, in your relationships, in your dealings with others, out of fear of the Lord who has given you everything is, in essence, an accusation. It accuses the Creator, glory be to Him, and His creatures, who are inspired by the One who formed creation.
To act out of fear suggests that the human being is innately inclined to evil and can only be restrained by fear of a higher power that will punish and retaliate harshly. It implies that a human being cannot be trusted unless constantly threatened with doom and destruction. This presumes that mankind is inherently bad and cannot be relied upon.
On the other hand, the phrase also implies that the Creator has a harsh heart, one who constantly threatens His creatures with punishment and casts a shadow over their daily lives. It turns the universe into an open courtroom, where every being is judged with eternal reward or punishment, and humanity is always under surveillance, standing trial.
But neither is the Creator like this, nor is humanity.
The Creator, the Giver of Life, is the One to whom we offer thanks, because prayer is, at its core, an act of gratitude. Gratitude for everything: for life, health, intellect, light, water, air, and all that exists in this universe, given by the Creator to His creatures.
We thank Him for His redemptive act on our behalf, for cleansing our sins with His pure blood. We thank Him for the Incarnation, the teaching, the suffering, the crucifixion, and the Resurrection that granted humanity new life. We thank Him for His care and faithfulness toward us, from primitive societies to the civilization whose achievements we enjoy today.
As for the creature, man is not inherently evil. Proof of this lies in the natural compassion and love shown spontaneously by young children toward each other and others. Humanity is not born into wickedness; rather, evil is the work of some who have strayed from the path of love.
Humans are more capable of doing good than evil. The evidence is in the great work they have achieved and the humanitarian institutions they have established, created by individuals with a high sense of altruism, one of the noblest feelings a person can possess. This altruism stems from love for others and for society.
These acts are not done out of fear of God, but out of love for Him, and gratitude for all He has given. Such people live the words: “Give from what He has given you.” They love others because they love the Creator, not because they fear Him. Through the lens of faith, they have come to know the Creator by the love He has shown for us.
These people are the leaven of goodness in society. For them, there is no place for fear of the Creator, because everything they do flows from love for Him. They are role models who have influenced humanity and continue to grow in number, role, and impact, even though evil still rears its head in our lives and communities.
If what you do is rooted in fear of the Creator, whose image you may have distorted, then what you do will also be distorted, lacking the warmth people need. But if your actions stem from love for the Creator and gratitude for His gifts, then surely that love will shine through in the work of your hands.
Do not fear God… love Him!