Fear of the Lord

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 by Bob Wickizer in Weekly Grace General Blog |

Our Daily Office scripture today includes a passage from Isaiah that may be relevant to our national political process.

For the Lord spoke thus to me while his hand was strong upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying:  Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread.  But the Lord of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.          (Isaiah 8:11-13)

Wikipedia makes a useful distinction between “fear of the Lord” and “fear of God.”

“Fear of the Lord” generally refers to a specific sense of respect, awe, and submission to a deity, while Fear of God suggests apprehension of Divine punishment.

This week I had a call from a rabid, self-described “skeptic” (he avoided labeling himself an atheist or agnostic) from a Roman Catholic bible study group in Tulsa.  This person was frustrated that one could not intellectually prove or disprove the existence of God.  I pointed out that Thomas Aquinas tried the same task in the 12
th 
century so he was in good company. 

“But how can you believe in something you cannot see, you cannot prove or disprove and you cannot even comprehend?” he asked.  I first replied that no one is forced to believe (at least not in the western world).  Belief is a matter of choice not unlike choosing to love someone.  You get up in the morning and after many years it may not be a conscious choice, most people make the choice to love their spouse or partner or child or friend.  It is a matter of will that can eventually become a good “habit of the heart.” 

The habit to believe in something bigger than ourselves eventually becomes a sense of respect, awe, humility and submission.  (The word “Islam” means “submit.”)  I think I could safely say that most Episcopalians “fear the Lord” in this sense. 

When it comes to “fear of God” and apprehension about God’s wrath or divine punishment (condemnation to hell), most Episcopalians believe in bringing about the kingdom of God right here and now.  We tend to not worry about the afterlife or hell and the judgment that goes with it.  Not worrying about something that comes along after death enables us to worry about the choices we make in this world every day.  I need that focus on daily life.

But first Isaiah was correct.  Don’t worry about conspiracies and the ways of the people around us.  Do not follow the ways of those who have no fear of the Lord.  You are to regard the Lord as holy and show some respect.  Because you never know what might happen next.

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