God Wants our Being before Our Doing

A friend made a comment on one of my blog posts recently, highlighting that, “Fear not is one of, if not THE most commonly used phrase in God’s word.”  Not having thought of it like that, I decided to get my concordance out and check.  My friend is right. Using them in their correct context, the words “fear not” “do not fear” “do not be afraid” “you shall not fear” can be found approximately sixty-six times in the Old Testament and about eighteen times in the New Testament. 

Not only that, but in most cases in the Old Testament, it is God Almighty Himself Who utters those words, through His prophets & messengers.  So much for the Old Testament revealing “a vindictive, cruel God” as is a commonly held view – even by some Christians!  No wonder that John the apostle twice tells us in one chapter of his epistle that, “God is love,” 1 John 4:8, 16, and then just a couple of verses down says, “There is no fear in love……” 1 John 4:18.  In my twenty-five years as a Christian I could count on one hand how often I’ve heard, “Fear not” preached, freely.

Why is that?  The church is the one place where God’s very own people are to be exhorted, edified and comforted; what better way to do that than tell us what God says to us about not fearing, not being afraid – especially of Himself!  I am of the opinion that the reason we don’t hear about this enough, is because too many preachers are not really and truly, deep down in their innermost being, released from fear of Him themselves.  If they were, they would shout it from the roof tops!  But rarely is this the case, in my experience.  I’ve heard plenty of religious men – but not many released men.

In fact, if it were not for the grace of God, Who for the past twenty-five years has made it His business to place biblical books, tapes & teachings at my disposal – from men who are released, I may not have been able to discern this. Numerous posts have been written on this blog of my experiences with church-goers who were fearful of God, their priests & ministers.  But in most cases there was no evidence that any of them knew God – no evidence that they were born again – so it is only natural that these people would be afraid of Him.  That was my experience too, before I met the Lord.

But once born again, it should be most unnatural for a person to have a sustained fear of God.  How is it that we hear so much about God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and peace etc, but often not much change being evidenced as a result, in the lives of those who hear these messages? I guess the answers to this are many and complex.  I know God can only really work effectively in us as we (in faith) meet the conditions required to inherit His promises … but still, how is it?  Why is it?  One answer today.  It seems to me that the people and preachers do not REALLY BELIEVE that God’s salvation is a GIFT Ephesians 2:8-9.

Yes, biblical Christians know in their head that salvation is a gift, but how about deep down in their heart?  One of my favorite questions when speaking with Christians is, “If you died tonight, do you believe you would go to heaven?”  Too often the answer is, “I hope so.”  My next question is, “Is Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord?”  When they say He is, I then ask them why.  A born-again biblical Christian’s answer should be something like, “Because Jesus died on the cross for my sins and every one of them (past, present and future) has been washed away by His blood.  I’m trusting Him, therefore, I am no longer guilty before God.” 

That, or similar should be the answer.  But I have found too often that it is not.  The answer to my “Why?’ is usually something like, “Well, I’m doing my best to faithful and obedient to Him………..”  Enough said!  The moment I hear, “I’m doing”, I know that such a person has no assurance of having God’s GIFT.  They were once sure, perhaps – but not now.  Here’s why.  When people attend a church where the gospel is preached, a great emphasis (rightly so) is placed on the need for one to receive Jesus as Savior.  And there is great joy always, when one does so.  Is it joy for Jesus?  Partly.  But also, is it joy for the preacher and his church, because, “we’re extending the kingdom of God in this place, hallelujah!”?

I know that sounds cynical on my part, but it needs to be asked.  Again, here’s why.  Once a person becomes born again, he is told he now needs to get baptised.  It is true, he does.  The question is, in what manner is he told?  Is it with genuine Holy Spirit-led love, grace, exhortation and encouragement?  And do they receive sound biblical teaching on baptism, so that they can’t wait to get baptised?  Or are they lorded over (with a smile), manipulated into (with a smile) or fear-driven into it? 

Now, in most churches, once the person does get baptised, it is then not too long before he learns of his expectations & obligations.  First, he must join the church – “become a member to show your commitment to Jesus!”  Then he will be encouraged to, “seek God for your ministry” which often simply means, “get involved with the church program.”  So he does that.  He doesn’t have any choice.  Everyone else is doing it too and “what will they think of me if I don’t?”  He does not realise it yet, but the moment he yields to that thought, the seeds of religious fear have been sown and later they will grow to kill his joy.  

When this born again, baptised believer first notices that he’s losing his joy he will be reluctant to admit it.  The worship team sings songs of joy.  Every week the song leader and singers up the front appear to be full of joy, so he rallies himself to get with it.  He keeps hearing “faith messages” from the pulpit, and he notices people nodding their head, saying, “amen” to certain statements – so he does it too.  The only problem however, after the service nobody seems to want to talk about faith – even the minister.  They want to talk about the football!  

He hears a couple women expressing concern over who should be on the morning tea roster. They’re not happy.  Other women are talking, but it doesn’t appear to be about the message on faith either.  In fact, he listens to two of them discussing their worries and problems.  One of the influential ladies in the church marches over, widely smiling as she asks him if he would consider putting his name to another “very important” church program.  She tells him, “We think you are just the man for this job.”  Because he has not learned to discern the voices of manipulation and flattery, he falls for it. 

Years go by, but in them all, this man has given little thought to the reality that he is no longer, “set free in Jesus.”  He, along with his minister and others simply believe they are.  As for that joy he once had?  Well, “everybody has to mature and grow up in the faith.  We’re not babies forever!”  He believes every word of that.  And yes, like everyone else in that church, “set free in Jesus” still comes up often in the minister’s “faith” messages.  But, neither he nor the others ever stop to consider what it really means.  Why not?  Because “real faith is demonstrated,” the minister and others will say – or imply – “by how much you are committed to the church program.”

In other words, most churches are works based – rules based.  It has to be said too, it is the leaders who create this mentality, fostered and feed by the members.  The rules are not written down.  They don’t need to be.  Everyone knows what’s expected of them and what their obligations are.  They believe themselves to be Christ-centered, but in reality they are church-centered, man-centered.  And as a result – fear rules the day whether they know it or not, or believe it or not. 

Salvation is a GIFT.  We cannot earn it.  God wants our being, before our doing.  Once He’s got that, He provides the doing.  A by-product of doing it God’s way is to experience release from fear – both of Him and man.  Then the joy becomes real and sustained.  In that order only are we able to, “Fear not.”  “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.