When I sit down and try to think of the last time I have actually heard the phrase sincerely used by anyone other than myself, I am unable to recollect any examples in the past ten years. I have not heard people compliment the piety of others by describing them as God-fearing except as examples of 'what not to say' in lessons. I do not recall an instructor or speaker recommending that their audience ought to fear God, excepting that the immediately clarify and say they mean to 'respect' God.
Perhaps my experience is not completely representative, but it seems that a lot of effort is expended in getting people to avoid a phrase that no one uses.
The ironic element of the fear of the fear of God is that it is partly based on a misunderstanding of the passage in 2 Timothy. Paul continues in verse 8: "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God." (2 Timothy 1:8) Paul was talking about the fear of affliction in the passage, or feeling shame because of Christ; he was not at all talking about the fear of God.
People have used the passage 2 Timothy to discourage discussion of topics that might lead us to believe that God might ever do something besides make people feel warm and fuzzy. While it is true that the emphasis of prophets and apostles in the LDS church seems to highlight the love, mercy, and forgiveness of God, ignoring the wrath and power of God leaves Christians lacking context and understanding.
Implying that ideas that might provoke fear are never from God leaves Christians with a consistency and credibility problem. Under the assumption that anything that inspires fear must not be from God, consider the following conclusions:
- Noah's ark is not true since God would never threaten to destroy all but eight human beings (Genesis 6-7)
- The ten plagues with which God cursed Egypt must not have been real, since God would never threaten his children (Exodus 7-12)
- Elijah was not a real prophet since he took people of another religion to a river and slaughtered them (1 Kings 18:40)
- Jeremiah was not a real prophet of God, since he threatened the people of God with utter destruction (Jeremiah 16:1-15)
- Zephaniah (and almost all of the other minor prophets in the Old Testament) were not real prophets because they foretold God sending great destruction and death (Zephaniah 1:14-18)
- Jesus was probably just kidding about the signs of destruction and sorrow that would appear before his second coming (Matthew 24)
- Paul was probably just kidding when he foretold the wrath of God and the times of peril that would appear in the last days (2 Thessalonians 1-2)
- John was using artistic symbolism when he described the son of God returning in glory and slaying all the wicked (Revelation 19)
- Lehi in the Book of Mormon was definitely not a prophet because he told the people of Jerusalem that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed (1 Nephi 1)
- When King Benjamin was just a fear-monger because he embellished the punishments that God places on the wicked to manipulate his people (Mosiah 2:37-39)
- Captain Moroni was an unholy angry man, because God would never threaten to kill people (Alma 44)
- When Jesus said that the gates of hell stand open to receive those that do not accept his doctrine, he probably meant the gates of a bureau of guidance counsellors that will lovingly help people understand what is right since he is God and God is love (3 Nephi 11:38-40)
- The Book of Ether was probably just made up since it depicts God using wars to wipe people off of his promised land, which a loving God would never do (Ether 15)
- Joseph Smith was probably just having a bad day when he had the revelation on marriage recorded. After all, God wouldn't actually say "For whatsoever things remain are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed." (D&C 132:14)
For those that are surprised that God uses fear, threats, and destruction to accomplish his purposes, know that you are not alone. Even prophets of God have experienced similar shock. Consider the burden of Habakkuk in the Old Testament. When he learned that God was using the wicked Chaldeans to destroy Israel, he was shocked that God might use something he felt was evil. (Habakkuk 1)
I believe that many people have become too cavalier in their view of God, or in assessing their relationship to him. Some of my own pet peeves include the following (commentary not italicized):
- Jesus is my elder brother - The concept may be true. He is the Son of God, and we are children of God, ergo he is our elder brother... but that relationship really does not earn any points. After all, his 'brothers' mocked him, spit on him, beat him, betrayed him, and murdered him. Jesus declared that "whosever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother." (Mark 3:35) In claiming brotherhood with Christ, is it the intention of an individual to announce "I'm doing the will of God!" Maybe they are, but it seems arrogant.
- God is love - The famous scripture in 1 John 4:8 was not given to say that God is a human emotion, it was given to teach people that we ought to show love and kindness for one another. Do not be fooled into reducing God into an emotion. He is a person. While Jesus Christ truly showed love, he was not afraid to identify and condemn hypocrisy, sin, and irreverence. Perhaps it was love of his father and the Temple that motivated him to make a whip and drive the thieves and money changers out, but it is obvious that God is more complicated than a single human emotion.
- The spirit makes me feel happy - This could also be God makes me feel happy or some other phrase that ties God to happiness. Unless you worship Prozac, God is not depression medication. You don't 'take God' and then 'feel better.' Does this mean that a person who is not feeling happy must not have the spirit or must not be close to God? Or could it mean that God isn't doing his job, which is apparently to make you happy. This again seems arrogant.
- Jesus Christ is my personal savior - I've already addressed my dislike of the overuse of the term 'savior'. The addition of the terms 'my personal' makes this even more annoying because it implies ownership. While most people that use it probably do not intend to claim that they 'own' Jesus, I would try very hard to make sure I was not implying any entitlement to the power produced in the infinite and incomprehensible sacrifice of Christ. If Jesus feels like I have truly accepted him, he will at his own discretion and judgement offer forgiveness for my sins.
- When I pray, I talk to God like he is my friend - That's right up their with claiming Jesus is your brother. Maybe other people are better than I am, but I do not want to claim to be chums with God. I don't envision approaching his throne and offering a fist-bump. I am not expecting him to offer me a cold beverage and talk about old times. I expect to be on my knees... and my head will probably be lowered. Maybe that's old fashioned, but that's how I would approach a being that is all-powerful, and knows every weakness I have and every mistake I have made. We ought to think of God less like a chum or a pal and more like... a God.
Fear in the sense of humility is what Jesus taught when he told the following parable:
"And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 14:7-11)
God actually has given us the spirit of fear. He wants us to be worried about our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. (Mosiah 4:30) He has made no secret of his intention to annihilate the wicked when he returns. (D&C 45:47-50) He has openly declared that he will reign over the earth. (Revelation 19:11-16) He is also clear that we ought not feel secure about our current position. (2 Nephi 28:21) The facts imply that we should be a bit fearful.
What he does not want is a paralyzing fear that makes people want to avoid him. This is where the emphasis of modern prophets and apostles becomes important. An understanding that he could wipe us all out should add something to the fact his prophets are pleading with us to "be a little better." (http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/09/the-quest-for-excellence?lang=eng)
Ultimately, the context of fear and humility gives power to everything else we receive from him. When we fear him, his love means more. When prophets beg us to repent, it represents not just a good life strategy, but the request of the Most High God that we accept the very thing for which we should be begging him.
