Absence of Fear

Sometimes I think we are a little too bold. Let me explain. One of the many flaws within the body of Christ is the overemphasis of the things about God we like; the things we can deal with. We love to give all of our attention to the reality that "God is love" but we never seem to focus on the truth that He hates sin and that His wrath will be poured out on those who die apart from Christ. Preachers love to say things like, "God is passionate about you" or "God is madly in love with you and He deeply cares about your happiness". Its like John Piper says, "we are fine with being God-centered as long and God is man-centered."

However, when I read scripture I don't see a God that is ultimately obsessed with man but a God that is passionate about himself...and He should be. There is no greater thing or being than God. No way higher than His way or power than matches His own. He is Holy and absolutely perfect. These are truths that should drive us to our knees as opposed to coming to God with pride and arrogance; like He owes us something. We need to be a people of fear (reverence, wonder and awe) for the God we claim to know.

The Church seems to have an absence of fear and this is the cause of much of the turmoil and strife with in the body today. We are stirred up by vanity and we try to sustain our spiritual growth and life with worldliness. This was not the case for the church of Acts. In chapter 2 verse 43 we see a people of Godly fear. Throughout the entire book we see a people who where motivated and sustained by their fear of God; not worldly methods and vain things.

I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to get across here. I am just so heavy-hearted for the Church. Many try to run away and start new churches to escape the baggage of one that has been around for a while. I don't want to be that guy. I think the modern-day, local churches just need to be awakened from their deep sleep. They need to compare themselves to church history, especially the book of Acts and realize how desperate we are to get back to our roots. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom is what we learn in Proverbs 1:7 but all I see are a bunch of dumb churches. We have a fear problem!!!!!