The phrase the “Fear of the Lord” is a foundational concept used in the bible and amongst Christians.
It has a lot of significance and meaning throughout the Bible’s story and our human relationship with God.
But what does it actually mean?
And do some people get this mixed up with the standard meaning of fear which relates to being scared or in danger?
In this article, we will discuss what the “Fear of the Lord” means and how it is much different than the standard version of fear or anxiety that we can experience in moments of our life.
What is Fear of The Lord
Often in the bible, the term “fear of the Lord” is used as a label for people who are genuinely trying their best to live in obedience to God and how he wants us to act and behave in the world.
This is contrasted with people who have actively turned away from God or decided that they want to define for themselves what is best and live following their own desires compared to what God has already shown to be good.
Fear of the Lord, at its core, comes from a belief that there is a God (or higher power) that has the power and capability to both deliver and destroy what it decides is best on the earth.
It is a reverence, awe, and respect for God’s holiness and authority.
How is Fear of The Lord Different From Regular Fear
Everyone has felt fear at different moments of their life.
The pit in your stomach. The sweaty hands and worrisome thoughts. The urge to escape, move, or get out of harms way.
Regular fear creates anxiety and arises from situations of real or perceived danger, threat, or harm in our daily lives. If at a normal level it can be a signal to take action to avoid present danger.
On the other hand, Fear of the Lord inspires obedience, trust, and spiritual growth.
2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
It can have the opposite effect on our physical levels of fear and anxiety if we are living in obedience to God.
This is because if we actually believe and know that God will be with us and will offer protection, help, and love in all situations we can trust that he will deliver on his promises in our life and we don’t need to worry as much as long as we are doing our best to live in obedience to him.
Basically, fear of the Lord is an underlying belief and obedience to God that dictates our actions and behaviors and can reduce physical levels of fear and anxiety while normal fear and anxiety arise from situations where we believe there is a real or perceived threat of danger.
Fear of the Lord is a healthy form of fear that stems from wanting to obey the goodness and love of God.
It’s a fear that comes from a healthy desire to live in accordance with God. It’s also a fear that does not have a punishment if we mess up but instead love and grace.
It’s a different kind of fear.
How Fear of The Lord Can Become Corrupted
Anything that humans get ahold of can become corrupted and used in a way that is not good.
This is the basic principle of sin in the biblical narrative. Us humans, when we decide to turn away from God, can act and behave in ways that are selfish and divisive.
This also occurs with fear and shame (or Fear of The Lord) used in Church settings or in theological views.
A theological view and religious setting can easily take the “Fear of The Lord” used in the bible and create a psychology that shames and restricts people instead of offering it to people as a liberating discipline that includes forgiveness and mercy.
Fear of The Lord must first establish a foundation of seeing God and Jesus as loving, caring, trustworthy, and as always wanting the best for you. Then someone can decide they want to develop a healthy fear of the Lord due to their desire to live in accordance with God’s will.
A few examples of a corrupted Fear of the Lord would be:
- Shaming people or telling them they will go to hell if they screw up
- When someone uses it to enforce their own rules or view of God
- When it creates more fear and anxiety in someone’s life
- When it doesn’t come with awe, love, respect, and forgiveness
- When it doesn’t come from a foundation of love and trust of God
We have to remember that Fear of the Lord is used in our relationship with God and Jesus Christ and what they deem as good, not what a human who is seeking power and control is deciding for themselves what is good or right.
We also have to remember that each person is on a walk with God where they need to decide in their own heart that God and Jesus is someone they want to obey because of the truth, love, and righteous life giving power that they have demonstrated and that a healthy fear of the Lord comes when someone decides they actually want to obey God because they can trust him and have found him to be good.
Unfortunately, sometimes in Christianity, Fear of the Lord paradoxically can be used in a fear-based way where people use it to judge others who do not live in accordance with the rules they do or decide to inflict fear on other people because of what they believe.
Like any healthy relationship, Fear of the Lord should come from a foundation of love and trust and wanting to obey God because you love him, not out of coercion.
Why is Fear of The Lord Important
In someone’s walk with God and spiritual growth process they may ask why a healthy Fear of the Lord is important?
A healthy fear of the Lord is important because:
- It shows that you believe God is real and that he has the power to impact your life and the world in ways he sees are best
- A Fear of the Lord helps you grow closer to God and live more like Jesus as it increases awareness of your sins and temptations and gives you the strength to turn towards God and away from evil
As it says in Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
When someone has a healthy Fear of the Lord it gives them wisdom, knowledge of God, the strength to turn away from evil, and the ability to live and impact the world in ways that Jesus demonstrated are best for lasting peace and harmony on earth.
How to Cultivate a Healthy Fear of The Lord
So, how does one cultivate a healthy Fear of the Lord?
Here are a few ways:
- Pray and ask God to help you understand and show you what he wants you to do and what is good and bad. Be open to what he does in your life and what he is trying to show you.
- Learn about God and how he interacted and responded to humans throughout history. Read the bible, teachings of Jesus, and other spiritual texts to learn his characteristics.
- Try to follow to the best of your ability ways in which God has demonstrated are good
- If God shows you or you learn that something you are doing isn’t good or what he wants you to do, be willing to change it and reflect on how your life and your views changed
If someone were to go through these steps in their life it is certain that they would have a deeper connection, understanding, and love of God.
This would then create in them a healthy Fear of the Lord where they want to live in obedience to what God says.
Concluding Thoughts
Fear of the Lord is a core teaching of the bible and how to live in accordance with God’s will.
At its core it is an awe, reverence, and trust in God to the extent that you don’t want to disobey him because you have found his love and power to be far greater than any temptation in your life.
It enables us to grow spiritually in our relationship with God, increase our awareness of our own sins and temptations, and offers the strength to turn towards God and away from evil.
It is also the foundation of wisdom and leads to life.
As Proverbs 19:23 says “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”
