Fear and fear
By Peter Leithart
Perfect love casts out fear, John says. But the Bible repeatedly exhorts us to fear God. There’s fear, then there’s fear. How do we tell the difference?
The difference is in the direction our fear moves us.
Adam feared God, and hid in the garden. Wrong fear drives us away from God’s presence. Right fear draws us closer; it is awed fascination with the God who is a consuming fire. It’s the fear we have when we see something so utterly fearsome that we just have to get a closer look.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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