“I tell you, my friends, don’t be terrified by those who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more. I’ll show you whom you should fear: fear the one who, after you have been killed, has the authority to throw you into hell. Indeed, I tell you, that’s the one you should fear. Aren’t five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is overlooked by God. Even the hairs on your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before humans, the Human One will acknowledge before God’s angels. But the one who rejects me before others will be rejected before God’s angels. Anyone who speaks a word against the Human One will be forgiven, but whoever insults the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what you should say. The Holy Spirit will tell you at that very moment what you must say.” (Luke 12:4-12, CEB)
Jesus tells us to fear God here. And I find that troubling. And the word in the original language is fear. One of the figurative extensions of the word is “to have profound reverence and respect for deity, with the implication of awe bordering on fear — ‘to reverence, to worship.’” God is a loving God who is patient to wait for all to see and understand the love, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Why would we fear this?
If it is awe or reverence, then that is different. Because God loves all of us and doesn’t want any to perish.
Reverence God and love all of creation.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 