The Pattern of Fear

By Judy Romero

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     One of our most loved ideas in the Church of Christ is that we are the true family of God and can experience real love for one another. This is proudly proclaimed to visitors, from our pulpits, thus, "Look at us and see how we love one another and how good we are to you. The unsaved person gazes about and is surprised to see it really seems true. Women are called "Sister" and the men "Brother." We clasp hands, embrace fondly and smile lovingly at each other. We are quick to introduce ourselves to strangers and give them a warm handshake. We offer transportation to all the services if they want us to pick them up.

     In large cities especially this appears to the average citizen as a spot of wonderful warmth and happiness in a cold, unloving and uncaring world. This is as it should be. Christianity was born and established by the rule of love for God and fellowman. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" and He said the next greatest was, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

     He even gave us the new and unprecedented command to love our enemies. When this love of Christ actually shows in outward actions of the members it has exactly the heart appeal to the unsaved that God intended. When they hear the wonderful invitation of Jesus, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," many accept it with gladness, obey, and eagerly enter the fellowship of the Christians.

     And thereby hangs a sad tale, for too many times the convert comes out of the waters of baptism into the chill of a refrigerator instead of the warm love he expected. Once "safely baptized" he becomes just another target for our sibling rivalry in the family of God. His rosy glow quickly fades away and is replaced

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by a nervous attempt to always say and do the right things, so he can keep in the good graces of at least the majority of the members. Some new Christians survive this harsh boot-camp type of indoctrination. The majority do not. Some even survive spiritually for several years, having learned the proper outward code of religious conduct expected of them. They even seem to attain a certain amount of contentment. But they also weary of the struggle and sink quietly to oblivion in the coldness of Church of Christ self-righteousness and sectarianism.

     The few who remain are the ones who are able to become as cold as the rest of us. I am afraid if Jesus came to the church today, he might say the same thing to us as He said to the scribes and Pharisees, "Woe unto you ... hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves" (Matthew 23:15).

     When we do stop to ask ourselves why so many souls are slipping away, we can seldom come up with the real answer. The old patent solution handed down from our fathers is, "Well, you know there are people who just will not accept the truth." But if they are anxious to accept the truth when they first hear it, how is it they suddenly find it so hard to live with? You will also hear the answer, "Well, you have the power of the Devil..." But if they were sick enough of the sinful life to leave it eagerly for the fellowship of the church, then where is the power of the Devil? Perhaps the real answer in many cases is that it is the Devil in the Church.

     Could the root of the problem be that our proudly-proclaimed Christian love has deteriorated to a paganistic religion of fear? Perhaps this determination began with the joyless and unloving religion of our "Puritan Fathers" to whom so many Christians like to point as examples of holiness. But wherever it began, it is as foreign to true Christianity as is Buddhism.

     If the average Christian was given a dose of truth serum that forced him to express his deepest feelings about God, he would describe a mechanical giant with no feeling, who coldly waited for man to make the smallest error for which He could condemn him. Is it true, as has been said, that man makes his gods in his own image? In spite of our verbally expressed love for God, we inwardly quake, picturing him as gleefully tossing helpless men into the lake of fire as medieval artists painted him.

     Where does this pattern of fear of a cold, unfeeling God begin? Unfortunately this concept of God often starts in childhood, when well-meaning parents teach their children, "God is always watching you and knows all of your thoughts." Instead of making the child feel happily cared for, this often has the opposite effect of making him feel spied upon, as if God is just waiting to pounce upon him, like the "Bogey man" in the dark.

     This pattern continues when a teenager is threatened with, "You can't do that or you'll go to hell." Instead of doing right from a feeling of love, he is taught obedience through fear of God's punishment. Too many times this is done on purpose, in order to "keep the young people in line." Even though some may obey outwardly, a tragic thing is happening inside of their hearts. Instead of teaching loving obedience as Jesus taught, we are continuing the pattern of outward conformity with inward rebellion, prompted by fear!

     It is in young adulthood that a subtle change appears in the pattern. The habit of outward conformity takes such a hold of the personality that the thought of "What will God do to me?" is gradually replaced by, "What will people think of me?" The fear of ostracism by other Christians becomes so great that every action or word is weighed by what they may think. The fear of criticism and gossip becomes so great that many good deeds are squelched because of how they will look to others. Good is overcome of evil. Man usurps God's judgment!

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This is why the atmosphere in the church becomes cold. Everyone is secretly afraid of his brother or sister in Christ, and one dare not express his real feelings. Brotherly love is replaced by outward politeness and vain mouthings of approved doctrine.

     This fear of man is also the cause of sects and divisions, for when men sit in God's seat they are faced with the problem of judging the behavior of others. One man's interpretation of scriptures becomes the church law. Because members dare not question the "law" for fear of "causing division," the man-made law becomes ingrained tradition. Even the timid questioning of such tradition becomes heresy. Few are brave enough to risk the heartache of what amounts to excommunication. This fear is deepened because we have been taught that the Church of Christ as we know it is the "only true church" so ostracism from the church organization is equivalent to eternal damnation.

     Does this sound familiar? Take a good look at Rome. After all, from what did it develop but the original church which Christ planted? Take heed, Church of Christ! This is what happens when the fear of man and his traditions becomes greater than love for the Word of God.

     The most tragic result of all is that God's personality has been corrupted by the church. Even the basic idea of this pattern of fear is alien to the Bible. It is certainly true that we must have reverential awe and respect for God's great power. But this should be a wonderful comfort to know that man need not depend upon his own puny strength. We have a wonderful, all-powerful, all-wise God on our side in the struggle against evil. We are not serving a great evil spirit who must be continually placated or bargained with.

     God is love! Not simply that God loves, but God is love (1 John 4:8).The so-called hippies of our day have made physical love their God. But the Bible love is a deep, all-consuming, spirit-saturating, life-changing love! Again 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear." God is perfect love. When we practice love in our lives we will come to know God. Perfect love is not afraid of men. It is not afraid to turn the searchlight of God's word on any tradition of man. It is not afraid to be called "backslider," "compromiser," or "troublemaker," for the sake of a brother.

     Perfect love never turns the cold shoulder on another brother, for whatever reason. Perfect love does not condemn. Some Christians love their enemies and hate their brothers. Perfect love finds it impossible to hate anyone.

     Fear intimidates. Love animates.
     Fear divides. Love unites.
     Fear holds back. Love gives freely.
     Fear worships the letter. Love obeys from the spirit.

     Let us stop freezing souls by our cold shoulder religion! Let's put Christ back into the Church of Christ by practicing His love in the church. As John said, "We know how much God loves us because we have felt His love and because we believe Him when He tells us that He loves us dearly. God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in Him. And as we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete; and so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the day of judgment, but can face Him with confidence and joy, because He loves us and we love Him too.

     "We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly: His perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what He might do to us, and shows that we are not fully convinced that He really loves us. So you see, our love for Him comes as a result of His loving us first. If anyone says, I love God, but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar, for if he doesn't love his brother who is right there in front of him how can he love God whom he has never seen? And God Himself has said that one must not only love God, but his brother too" (1 John 4:16-21. Living Letters).

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