Is there fear in love?

by Mark Napier

I have been told many times over by Christians I need to love god, I should love god. When I ask for reason why I should do this, I am told because Jesus came died for me, and that Jesus was god, and since god loved me enough to die for me…. Anyway's, when I ask for some kind of proof for this, I am told all I need to do is read the bible and I can see this proof for myself.

I am also told to fear this same god. I do not feel that love and fear can go together in any form or way. There is no fear in love. When I ask why I should fear god, I am given many different reasons as to why I should. And again, when I ask for proof for these reasons, I am once more pointed to the bible.

Since, as they say, the proof is in the pudding, I read the bible once more to see if these reasons could hold true. What I found was one verse that placed in the proper context for me. Before we look at this one verse, I would like to point out to you all the other verses Christians cite to back up the reasons for both love and fear…

The bible tells us to love god:

Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Please note that Jesus is speaking here, and by the Christian belief, Jesus was GOD)

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (Again words of “GOD”)

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

These verses clearly state we should love god. There is no need to “interpret” these verses in any special way or form. We should love god. It should also be noted, that Jesus said we should love god.

Next, let us look to the verses that tell us to fear god.

Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Psalms 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Psalms 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Psalms 115:13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

Psalms 128:1 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

Psalms 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. (Please note that god takes pleasure when people fear him, this is not love at all… but sick)

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (It would seem to me, in order for one to be NOT evil, you would have to fear god… yet I know many people who are NOT evil… and they do not even believe in god.)

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. (We know this is not true, one just has to look at all the bad things that happen to Christians…)

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life. (Now humility is part of the game…)

Isaiah 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him. (Jesus here folks… back up…move along nothing to see here…)

1Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Well, from the above it is clear that we should fear god. Nothing there to interpret at all.
IF the bible is as claimed by Christians: The word of god, and infallible... well you get the picture.

Now, there was one verse that I found that made it all clear to me. I have always thought there was no fear in love. None, nothing whatsoever and the bible spells it out for us just as clearly:

1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth, is not made perfect in love.

Just this once if we were to take the bible at face value, like so many of the Christians want us to take it, then we have no need to look further when we discount the god of the bible do we? The words of their book tells us so, and the Christian cannot get out of it. Unless of course they place the glasses of apologetics or “Christian logic” upon their brow. A perfect love casts out fear, I guess the love of god is not perfect after all….