Michael Leunig writes in his book “A Common Prayer”: There are only two
feelings: Love and fear. There are only two languages: Love and fear. There
are only two activities: Love and fear. There are only two motives, two
procedures, two frameworks, two results. Love and fear. Love and fear. He
does not seem to be saying Fear is the opposite of Love – he is talking
about what MOTIVATES us in our lives, what drives us, the structure through
which we approach the realities of every day.

According to 1 John, the basic driving force of our fear finds its roots in
the loneliness that comes from feeling a long way from God. He says in
verse 18 that fear has to do with punishment. It is a reflection of the
fear that Adam and Eve felt while cowering under the bushes in the garden;
the fear that the unclean people of Israel felt standing before the holy
mountain in the wilderness; the fear of Isaiah in chapter 6 when he stands
before the perfect God and says: “Woe is me I am ruined! I am unclean and
live amongst an unclean people!”

In our sin, a great wall stands between us and our heavenly Dad. This means
something essential is missing – and like walking along the edge of a cliff
without the safety rail or being a small child in a large shopping centre
without a parent – this breeds within us uncertainty and fear! Fear of
rejection, loneliness, failure, death. Fear can drive us to many different
things: The parent who obsessively holds on to their child and crushes its
spirit; the alcoholic who can’t give up the drink even though the family is
being destroyed; the husband who beats his wife or kids because he feels he
needs to show he is in control; the business person who needs to earn more
and more to somehow show they have any worth in themselves; the nation that
feels it needs to ethnically cleanse itself. The list is never ending.

If we are cut off from the source of all power, strength, comfort and love
– then this becomes a very scary world. It becomes almost “natural” to
cover our fear with whatever we can get our hands on.

In 1995 we celebrated fifty years since the end of World War II. It was
good to reflect on the roots of fascism. Again you see FEAR doing its work:
in the Twenties Germany experienced high unemployment, incredible
inflation, moral decline. Very ordinary people grew afraid – and were happy
to go along with Hitler if only he would give their lives stability and
security. Fear can drive us to terrible things.

John says in 1 John 4 that love drives out fear. Notice that he doesn’t say
the answer to fear is more courage. That might be our very human answer,
but all that does is centre more on me and my efforts. It has a way of
precluding God. As we face the myriad examples of fear in our world the
focus needs to change.

Reading the rest of his book we see that when John talks about Love he is
talking about two very closely inter-linked things: (1) the Love of God and
(2) the Love we are to have for each other.

Firstly, in verse 8 He says God is Love. In verse 9 & 10 He refers to the
depth of that Love by speaking about the way God sent His Son to die for us
and how through the sacrifice of that Son our sins could be washed away
once and for all. When we know God in an intimate way. When we experience
Love. When we hold on to Him and are surrounded by His arms then our
perspective on the world can change.

When Scripture talks about God’s Love – it uses words like unchanging;
faithful; unfailing; it endures forever. The Psalms speak of the all
-encompassing nature of that Love – the heavens and the earth are filled
with it! We see the way in which God sticks with His people despite their
whingeing in the wilderness and the rebellion before the Exile. This love
is a foundation that we can trust. We are safe under His wings; our lives
are solid, built on the Rock of His strength, justice and peace.

Secondly what John says is that this reality (i.e. the reality of God’s
Love – and what it means for us) must now change our perspective on the
reality of our everyday lives. We no longer need to be driven by FEAR!

John says (in verse 11) that since we have seen the Love of God – we ought
also to love one another. More then that in verse 20 he says: “If anyone
says ‘I love God’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar’”…

How we relate together, the things we say about each other; the way we
work; the way we run our homes; what we do with our money; how we run the
church; all these things and much, much more are affected by that driving
force. What’s it going to be FEAR or LOVE?

In my relationship with my wife, if I am driven by FEAR I will manipulate,
use and take in order to somehow deal with my own needs but if I have
tasted God’s Love in a deep way then I can start to reflect Jesus in my
relationship and give and build up and sacrifice.

If it is fear that drives the church then it is natural to hold on to
tradition or, on the other hand, think that change is what is going to give
us meaning. We can easily focus on HOW things are done for in them we might
find comfort. BUT if I know of God’s unfailing love then the focus changes
from our institution to His leading and the Church place can become an
instrument for giving out love and hope rather then just a place for
fearful pilgrims to huddle from the storm of life.

As Citizens of this nation – if we are driven by FEAR it would be natural
to cheat on our taxes, take what we can to make our lives as secure as we
can through our own means, BUT if we are in the arms of love then the whole
picture changes.

The shadow of FEAR is a terrible thing. It reaches into each of our
hearts, it drives us to very sad things. It’s icy fingers won’t
finally disappear until that day when we see Jesus face to face.
Nevertheless, until then let us make the commitment to seek LOVE where it
can be found. In the Word, in prayer, in the fellowship of believers. Also
to be sowers of Love in the fields where God has called us to work …
remembering always the wonderful truth that we can love because he first
loved us!

Jude and Doc Martin (JaM) de Graaf