 | Dr. John Click, has been the Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church for 27 years now he is the pastor emeritus. He’s a graduate of Baylor University with a BA and Southwestern Seminary with a BD. He received his DMin at Midwestern Seminary. He has served in numerous positions in the Southern Baptist Convention, including: President of the Kansas/Nebraska Convention, Executive Committee of SBC, North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, and Houston Baptist University Board. He has traveled to preach in Europe, Central and South America and the Far East. Dr. Click is the founder and first President of Harvest Communications, which is a TV production company specializing in producing teaching materials for Para- Church organizations. You may contact him for comments or questions by e-mail at: Jcclick99@aol.com. |
Religion
2009-02-01 14:22:00
Love God or fear Him?
Question: Which is more important: to love God or to fear Him? I don’t see how it is possible to do both at the same time and to the same extent.
Answer: It IS possible to do both! A main purpose for Jesus coming to earth was so that we may be able to understand God. The night when Jesus was with His disciples before His death, one of them said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8). Jesus answered, “Don’t you know Me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?” So the answer to your question may be found best in the person of Jesus Christ.
Did His disciples both love and fear Him? Jesus said the two important things to believe were: “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind.” And “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” So love is the important virtue. Among the great religions of the world, only the Bible teaches of a God Who loves mankind! Others believe in a god of wisdom, righteousness and power, but only Jews and Christians are taught that God loves them! Christians believe that God loved us so much that He took on humanity and lived among us so we could understand this, and suffered so that we could become able to live with Him! God is called “Father”.
Can a child both love and fear his father? Suppose my father was also the judge in the local court and I was brought before him on a charge of wrongdoing. I would face one who I both loved and feared! This is the situation we have with God. He had to pronounce me guilty, then took the punishment on Himself. Can I doubt His love? Can I reject it? Sadly, the answer is, “Yes we can and do!” What is God’s hope for us? That we will be with Him forever! Does that make you love or fear Him?
