Meditations Upon 1 John 4:18 – Part Four
There
is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to
do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
However, “the one who fears is not made perfect
in love.” Fugitives live in constant and formidable fear. They strive
diligently to mesh with their surroundings and live proverbially below the
radar. Still, the persistent threat of arrest, arraignment, extradition,
indictment, trial, conviction and sentencing prevent them from experiencing any
peace. The dawn of each day brings freshly grown fears that developed
overnight. Any encounter with law enforcement reignites those fears. Fugitives
must avoid government buildings or any places that require identification. The
presence of a police patrol vehicle at a stop light could potentially cause a
full-blown panic attack. Retrieval of postal mail and voicemail messages
inevitably include some fear and trepidation. They use the internet sparingly
and guardedly. Any flashing or bright lights during nighttime immediately
disrupts sleep. Chances are every creak, sound or bit of noise exacerbates a
fugitive’s uneasiness. In an episode of the crime reality show, “ I Almost
Got Away with It, a former fugitive and newly incarcerated inmate shares
his story of being on the lam for eighteen years. Fearing the possible prison
sentence he would receive at a hearing, this man skipped a court appearance.
For nearly two decades, the US Marshals hunted this man. After fleeing the
jurisdiction, the fugitive settled into a normal life in Southern Florida. He
faithfully went to work, paid his taxes and silently and anonymously
contributed to his local community. However, he did not enjoy a moment’s peace
as he feared every minute that the marshals would discover and arrest him. Each
night, sleep and peaceful rest eluded him.
On an average Friday morning, he arrived at work
and opened the office to enable the public to enter at 9:00AM. Within fifteen
minutes of the workday, he sat at his desk to enjoy a cup of coffee and a
bagel. The door opened and a marshal approached and addressed the man by his
full legal name. Absolutely exhausted after nearly two decades of fearing
arrest and punishment, the fugitive did not possess any further ability to
resist or run. He responded to the marshal’s question in the affirmative. Further,
he said to him, “I have been waiting for this day for eighteen years. In that
time, I have not had one good night’s rest. Actually, I am relieved to have
this nightmare end.” That night in the county jail where he stayed awaiting
extradition, he slept like a baby. He recalled that it was the first night of
sleep he had enjoyed since his decision to flee. Just as this fugitive did not have one moment of
peace and calm for eighteen years, disciples who fear God’s wrath and
punishment, instead of maturing in their understanding and experience of the
Lord’s love, cannot be made perfect in it.
Any disciples who live perpetually in fear of
eternal punishment cannot be made perfect in the Lord’s love. Like the
foregoing fugitive who did not enjoy a scintilla of peace, rest, relaxation, or
joy in eighteen years, disciples who fear God’s wrath are not able to embrace His
unconditional and unfailing love for them. It is sad to think that people spend
a lifetime in church but never embrace a loving relationship with the Lord.
Decades of attending Sunday School and weekly worship services did not yield
any greater revelation of the Lord’s teachings and kingdom. Possibly, these
limited disciples settled for a minimalist theology and experience of the
Gospel’s potential to transform lives. Rote adherence robs them of greater
comprehension and experience of Christ. As they read Christian education
materials, listen to music and sermons over the years, the silent fears that
flood their minds and hearts corrode the wealth of this knowledge. As they sit
in pews week after week, they dwell in an existential fog that obscures the
brilliance of Christ’s love for His disciples.
The evangelist whom biblical scholars refer to as
“the beloved disciple” writes to share love is the essence of the Gospel. He
hopes disciples will forsake formal, institutional, traditional, corporate and
socially respectable religion and religiosity as a substitute for embracing a
vibrant and loving relationship with the Lord. Simply stated, Christianity
furthers a relationship with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ rather than rugged
adherence to religious rites and regulations. Flowing organically and dynamically
from an intimate fellowship with Christ is an internal compulsion of gratitude,
to share the Lord’s love with fellow disciples and humankind. Having
experienced divine love in its purest form as embodied in the Risen Lord
Christ, disciples deeply desire to share this love with everyone else. However,
fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission become virtually
impossible if disciples remain imprisoned to fear and dread. The desire and
willingness to freely share the Lord’s love is the clearest indication that a
disciple is being perfected by His love. This lifelong mission includes sharing
the Gospel and supporting fellow believers and congregants in discipleship
development. It also involves social justice advocacy on behalf of marginalized
and vulnerable people as well as delivering direct services to people in need
as Matthew 25 details. Humankind suffers tremendously when disciples are
incapable of being ambassadors for Christ because fear impedes them.
The evangelist appeals to all disciples with a
fervent hope that they relinquish their fears and liberate themselves to
internalize the Lord’s superabundant and perfect love. He regrets that they
possibly confuse religion and a quest for self-righteousness with being in
relationship with Christ. He reiterates the inverse relationship between fear
and faith. Any disciples who surrender to fears the Lord’s condemnation will inevitably
engage in lifelong “works
righteousness.” They hope to prove themselves worthy of admission to eternal
bliss in the presence of perfect, infinite and timeless love. Their fears
incarcerate them to persistent evaluation of whether they have done enough to
surmount those trepidations. In a twisted manner of thinking, they genuinely
hope an angel meticulously records every favorable thought and deed.
Ultimately, a celestial printout will prove their worthiness. This lifetime of
terror robs them of knowing, understanding and experiencing Christ’s love in
this life and the one to come. Any disciples who languish in fear cannot be
made “fully complete” in divine love. Regrettably, fear and religiosity
override God’s appeal in Christ.
More specifically, the evangelist utilizes the
Greek word, agape, to define and clarify his understanding of Christ’s
affection for His disciples; past, present and future. The highest form of love
in the universe, agape is selfless, sacrificial, redemptive and
transformative. The components of the Lord’s love equate with His divine
attributes. These characteristics become dimensions of a disciple’s life.
Emulating the Lord’s selflessness, a disciple devotes himself to the Lord’s
service thereby honoring Christ in ministry to other people. Giving is
sacrificial. Disciples dedicate the use talent, treasure, time and temperament
to expanding the Gospel and building Christ’s kingdom on Earth. Regardless of a
disciple’s most painful, difficult and challenging experiences, the Lord can
redeem those circumstances to empower a disciple to endure suffering, cultivate
perseverance, strengthen character and acquire hope. Moreover, the Lord’s
unfailing and loyal love transforms disciples from self-seeking choices and
self-aggrandizing motives to a daily desire to acquire and emulate His heart,
mind and character. As disciples incorporate the Lord’s love and attributes
into their lives, they can experience a holistically fulfilling pilgrimage
toward self-realization and personal destiny in accordance with the Lord’s
will. Nevertheless, any disciples who live in fear cannot be made fully
complete in His love.
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