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If only!!

There was a time when the fear of God meant something, “when committed Christians were known as God-fearing people. This was a badge of honour.” (Jerry Bridges).

What does it mean?

It is much more than simply being scared and has been described as a mixture of reverence, awe, worship, or “a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread, above all things, to offend Him.” (Jacques Forget). It should also entail a desire to please Him, to receive His pleasure and to be fearful of no longer receiving His pleasure.

It means a wanting to obey Him and His rules, statutes, laws, principles, precepts, decrees and ways as per Psalm 119.

If only all peoples were to have a healthy Fear-of-God. Then we would have a world safe for our children.

Easter reminds us of the determination of the authorities and the fickleness of the people that resulted in the crucifixion. We see the hate that blinded the eyes and deafened the ears to the miraculous evidence that Jesus was of God, in fact the Son of God and the promised and longed-for Messiah.

Fear of God did not come into their considerations.

Here in Australia we are facing what could be the most critical election of our lifetime. Some stated policies are the most anti-God and anti-Christian that we have ever seen – a defiant rejection of doing things God’s way, a seemingly total absence of any “fear-of-God” coupled with a determination to do things “my way” regardless of the consequences to our children and our children’s children.

What do we want to ensure a safe place for our children?

From the Canberra Declaration we have freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, freedom of belief – even freedom to change belief – and to live in accord with such belief without fear of accusation of intolerance or hate-speech.

Intrinsic to freedom of expression is the freedom to debate.

Such freedom is essential for democracy.

Also enshrined in the Canberra Declaration is the need for stable family with marriage between a man and a woman guaranteeing children their biological birthright to a mother and a father with its proven track record in protection, education, welfare, support and nurture.

The third important set of values being the intrinsic value of human life in all states of disability and dependency providing a sure protection for future generations.

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. Psalm 2:10 NIV.

The Fear-of-God

builds up

confidence,

and makes a world

safe for your children.

Proverbs 14:26 The Message