Awww!

It's the sound that often occurs when today's crowd looks at Internet cats. According to Wikipedia, "Images and videos of domestic cats make up some of the most viewed content on the web." It means warm and cute. And it sounds a lot like "awe" ... but it's not the same thing. We know "totally awesome, dude" these days. It's cool. It's hip. It's really nice. And, again, it's not the same thing.

What is "awe"? I looked at a few dictionaries because I wanted to be fair. Merriam-Webster's says, "an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime." The second definition is listed as "archaic" and defines it as "dread, terror." The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "A feeling of respect or reverence mixed with dread and wonder, often inspired by something majestic or powerful." Again, the second definition is "archaic" and says, "The power to inspire dread." Then there was Collins English Dictionary. That one explains it as "the feeling of respect and amazement that you have when you are faced with something wonderful and often rather frightening." Oh, and then there's the archaic: "the power of inspiring intense fear or fearful reverence." Yes, folks, we have a winner. We have consensus. "Awe" includes "veneration" and "wonder" at majesty or power, but always with "dread." Always with dread.

Immediately, then, you discover the difference between "awww" and "awe." One is cute; the other is ... frightening. And our God is an awesome God.

We are told that "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10). A primary shortcoming of sinful humans is "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom 3:18). Our common lack of fear of God bespeaks our foolishness and sin, not our warm relationship with God. We tend much more toward "awww" of God rather than genuine awe.

There are two primary reasons for this. The first, obviously, is that we don't have a clear notion of Who He is. Every biblical character that actually encountered God experienced fear -- usually abject terror. Not us. We know better. So we start with Man to determine God and, hey, he's not so scary. The other is less obvious but surely true. We have little notion of who we are. We're not that bad, right? Oh, sure, we're sinners. We've done bad things. But it's okay. They're not that bad and we're forgiven and it's alright. But, while we are forgiven if we know Christ, we are that bad. We just don't know it. So, God's not that big and we're not that bad, so we can see God with "awww" rather than awe and think they're the same.

Jesus said,

You say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing," not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Rev 3:17-19)

Jesus said that those who are forgiven much love much and those who are not don't (Luke 7:47). So if we minimize God and maximize ourselves, we will fail to love as we should. Worse, any worship of less-than-God has a biblical word for it -- "idolatry."

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21).

God deserves to be revered, to be wondered at, to be seen as awesome in the ultimate. That includes fear. It's only reasonable.

You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel! (Psa 22:23)