Nothing to Fear

Christian singer Zach Williams has an uplifting song called Fear Is a Liar. It's about how the father of lies lies to us in our fears. "Fear, he is a liar," the chorus begins. There is a bridge in this song. It, essentially, repeats, "Let your fire fall and cast out all my fears. Let your fire fall, your love is all I feel." A prayer, then. And it's, essentially, biblical, right? It sure sounds like it. The text is found in John's first epistle. You probably can quote it.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

So ... "perfect love casts out fear" and Mr. Williams is, basically, quoting Scripture. But ... there is a problem.

You'll note that the basic text is ambiguous. "Perfect love casts out fear." Whose love are we talking about? Well, the first thought that most of us have, most of us have been taught, and certainly that Zach had, is God's love for us. God's love is perfect. His love is the only perfect love. So it must be. There is another possibility, isn't there? It's possible that it's our love for God that's in view. John could be saying, "When we love God perfectly, fear is cast out." So, is there any way to clarify it? I think so. John doesn't leave the "perfect love" in question. He describes it further. He says, "fear involves punishment." "So," we say, "because God loves me perfectly, and I'm saved, there is no fear of punishment." Yes, okay, but ... doesn't God love everyone perfectly? So shouldn't everyone conclude that there is no punishment because God loves everyone perfectly? Well, logically, yes. Biblically, no. Biblically we know there will be judgment ... punishment. So ... it can't be that God's love means no punishment. So it can't be referring to God's love.

It must be, therefore, that John is referring to our love for God. He's saying when we love God perfectly, there is no fear of punishment. Is there anything that could corroborate that? I think so. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). A cause-and-effect clause. "If you love ... you will ..." So loving Christ causes obedience. It stands to reason, then, that loving Christ perfectly causes perfect obedience. So when we love Him perfectly, there is no fear of punishment. In fact, John argues "the one who fears is not perfected in love." That's a helpful observation. You fear rightly when you don't love perfectly, so if you fear, check your love for Him ... because none of us will love Him perfectly this side of heaven.