“Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick

“Guilt should drive us to the cross, but grace must lead us from it.” – Bryan Chapell

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – John 1:17 NKJV

Why would a God of love who insists we must forgive others to be forgiven ourselves (Matthew 6: 13-14), harbor an eternal unforgiveness Himself by sentencing billions of people on this earth to hell and damnation because they failed to believe in Him? (Matthew 7:13-14)

How can we reconcile a God who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find and save the one lost one (Matthew 18:12) with the One who says to many at Judgment Day, “I don’t know you or where you came from.” (Luke 13:25)?

Is it “By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8), or is it, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)?

Is it grace or guilt?  Is it fear or faithfulness?

The other night I listened to a message given by a world-renowned minister – a man of God who I admire and consider a mentor in my spiritual walk here on earth.  He spoke of a loving God, who mercifully forgives, redeems and sanctifies us.  At the end of his message, he said, “This might sound good and wonderful to you, but if you’re not a Christian, none of what I said applies to you.”   It came across arrogant, demeaning, and threatening – in direct opposition to the ideas and concepts he just finished preaching about in his message. 

It left me asking myself:

“Would God threaten us with eternal damnation to simply gain our love and affection for Him?”

“Does God love us unconditionally or does this only apply if we love Him first?”

“Are we saved by God’s grace alone, or must we work out our own salvation with fear – wondering and worrying at the end of days if we will be told “I don’t know you”?

“Does God demand we forgive others yet hold an eternal unforgiveness against a majority of mankind?”

You might think this is the part of the article where all these tough questions are answered.  The truth is I don’t have all the answers, and any preacher, author, teacher or mentor that tells you they do isn’t being entirely honest or forthright.

Who can say without a doubt their version or interpretation of Scripture is accurate?  Who knows with 100% assurance their views and thoughts about God are on the mark?  Does mankind really have the mental capacity to define God intricately and to the smallest of detail?  Can we put God in a “doctrinal” box so to speak?

Think about how often religion and theology throughout the centuries has gotten it wrong.  The Scribes and Pharisees thought they knew exactly what they were doing, yet Christ often told them how off target and misguided their thoughts about God really were (Matthew 23:13-33).  Think about the Inquisition and all the horrible atrocities that were committed under the direction of the Christian Church. 

In the days of Martin Luther, the church sold indulgences, pieces of paper that eliminated sins and guaranteed entrance into heaven – all to line the pockets and increase the power of the religious leaders at the time.  Even modern Christianity has moved from “fire and brimstone” preaching to teachings that emphasize more grace and “good news”.

What makes our interpretation of doctrine today any different?  What makes us think we have it exactly right?   Should we feel guilty and fearful, or should we rest in faithfulness and grace?

All I know is this:  If you take away all the religious institutions and throw out all the dogma, varying interpretations, and doctrinal differences, if you disregard what seems like confusing contradictions in Scripture and you look deep within yourself, you know it’s impossible to be good and do the right thing all the time.  If it’s up to us individually to get it right, there’s no more hope for any of us.

Speaking of hope and throwing away all the religious connections to that word, the idea and concept of hope resonates within us in a way that feels right.  Words like faith, hope, mercy, grace, and love, regardless of religion, fill us with joy, peace, and goodwill.  Words like fear, guilt, condemnation, and retribution leave us empty, without hope, and lacking any meaningful purpose here.

If there is a God (and in my heart, I know there is!), I want to know Him because of who He is – not because I’m threatened or fearful.  I want to love Him – not because He manipulates me to love Him but because I aspire to be more like Him and admire His character filled with love, faithfulness and mercy to all He has created.

I know in my heart I don’t have all the right answers about my faith, my spirituality, and my beliefs, but I trust in a God who has all the answers, and I lean on Him to see me through this life.

Don’t we all want to live a life, regardless of how it turns out in the end, filled with compassion for others, a deep reverence for God, hope for our future, and fulfilling all the good and purposeful dreams we hold in our heart?  Wouldn’t a God of love desire those same things for us?

So, in the end, if I live my life in this fashion and I end up wrong or missing the mark, then so be it 😊

I’m going to choose grace and faithfulness, not guilt and fear.  I am going to humbly believe it’s not about me doing it all perfectly or getting it all right.  It’s about a perfect God who has done it all for me.  I’m going to live with hope, mercy, faithfulness, and love, because I know in my heart those things are right, not because I’m afraid or fearful of the consequences.   I will trust in the “Author and Finisher” of my faith (Hebrews 12:2) as I journey through this life – making my way back to Him 😊

How about you?