Terry’s Take… Fear or Love of God? (Part II)
Last week I mentioned that when we lean into this idea of fear as understood to be vulnerable to God… something magical happens.
It is then that fear is quickly transformed by a gracious love that bubbles up as we share of ourselves with another person or with God. As the Bible says, perfect love casts out fear; that is, a love that is responsive and sensitive and caring to the people who have it, risk sharing themselves with us and with God.
Love as I am describing in this blog is different than how many people understand love. When we are in touch with the dynamic of unconditional love, that allows others to be vulnerable with us without any risk of judgment from us about whatever they are experiencing… whether it be anxiety, anger, hatred, shame or guilt.
Vulnerability is an interesting topic from a spiritual perspective. A key to spiritual growth is being vulnerable with God and others. It’s odd to think that we might try to hide our weaknesses and foibles from ourselves, the all-knowing God and people we are closest to, but as I stand in the confession line, I think, “Boy I wish I didn’t have to talk to God about this.”
Being vulnerable opens us up to forgiveness, healing and growth, but it takes humility and courage – and it can feel risky and frightening.
We might wonder if people will think less of us or won’t like us if they know the “real” us.
The Pharisees are an example of pride rather than vulnerability. They were concerned about appearances, acted like they were perfect and pointed fingers at others. They would, in the words of Jesus, “strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.”
St. Paul, on the other hand, was vulnerable. He accepted the difficulties, rebukes and hardships he endured in evangelizing as he traveled with other disciples teaching and preaching, seeking to please God, not man.
Because he had persecuted Christians before his conversion on the road to Damascus, something he never forgot, he openly and authentically shared that he had been saved by Jesus and that Jesus was everything, not him. He was open about his weaknesses and mistakes, and his vulnerabilities drew people to him.
It is interesting to look at our own lives. Sometimes we might prefer to be quiet and hidden. I am reserved and prone to self-reliance. Personally for me (and I’m being vulnerable here!) being vulnerable is something I’m growing in as I seek to share my personal and spiritual struggles in my writing, speaking and ministries – and even in simple coffee talks with close friends.
As I open up, there is freedom and joy in the authentic exchange that ensues as it builds deeper and truer bonds of love between friends and between me and God.
It is difficult to be a perfect lover where people can feel safe to be their vulnerable selves with us. And that is also true for us too, when we are looking for perfect lovers to be vulnerable with. Most people are far from being perfect lovers, where they express a love that transforms our fears around vulnerability. This means that we need to be careful with who we become vulnerable with. However… God’s spirit is a perfect lover… and when that spirit is flowing freely within us as we care for others… we become perfect lovers to those who risk becoming vulnerable with us.
God knows you better than you know yourself… so being vulnerable to Him simply is a way of confessing this understanding… and accepting God’s unfathomable love and mercy.
Resource: “Narratives of a Vulnerable God” by William C. Placher (1994 John Knox Press)
Available on Amazon
Synopsis: This insightful study of how Jesus reflects God will be interesting and accessible not only to scholars but to pastors and church members. Well-known author William Placher shows that the God revealed in Jesus Christ is portrayed in the biblical narratives as a God willing to risk vulnerability in order to fully love creation.