By Pastor Marcia Moret Sietstra

March 14, 2004

Based on the sermons of Rev. Dr. Forrest Church, preached at Chautauqua Institution, August 17-

Luke 13:6-9

I John 4:16-21

Point one: fear is the opposite of love.

Today I want to begin a sermon series on the subject of fear. Our lectionary text is enough to instill fear into anyone. The parable implies that, like the owner of the fig tree that isnxt bearing any fruit and so has been given just one more year to produce, there is an end to Godxs patience with us to bear the fruit of good works. First, let me say that Luke based his gospel on the earlier gospel of Mark, and in the earlier gospel of Mark this parable is quite different, so itxs impossible to tell in what form Jesus actually told the story originally. But certainly there are other passages that point to eventual judgment of our behavior, and make many Christians fearful of judgment and of death.

There are, thankfully, just as many—maybe more—texts that calm our fears. The one I chose for today, from I John 4, says, xxThere is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.x

Last summer at Chautauqua, NY I heard the minister of New York Cityxs All Souls Unitarian Church preach a series of sermons on fear. His name is Forrest Church, and hexs the son of the late Senator Frank Church whom some of you may remember. Forrest Church said, in one of his sermons, that the opposite of love is not hate; rather, the opposite of love is fear.

I think hexs right. Why have American bombs killed over 10,000 Iraqis in a preemptive war? Out of fear of weapons they might have, and fear of terrorism they might provoke. Donxt misunderstand me; Ixm not commenting in favor of, or against the war. Ixm simply stating the fact that it is fear, and not hate, that has driven this war in the minds of the American public. Fear—the opposite of love.

Jim Wallis, of Sojourner magazine, tells this story about his four-year-old son Luke. Luke likes to talk to his dad on the phone, and for a long time his usual sign-off was, xDaddy, I love you, I like you, and youxre incredible!x But recently Luke added these words: xDaddy, donxt be afraid.x Wallis doesnxt know where Luke picked up these words, but he remembers that Jesus repeatedly said the words xDo not be afraidx to his disciples, knowing they would need those words.

Point 2: Love is the antidote to fear.

My question today is: If fear is the opposite of love, what do we do with the fear of God? Does it cancel out the love of God? First, consider that there are several kinds of fear: Fear can mean fright, like the fear you feel when someone steps out of the darkness unexpectedly or you feel threatened.

On Thursday we had a person drop in here who was obviously mentally ill. After 20 minutes of trying to talk rationally with him, I was unable to get him to give me the name of any friend, relative or mental health counselor or agency he felt connected to or would agree to see. It is rare that I feel threatened but in this case, I was appropriately nervous because he was exhibiting some behaviors that made me uneasy, telling me, e.g. to sit down and counsel him about the voices he was hearing from the cemetery across the street. He was too forceful and, unfortunately, I finally had to call the police. Fear is good if it produces an appropriate level of caution in us, but being overly fearful is unhealthy if it keeps us from taking any risks in life.

Fear can also mean guilt, and that is a fear that can help or hinder you. Guilt can be good if it helps awaken your conscience and convinces you to change your behavior. Fear of God that results in a healthy amount of guilt is appropriate. But guilt has a dysfunctional twin sister—when an overweening conscience convinces us we can do no right, and paralyzes us with fear, then guilt is not helping us. .

Experts tell us that a direct relationship exists between a fear of death and a fear of life. There is a story Forrest Church tells about Lou Gehrig, who announced in Yankee Stadium that he had ALS, a debilitating disease. He said, xEven so I consider myself the luckiest man on earth.x He had experienced great love in his life. Shortly before his own death he announced a promising new medication. xLooks like the boys in the lab found the answer—a new serum theyxre testing on 10 people. Turns out itxs working on 9 of us, isnxt that great!x Later his friends found out Lou was the 1 it wasnxt helping. It has been said that the only lives that end too soon are those that end without being loved.

I canxt explain to you exactly why loving and being loved makes us less fearful of life, and of death, but it does. Love is the antidote to fear. Perhaps because loving God helps us trust God. Perhaps because we know, in our heart of hearts that love doesnxt die. In the coming days I imagine the newspapers in Spain will be carrying hundreds of obituaries for the victims of the bombings their this week. And I imagine they will resemble the 1800 and some obituaries that appeared in the NY Times in the days fallowing 9/11. What stood out was not their achievements but remarks of love given and love received. In one obituary, a young widow recalled her husband every night picking up their little daughter and announcing, xWexre going outside!x The first time she had asked, xWhat for?x His answer: xWexre going to wish upon a star.x Love doesnxt die, and surely the God who gives us this capacity for such love can be trusted, even in death.

3. The example of Jesus.

In the end of my searching for an answer to the question, What do we do with the fear of God, I end up at the cross watching what Jesus did. Jesus didnxt quote scripture much, but he did on the cross. And what did he say? He cried out first in fear, asking God why he has forsaken him. Remember? He didnxt quote Psalm 23 from the cross and say, xThe Lord is my shepherd, yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.x He quoted Psalm 22 instead, xMy God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!x

No wonder we identify with Jesus—his fear is so like ours! The fear that he has displeased God and thus been abandoned by the one he calls Father. Generations have so identified with Jesus that we reach out to as our comforter, the one who holds our hand, the one whose tears we recognize.

But remember what happened next in the crucifixion story. In the midst of his fear and agony, Jesus thought about those who would take his life and said, xFather, forgive them, for they know not what they dox. xFor a blessed moment, in the heart of his agony, Jesusx thought was not of his fate, but the fate of others. His thoughts went to the welfare of others and simultaneously the fear he felt for himself subsided. At that moment, perfect love cast out fear. Jesus reached out in love to someone else, in so doing he received help, his fear replaced by love.

This is the heart of Jesusx message, the good news that he broughtxthat sacrificial love is the way out of fear. It is in reaching out to help that we are helped. Empty yourself and be filled. Reach out to others with love, and be freed from fear. Lose your life and find new life.

Forrest Church ended his second sermon in that series last summer with these words: xIf you feel that God is not with you, take into your heart the fear of Jesus—his own sense of abandonment by God, his all-too-human thirst. And then,x he continued,x reach out, as he did, not only for help but to help. In letting go, Jesus recalled his own saving truth: love your neighbor; love your enemy; God is love; and love casts out fear.x Instead of hanging on for dear life, let go for dear life, and trust God without fear. Amen. I love you, and may God bless us all.