It’s Loving to Fear God

December 27, 2010 Length: 1:01

St. Maximos the Confessor on how love is integral to the fear of God.

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It can sound strange to hear that Christians are supposed to fear God: after all, aren’t we supposed to love God? St. Maximos the Confessor tells us that this love is integral to the fear of God:

Fear of God is of two kinds. The first is generated in us by the threat of punishment. It is through such fear that we develop in due order self-control, patience, hope in God and dispassion; and it is from dispassion that love comes. The second kind of fear is linked with love and constantly produces reverence in the soul, so that it does not grow indifferent to God because of the intimate communion of its love…The second kind, as we have already said, is always found united with perfect love.

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"Amidst the sea of chaos and uncertainty that grips the world today, your zeal for God’s Word and love for Christ has shone through like a brilliant flame for all to see. By the grace of the Holy Spirit I see that our Lord is bringing together the most beautiful aspects of Eastern and Western Christendom to breathe life into His One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church, that all may partake of this beautiful gift. God bless you and thank you from the depths of my heart."

Konstantine from Melbourne, Australia