Fear & Reverence

Fear:
1. A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger, whether real or imaginary.
2. A feeling of disquiet, apprehension, or dread over impending danger, evil, pain, etc.
3. A reverential awe toward God.

I've been studying "fear" a lot lately. It seems to be a gripping condition in one form or another that takes hold at some point in nearly every human being. Sometimes fear is a good thing, in causing us to run from danger, or discontinue stupid moves in fear for the consequences. Mostly however, fear is seen as a bad thing: inner fear that cages a person from doing what they want; fear of fellow human beings; of what others think of us or what they can do to or take from us; phobias that prevail and rule our behavior for no apparent reason are annoying at best and require much therapy to cope with at worse, maybe even to our own detriment. Fear can be caused by real physical danger, or by the spirit of fear.

Believers universally are comforted and assured by the Scriptures: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear...." I John 4:18 (most drop off the second part of that verse when quoting it) and "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but of power and love and self-discipline." II Timothy 1:7.

Based on these verses, it could be easy to jump to the conclusion that the concepts of love and fear are oxymoronic, if not opposites. But I wonder...
Perhaps the English word for "fear" should be broken into two separate words, one meaning the definitions 1. & 2. stated above, and 3. defining another word entirely - like "revere".

Revere:
1. A feeling or attitude of profound awe, respect, and often love
2. A feeling of deep heartfelt devotion and honor towards one that compels an outward manifestation of this feeling: to bow, to worship, to obey, to pay homage to, etc.
3. To recognize and esteem that which is holy or hollowed, full of power, and high in authority

When "fear" is defined as "revere", it and love seem to coincide quite well, especially as it refers to God. Does that mean that we are supposed to "revere" but not "fear" God?
What about verses like these?...
Jesus said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28

The word for "fear" in the original Greek is "phobos" (from where we get the word phobias from) and the word "yare'" in the Hebrew. Both hold a combination of meanings for the word:
1. to fear, to be terrified, to dread
2. reverence, respect (for authority, rank, dignity); to stand in awe (of power and goodness)

So, now we see the definitions lining back up into one word again. Fear.

Since fear includes an anxiety about impending doom, and since God is also our Judge, and since the consequences of sin is death - do we attribute this fear to God when it comes to our future punishment that awaits us when we stand before Him for all the evil we have done in our lifetime on earth? Do we apply this fear to God when it comes to natural consequences of sin that we may have to pay for or endure here on this earth?

"Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!" Deuteronomy 5:29
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11

If the word "fear" means both a feeling of dread and terror as well as a profound awe, respect, and love for one great in honor, power, and authority simultanously - then we are called to fear God. How does that coexist with love when perfect love casts out fear? Maybe we should look again at that verse, I John 4:18, in context...
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 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. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also."
I John 4:15-21

According to this passage, when we abide in love (remain in God's love and act out of love to God and others), we have no punishment or judgement from God to fear. When we love, we are justified and have confidence that our love has no negitive consequences by God. This doesn't say we won't have negitive consequences here on this earth from others, but that we shouldn't fear those consquences because we have acted in love, and so God will not punish us. This does not say that to love God means we don't have to fear Him. It means we don't have to fear His judgement.

It used to be a prominent fad in the church to preach "hell fire and brimstone" messages to frighten people into accepting Christ and being saved. It was the trademark of evangelism for a really long time. Then a more recent fad in the church became focused on doing the exact opposite and preaching rather the love and grace of God to save, so that people would be grateful and fall in love with Jesus and be saved. People want to hear all about the grace today, without a hint that there's a hell, a judgement day, or consequences for sin. It's not in fashion these days to try to scare people into trusting Jesus, but there's still a balance missing - God certainly took a balanced approach in His Word and throughout history - presenting both to people. I suppose a person can't very well appreciate God's love and grace without understanding the extent of what they are being saved from. In that case, the fear of the Lord is the good kind of fear, that keeps us doing stupid and dangerous things that would bring negetive consequences on us.

So perhaps the middle ground is to preach "reverence". Reverence by definition implies and encompasses both love and fear. It brings fear when we understand and consider the vast power, justice, and holiness of God, and realize that He is the highest authority and sets the standards by which we must live by in order to live free of negitive consequences. It brings love when we understand and consider the vast mercy, grace, and compassion of God, and realize that He gave us His Son to live and die to pay the price for all our sin so that we could come to Him and live forever with Him. When we teach reverence for God - we proclaim a balanced God, not a wrathful God nor a lovey-dovey push-over God - but GOD... the great "I AM" Who is both love and holy, Who is equally just and compassionate. This is the Creator God of all Who we are to love and fear!

"... You shall love the Lord your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you mind, and with all your strength." Mark 13:30

"I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" Luke 12-4-5