The adoption of a “Daddy-God” mentality has caused many Christians to forget that God is King, and there is a BIG problem with that.
Years ago, a brother in Christ asked me if I called God “Daddy”. At that time, I did call Him that a few times, so I proudly professed, “yes, God’s my Daddy through Jesus”. What I didn’t tell him is that each time (which was only 2) I talked to God and used the “Daddy” phrase, it just felt wrong right down to the Holy Spirit that I just received. While I could talk to God about anything, even be angry with Him, there was always the sense of “Holy Fear”. I think we have lost that, and it’s to our detriment and, to a greater extent, our peril.
The Bible teaches that we who are truly saved by Jesus Christ cannot lose that Salvation. True Christians are excused from the most terrifying encounter a person can have with God — the White Throne Judgement. It’s true that we will be judged by Jesus, but it will be an accounting of our deeds on Earth and the rewards we have from them (Matthew 10:42, 25:23, Luke 6:35).
Because of this safety…this “fire insurance”, many who claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior have dropped the “Lord” part.
A passage that has truly terrified me over the years has been the last part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount which reads:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” ~Matthew 7:21-23
These were people who THOUGHT they were Christians but found out on that great and terrible day that they weren’t. What a terrifying scenario, and yet there will be many that face this, and I dare say that this possible future will come for the people that took on a “Daddy-God” mentality – not having Holy Fear of the Lord.
Jesus is King of the Universe and will Judge the world. That title – King – is something we should never forget. Yes, He’s our friend and comforter, but He is Lord and rules a Kingdom, to which we are citizens. Even the Apostle John, the one “whom Jesus loved” and who knew the Christ a lot better than the rest of us, dropped down to his face like a dead man upon seeing Jesus in His true state (Revelation 1:17).
We (Christians) have lost our Holy Fear! We sin and beat our chest in a proud display to others around us of our supposed salvation. We feel noting when we commit an act against our Lord, asking for forgiveness in the sight of men and women (if we do at all) so that our vanity can be stroked by the feather of our sin by all eyes upon our supposed brokenness. We ruin our testimony by professing to be followers of The Way, yet continually sin against others and against God in such a manner that the lost make jokes about us, all the while “pretending” to be children of light, flashing our knowledge of passages – DISGUSTING! Oh yes, many of us have lost our Holy Fear.
At best, these people don’t know how to truly walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and at worst, they don’t know Jesus at all…and this should be terrifying.
A good tree bears good fruit. The verses in Matthew 7:17-20 precede the “I never knew you” passages, which should be a guide not only for other Christians to use to help bring a brother or sister back from sin (Galatians 6:1, Matthew 18:15-17, James 5:19-20) but should also be a self-examination as to whether or not you truly know Jesus as your LORD and Savior. There is a part of our faith walk that requires us to renew our minds and change our habits, but there SHOULD be progression to being conformed to the image of Christ. When a true Christian sins, there should be a conviction, and afterward, a humbling where we come to Jesus with tears asking for forgiveness (James 4:8-10). All of this should be done in private, not in front of others, or posted on social media for all to see. I tell you the truth, those people will have their reward in full.
“Be holy, for I (Jesus) am holy” ~1 Peter 1:16 is the mindset we should have every single waking hour of every single day. Be holy not because we have to, but because we want to. We were bought with a price by God incarnate. Jesus willingly went to the cross and shed His Blood for you, so don’t cast the King of the universe aside for an idea of earthly familiarity. The mentality of a benevolent God is correct, but balance that with a righteous fear of a God who is a Judge.
