The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-05-25

ga years.
"A AS we study this
sS n history of motive
to right action, we
find thas sometimes it is gratitude,
sometimes love, sometimes duty, some
times prudence, sometimes recogni-
ton of mans sonship to God, but
here comes the motive of fear, and In
these days when mems hearts are fail
ing them for fear, it is a motive that
should receive some consideration
without impotence. Some Of the mo-
tives referred to above, and which
seem to have made the motive Of fear
for a long time almost obsolete, have
according to the Judgment Of many
gone into the discard. AS we find
| certain theories as to mankind in it's
closer brotherhood and assumed SON.
ship to God being great deluslons, we
| may ask whether, after all, the motive
of fear may yet have an occasion for
| use.
In many American communities vice
| today is rampant, unchecked, and such
communities are living in terror. Why2
| because the vicious element have no
fear of being punished, the action Of
the courts and juries in the past show.
Ing that there is little likelihood that =
person, If he assumes proper atti.
tude during trial or appeals to the sym
patty of the public and the jury, will
have to suffer II l., simply matter
of record that where there is this lack
Of fear vice flourishes.
Should We Fear God?
| Let it be fully considered at once
that the fear of the Lord as presented
| In the Scriptures is not chiefly an
emot!Rzsproduced by threatened evils,
hut & i,-er reverence of God and as a
motive 1t should operate along the
Hines of respect for God because he is
holy and reverent. The feay of pain
connected with losing the favor or
/ friendship of God is in place, too, but
| the moment that is admitted there
| Is admission of fear of another kind
fear as 1t Is defined, "an emotion eX-
cited by threatening evil or impending
pain, accompanied by desire to avoid
or escape it," There is place for this
kind of fear of God in connection with
religious experience, and that motive
should have more recognition than in
the past. Why is this so? -
First, because God Is back of every
fering or pain. Law does not operate
automatically. No evil resulting from
| violated law is a blind thing; it is the
result of infinite wisdom and intelli-
gent provision. God is behind every
law.
Secondly, there are the clearest
teachings in the Word of God that
evil will be punished by God. From
thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely
die" to the present moment, sin has
been punished. It is specifically said :
1.-THE Lord shall reward the doer of
/ Gfli oItOid W ltlS WiIhCNuNSS.
"The face of the Lord is against them
who do evil, to cut off the remem-
brance Of them from the eGrth." God
says, Il will punish the world for their
evil and the wicked for their iniqui
ties" II myself will fight against thee
with an Outstretched hand, and with q
strong arm, even in anger and In great
wrath" Several Of the parallels OF
the New Testament teach the retrib
utive wrath Of God. 1t is God the
judge who will say in the great judg
ment day: depart from me ye that
work in iniquity."
And, thirdly, the thought should be
carried to the hereafter. Men are
facing the hereafter these days as moi
before. More people have died in thu
last three years than any three years
preceding, possibly excepting some
periods in the history of the world II
a time of pestilence. Millions are
slain on the battlefield, other million
die in war-stricken countries by starv
uIlOH, anu OluSI uullultu VI lllUu
sands suffer violent death. What O.
the future world as we contemplate
the multitudes sweeping into it?
No Apology for "HelI."
When Jesus was speaking to his dis
clples he did not make any apolOg!
when he said "hell." He meant thu
abode of the wicked in the othel
world. The disciples were TO fear thu
God who could cast both body and sou
into hell, but they We're not to fea
man, who could only kill tn, body.
The burning city Of destruction wa
. good place to leave, and Bunyan
pilgrim left it as rapidly as he could
! We might ask, "Who in these day
J fears the pain and hopeleSsness o
hell?' But the great fact is, hell re
, mains, and the Word Of God is plaiI
as to those who win fall into it.