THE FEAR OF GOD

A FORGOTTEN DOCTRINE (Expanded Second Edition)

by Dr. Arnold L. FrankDownload the Introduction
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ISBN: 978-0-9796736-5-8
PRICE: $16.95
228 pages

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BOOK REVIEW

The great Turretin profoundly declared that “to distinguish well is to teach well.”  Dr. Frank, in this much needed work, distinguishes himself as teaching well and exemplifying Turretin’s description.  While dealing with all the various Biblical nuances and types of fear as well as the popular and sinful discomfort with this theme, the author anchors his thesis and his passion to what he calls a “Perpetually Godly Fear” in Chapter 5.  This is “a new kind of fear” which is a result of “the Spirit of adoption to fear” and which is “a promised consequence of those who are included in the Covenant of Grace” (Jer. 32:38-40).  This glorious theme is relentlessly hammered home in all of its multifaceted images until the reader is both exhausted and refreshed at the images of God’s awesomeness and grace being worked out in the life of God’s elect.

The thesis is introduced with a practical observation that the fear of God is so missing in our day as to be a forgotten doctrine.  This need is contrasted to the fact that the fear of God is “a major theme” in both the Old and New Testaments.  Chapter 1 documents the fear of God as set forth in Scripture, followed by a sampling of the Puritan divines’ comments on that fear that “is a salvation grace.”  A chapter follows which reveals a “natural” fear of God “which flows from the light of nature,” with Old Testament examples of such.

Chapter 3 is a sober yet important foundation for the lifting up of godly fear.  The author treats both the “ungodly fear of the ungodly” as well as the “ungodly fear of the ‘Almost Christian.’” Other fears are mentioned, including the “ungodly fear of the godly.”  These and various other inappropriate fears are set forth with appropriate means of helping those today who are troubled with such.  The following chapter speaks of a “provisionally godly fear” of members of the visible Covenant, a “Spirit of bondage . . . to fear” which goes “tragically downward” and is not saving.  The other is also a “Spirit of bondage . . . to fear” but which in the elect is “triumphantly upward.”  The fear of God in the elect results in their fleeing to Christ.

As mentioned above, the chapter on Perpetually Godly Fear is at the heart of the “new kind of fear for a new kind of man,” namely, a fear that is God-given.  “. . . I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me” (Jer. 32:40).  Calvin’s comment on Psalm 130:4 is thus: “No one will ever reverence God but him who trusts that God is propitious to him.”  Thus “if the fear of God is the necessary fruit of forgiveness” the necessary fruit of the fear of God is loving obedience to God’s law in opposition to antinomianism (Deut. 5:29).  With a pastor’s heart and one who has his doctrine straight the author summarizes Chapter 5: “The fear of God will never admit to the terror of God’s wrath, yet true God-fearers will solemnly respect the chastening hand of God who will not tolerate sin in His children.”

The next two chapters introduce “Problematic Fear” and “Afflicting Fear.”  The former is a “servile fear” in which the person fears man more than God.  It is commonly seen in the words, “What will people think?” or “What will people say?”  The author applies Biblical therapy with examples of Daniel and later martyrs yielding the clear conclusion that servile fear needs to be supplanted with the fear of God.  The other fear diagnosed, “Afflicting Fear,” is “in the realm of the internal, where doubts are spawned and trouble seizes the heart.” The therapy here “focuses primarily on the strategy for overcoming the Devil’s lies about the believers true security.”  Citing Romans 8:15, we are reminded that having received forgiveness of sin, they cannot experience “the spirit of bondage again to fear.”  Citing 2 Sam. 23:5; Heb. 8:10-12; and Jer. 32:31-34, Dr. Frank concludes: “There is no place in the eternal covenant of grace for experiences belonging only to sinners still under the dominion of sin.”  The Father has “obligated Himself in the Covenant of Grace, from which He will never depart.”

The final two chapters touch upon two important areas of weakness in the modern church, weaknesses in worship and preaching, which are very much connected to the fear of God.  Worship without the fear of God is not possible.  The 150 Psalms are appropriate for the worship of God.  “The Psalms are redolent with references to the filial kind of fear.”  The author references Luke 12:5 and Jesus’ strong warning about whom they should fear.  “Jesus is here addressing his ‘friends.’  At the very least , the folksy familiarity, so typical today in many places, seems to be ruled out as having any place in His worship.”  The spiritual grace of a godly fear of God will be very evident in the worship of God.

Preaching clearly receives the author’s attention.  This work grew out of research over many years.  The author spoke to many pastors about sermons they had preached on the fear of God or knowledge they had of such preaching.  The research documented an alarming situation in the modern church – a famine of preaching on the fear of God.  A dearth of such belies the preaching of the whole counsel of God.  Furthermore, if the thesis of this book is correct, one of the great means of grace for the salvation of sinners is absent from the arsenal of sermons in modern preaching.  “‘God loves you’ cannot arouse a sinner to the fear of God.”  The fear of God is part of the Covenant of Grace (Jer. 32:38-41).  In a lost and dying world, evangelism without a clear word and understanding of the fear of God is ill-suited to plead with men to call upon the name of the Lord.

One final note about this work.  In addition to many Scripture references to document his thesis, Dr. Frank has provided us with a running commentary from Puritan authors reflecting the importance of the topic and echoing the thesis of the author.  While reflecting the author’s love of the Puritans, this selectivity is also an indictment of most post-Puritan writing which marginalizes the doctrine of the fear of God.  I praise God for this excellent challenge to begin correcting this dangerous lack of preaching and living the fear of God in the church of today.

—Dr. Carl W. Bogue, Pastor Emeritus, Faith PCA, Akron, Ohio (Scottsdale, AZ -- Retired)