What does it actually mean to fear the Lord? Is it being afraid of God?

In today's episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon get into the Bible giving us a deeper picture of what the fear of the Lord looks like. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This kind of fear is not simply terror or dread. It is a deep reverence, awe, respect, and recognition of who God is.

Fearing God does not mean we have to live in constant anxiety that He will reject us. For those who trust in Him, Scripture also speaks about God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and the confidence we can have in His presence.

They discuss whether Christians should watch horror movies, what Scripture means by “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and why biblical fear of God is more than simply “respect” or “reverence.” They also explore the difference between the fear an unbeliever should have of God's judgment and the holy awe believers should have toward God.

Most importantly, this conversation points to the comfort of the gospel: believers do not need to fear God's wrath because Christ has already borne that judgment on their behalf. The right fear of God doesn't drive Christians away from Him—it drives us toward Him.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 — What does it mean to fear the Lord?
01:19 — Should Christians watch horror movies?
03:18 — Violence, horror, and what we allow into our minds
05:20 — Is the fear of God a good thing?
08:59 — “He is not safe, but He is good”
10:38 — How should believers fear God differently?
11:16 — How does perfect love cast out fear?
17:25 — How fearing God can drive out other fears
18:02 — What if you feel like God is angry with you?
20:05 — “It is I. Do not be afraid.”