Part#1

01/11/2026

Introduction

My statement that “many Christians do not fear the Lord” is strictly a personal observation. I have no surveys or statistics to support it—only many years of experience. That experience includes knowing, living among, worshiping with, and serving alongside Christians for decades; attending church regularly; and participating in mission work for over 25 years, including ten years in Mexico. I have worked closely with pastors, church leaders, missionaries, and lay Christians and have been immersed in the Christian community for many years.

For full disclosure, there was a time when I, too, misunderstood what it meant to fear the Lord. I did not fully grasp its value, its necessity, or the obligation believers have to live in holy reverence before God.

It seems that the farther we move away from Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection—the very foundation of our salvation—the more people alter, ignore, twist, misquote, dismiss, or even deny what God has clearly spoken to us through His Word. Even more troubling is how easily many ignore or reject the severe consequences of disobedience to His commands—consequences that Scripture warns are fatal to salvation. One command in particular is consistently neglected: “to fear the Lord.”

The only evidence I can offer for my concern is what I have witnessed. And based on those experiences, I fear that many who refuse to obey God’s commands and live the life they willingly profess may find that salvation is ultimately denied.

In my early Christian walk, I sinned far more than I honored my commitment to Christ. But as I grew in knowledge, I also grew in conviction. I repented more deeply, struggled more intentionally, and began striving to live as the new creation Jesus calls us to be.

So, what have I observed that causes me to take this issue so seriously?

I have seen an increasing number of pastors, church leaders, worship leaders, and prominent Christian public figures pursue popularity, fame, wealth, and worldly success—sometimes abandoning the faith altogether, yet still claiming salvation. Others fall openly into sexual sin, dishonesty, or greed. Do they not remember—or believe—the Scriptures that warn leaders will be held to a stricter judgment?

In personal experiences, I have watched Christians leave church service and almost immediately display hostility, anger, and rudeness—even toward strangers. Have they forgotten what we are taught about love, self-control, and being Christ’s ambassadors?

I strive to be kind and courteous to those in my church, yet I have been met with indifference or unfriendliness at times while in the church building. I have been cut off, tailgated, and witnessed reckless driving on the way to church—only to see the same individuals pull into the church parking lot ahead of me. I see people forming exclusive groups, associating only with those like themselves. Even more painful is when believers argue or disagree and then refuse to forgive or seek reconciliation. What happened to forgiving as we have been forgiven, considering others better than ourselves, and obeying the laws of our communities? Do these commands no longer matter?

Even within missionary work, I have witnessed disobedience, unrepentance, hypocrisy, and greed. I have seen pastors openly show favoritism, instruct their congregations not to engage in certain behaviors, and then practice those very things themselves. When I first began missionary work, I humbly sought guidance and mentorship, asking four pastors to help me understand what was expected of me. All declined—they were too busy.

I have seen church groups from the United States travel to Mexico to complete projects they wanted to do, rather than asking local believers, “How can we help?” Even more disheartening is the so-called mission trips advertised as service to the poor, when in reality they are vacations filled with sightseeing, leisure, and entertainment. Are those involved in such actions ignorant of God’s Word, selfish in their motives, or simply unwilling to believe the consequences of disobedience? Do they realize that others plainly see this un-Christlike behavior—and that it brings reproach upon true Christianity?

If we stop and honestly look around, many of us can see the widespread and serious behaviors among Christians that reveal a lack of the “fear of the Lord”—a fear we are all commanded to have.

I discovered/share these observations not to condemn others, but to examine myself. They force me to identify where I am falling short and to work with the Holy Spirit to strengthen my obedience and develop a healthy, biblical fear of the Lord.

If this study helps no one else, it has helped me.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

                                             Eternal Consequences

The ultimate consequence of ignoring God’s ways is eternal separation from Him. Jesus warns in Matthew 7:23 “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!'” This eternal separation underscores the gravity of rejecting God’s offer of salvation and the importance of living in accordance with His will. Something to seriously consider.