Fear of God
2. Dispassion engenders love, hope in God engenders dispassion, and patience and forbearance engender hope in God; these in turn are the product of complete self-control, which itself springs from fear of God. Fear of God is the result of faith in God.
St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #2
When I was starting out as a priest in the denomination I grew up in I had rose colored glasses about the church and the people who participate in the church. I knew that God was alive in my denomination, and I also knew that the church was struggling to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Many people were battening down the hatches and holding onto “tradition” which ended up wrecking many churches because there was something missing in their midst: Fear of God. I have watched my denomination and, ostensibly, the larger Christian movement limit the role of the awesome existence of God. We have almost forgotten our place in the creation and, in a way, turned ourselves into modern day pharisees and forgotten our own spiritual work.
Maximus the Confessor, in his intricate exposition, weaves a spiritual progression that elucidates the journey of a soul towards the divine. "Dispassion engenders love, hope in God engenders dispassion, and patience and forbearance engender hope in God; these in turn are the product of complete self-control, which itself springs from fear of God. Fear of God is the result of faith in God." Each phrase in this statement is a stepping stone, creating a ladder that guides the soul from foundational faith to the heights of divine love.
Starting at the base, Maximus suggests that "Fear of God is the result of faith in God." Faith serves as the bedrock of spiritual progression. It is the initial affirmation of belief in the Divine, a trust that there is a higher order and purpose. From this faith emerges a reverential "fear of God"—not fear in a terrifying sense, but an awe-inspired reverence, a deep respect for the omnipotent and omniscient Creator.
From this reverential fear springs "complete self-control." Self-control is a mastery over one's desires, temptations, and impulses, ensuring they align with divine will. It's not about suppression but alignment, a harmonization of our will with the Divine's.
Built upon self-control are "patience and forbearance." Patience is the ability to endure, to wait with hope and trust, and forbearance is a resilience against provocations, slights, or adversity without being overtaken by anger or resentment. These virtues strengthen our hope in God, anchoring our soul in the certainty of His promise and presence.
As the soul becomes imbued with hope in God, it attains "dispassion." Dispassion is not indifference or numbness but a state of equanimity, free from the tumultuous pulls of worldly desires and attachments. It's a serene state, where the soul remains unperturbed, regardless of external circumstances.
Finally, from this dispassion emerges the most divine of virtues: "love." But this is not the worldly love we commonly understand; it's an all-encompassing, selfless love that resonates with the very frequency of the Divine. This love is the culmination of the soul's journey, a state where it mirrors the boundless love of God.
In essence, Maximus the Confessor's statement outlines a spiritual blueprint. Each step, from faith to love, is interconnected, and one cannot leap to the end without traversing the intermediate steps. It serves as a reminder that spiritual growth is a process, a journey where each virtue nurtures and paves the way for the next, eventually leading the soul to the pinnacle of divine love.