Struggling with Marijuana Addiction and Fear of God's Judgment
The fear of God's judgment is a recurring theme in biblical texts and Christian theology, often associated with a sense of trepidation or dread in the face of divine punishment or wrath. In Psalms 119:120, the psalmist confesses, "My flesh trembles for fear of you; I am afraid of your judgments" [1]. This sentiment is echoed in other biblical passages, such as Job 6:4, where Job laments, "For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me" [2].
The concept of fear in relation to God's judgment is complex and multifaceted. According to John Calvin, there are different forms of fear, including a "forced and servile fear" that arises from the dread of divine judgment, and a "filial fear" that is characterized by reverence and awe for God's majesty [4]. Thomas Aquinas further distinguishes between different types of fear, including "servile fear," which is motivated by the fear of punishment, and "filial fear," which is driven by a desire to avoid offending God [6].
In the context of struggling with addiction, such as marijuana addiction, the fear of God's judgment can be a significant concern. According to Charles Hodge, the conviction of sin and the fear of God's judgment can be a catalyst for repentance and faith [3]. The biblical text itself often links fear and judgment, as seen in Hebrews 10:29, where the author warns that it is "a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" [7].
Augustine interprets the fear of judgment as a sign of imperfect love, arguing that "as long as there is fear, charity is not yet perfect" [8]. However, he also notes that the fear of judgment can be a necessary step towards repentance and the development of a more mature faith. In this sense, the fear of God's judgment can be seen as a motivator for individuals to seek help and support in overcoming their struggles with addiction.
The relationship between fear and love is also explored in 1 John 4:18, which states that "perfect love casts out fear" [5]. According to Tyndale House, this verse suggests that as believers grow in their understanding of God's love, they will become more confident in the face of judgment, and their fear will be replaced by a sense of assurance and trust.
Sources
- Psalms “My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments. -- Psalms 119:120”
- Job “Job 6:4 (BSB) — For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 138: observation that a man passes suddenly from a state of scepticism to one of firm belief, without any arguments being addressed to his understanding, but simply by a change in his inward moral state. When, as the Bible expresses it, “the eyes of the heart” are thus opened, he can no more doubt the truths perceived, than he can doubt the evidence of his senses. In the second place, with this conviction of the truths of religion is connected an experience of their power. They produce to a greater or less degree an effect upon the feelings a”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 20: forced and servile fear which divine Judgment extorts Judgment which, from the impossibility of escape, they are compelled to dread, but which, while they dread, they at the same time also hate. To impiety, and to it alone, the saying of Statius properly applies: “Fear first brought gods into the world,” ( Theb. lib. 1). Those whose inclinations are at variance with the justice of God, knowing that his tribunal has been erected for the punishment of transgression, earnestly wish that that tribunal were overthrown. Under the influen”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:18: 4:18 perfect love expels all fear: As we live with Christ and grow more mature and complete in God’s love, we have confidence in facing the day of judgment, which will be terrifying for those who don’t know God (Acts 24:25; Rom 2:16). • Based on consciousness of guilt, fear anticipates a deserved punishment, producing dread that is itself a foretaste of that punishment. Christ died to set us free from this dread (Heb 2:14-15).”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Gift of Fear, Art. 2: Article: Whether fear is fittingly divided into filial, initial, servile and worldly fear? I answer that, We are speaking of fear now, in so far as it makes us turn, so to speak, to God or away from Him. For, since the object of fear is an evil, sometimes, on account of the evils he fears, man withdraws from God, and this is called human fear; while sometimes, on account of the evils he fears, he turns to God and adheres to Him. This latter evil is twofold, viz. evil of punishment, and ev”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 10:29: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. For this is to be understood not in a good sense; so in general all mankind may be said to fall into, or be in the hands of God, as they are the work of his hands, the care of his providence, and are subject to his sovereignty; and in especial manner, believers, whose times and persons are in God's hand, which bespeaks his great affection for them, their nearness to him, the support they have by him, and protection from him; and they choose to fall into the hands of him as a chastising Father, rather th”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — 1 JOHN IV 17-2 (part 3): of judgment; these cannot have boldness in a day which they do not believe will come. Let us pass these: may God awaken them, that they may live; why speak we of the dead? They do not believe that there will be a day of judgment; they neither fear nor desire what they do not believe. Some man has begun to believe in a day of judgment: if he has begun to believe, he has also begun to fear. But because he fears as yet, because he hath not yet boldness in the day of judgment, not yet is charity in that man made perfect. But for ”