Dear Grace Seekers:  

Around the year 413 AD, in a letter to his dear friend Anastasius, Augustine of Hippo wrote about feelings of love and fear in our relationship with God. In the fifth paragraph in a translation of that letter, Augustine wrote, “For the man who only fears the flames of hell is afraid not of sinning, but of being burned; but the man who hates sin as much as he hates hell is afraid to sin.” Augustine’s thought was that if we do right only because we do not want to be punished, then we are not embracing righteousness because of God’s love, but because we are terrified of God’s wrath. Behavior motivated by fear should never be confused with behavior motivated by love, even if the behavior itself is identical.

What then is our relationship to truth—are we driven to avoid punishment or driven to what is honorable?

I’ve been thinking these past few weeks about Augustine’s insights as they pertain to the behavior of leaders. Are leaders oriented to guide based on what they believe to be true, or are they driven to behaviors that best avoid punishment? It appears to me that political leaders have become addicted to pain avoidance. It resembles a Family Feud parody—most withhold specificity until after the public host announces, “Survey says...” Like children fearing a spanking, they appear to be driven by the least punitive consequence. They don’t want to be burned by the loss of contributions, their standing within caucus or party, or the possibility of being voted out. Right and wrong have little to do with their positions. While the political structures in Augustine’s age were very different from our own, this may explain his unambiguous disdain for politicians. (For a wonderful exploration, see Augustine and the Limits of Politics, Jean Bethke Elshtain, Notre Dame Press, 1996.)

Of course, Augustine’s thoughts ran deeper than politics. Augustine wanted Anastasius to embrace righteousness by sharing God’s love for righteousness, not from fear of damnation. A day-to-day parallel would be our motivation to provide some care and comfort for those whom we love in our homes. Are we motivated by the shared joy of domestic responsibility, or are we motivated by the feared frown of our partner? Both may result in helpful action, but fear motivation distances our hearts, while shared motivation draws us closer.

Which brings me back to our current state of affairs, these vitriolic days where words of condemnation far exceed expressions of commendation. Those who truly carry the love of God in their hearts cannot relish the future suffering of those whom they are convinced are wrong, but should rather desire for them the benefits of divine affection. Truth and righteousness are not discerned through the avoidance of punishment, but only by drawing closer to God’s benevolent healing. Or, as Augustine concludes his letter to Anastasius, Pray, therefore, for us that we may be righteous -- an attainment wholly beyond a man's reach, unless he knows righteousness and be willing to practice it, but one which is immediately realized when he is perfectly willing; but this full consent of his will can never be in him unless he is healed and assisted by the grace of the Spirit.

Seeking God’s graciousness more than sharing God’s grievances, I remain,

With Love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor