Is God All Loving? (“Fear Less” pt. 2)

Fear Less | Week Two | Dr. Troy Doucet | October 15, 2023

Dr. Troy Doucet continues the series called “Fear Less” – where we discover how to handle fear (of God, religion, the Bible, failure, etc.) and discover truth by having the courage to look where we might not want to look – to reimagine the most important and beautiful aspects of the Christian faith.

Is it possible to eradicate all fear in our lives? No. So how do we start the journey to fear less?

One of the oldest philosophical questions that has been mulled over by some of the greatest minds is: if God is all loving and all powerful, why is there evil in the world? Either God can’t eliminate evil (isn’t all powerful) or is unwilling to eliminate evil (isn’t all loving). This problem of evil is why a lot of people cannot bring themselves to believe in God.

Dr. Troy responds with “if there is no God, and evil still exists, who is to blame? Us? Then what if the God you don’t believe in looks at us and says ‘what are you going to do about the problem you created’ – like a parent might look at a child that has gotten themselves into a predicament?”

What is the “correct” image of God? Is God strictly male, fatherly? Is there a feminine, motherly side? Is the strong male version used in a lot of popular depictions invented to cause a fear reaction in us? Like a father figure we are afraid to upset? Do you fear God, or the punishment for disobeying or disappointing?

1 John 4:16-18

1. Often, our image of God creates who we are becoming.

Dr. Troy shares a thought – God will give you what you deserve, not more than that. Do you agree or disagree?

2. God loves things by becoming a part of them.

Are you proud of who and what you are becoming? Would you say that the spirit and essence of God lives in you? Are your beliefs livable? What kinds of things do you see God in – sunsets, children, a couple in love? If you look for God in things, you will find him.

3. Fear causes us to run and hide; Love causes us to stand in awe!

Do you see God as something he is not? Are you afraid of an inaccurate assumption about who God is? What if you asked God to show you who he truly is… what would you see?