How can the fear of God bring about spiritual growth?

When the soul clings to God and knows Him, the natural result is that she delights in fearing Him, which is the natural law by which she lives. The soul’s knowledge of God and her contact with Him proceeds according to her spiritual level.

St. Philoxenus of Mabbug says, “According to how one views himself, so he [views] the memory of God. If he lives on the level of offenders, God will be visible to him as a judge. But if he has ascended to the other degree of penitents, [God] will show himself before him as one who forgives. Moreover, if he lives in a merciful fashion, he will discover the wealth of God’s mercy, and if he is clothed with humility and gentleness, God’s sweetness is visible before him. And if he possesses a knowledgeable mind, he will observe the wealth beyond comprehension of the wisdom of God. If he casts away anger and is free from wrath, peace and quiet moving in him at all times, he will be elevated to see the imperturbable serenity of God. If the movements of faith are continually stirring in his soul, he will observe at all times the incomprehensibility of the works of God and will affirm even those things which appear to be explicable but that [in fact] are beyond knowledge. But if a human being exists on the higher level of spiritual love, according to the level on which he stands it will be evident to him that God is entirely love. This is remarkable, that while God is simple in his nature and there are no members or parts in him, he shows himself in many forms to everyone. [God] is visible to anyone who seeks [him] in any aspect one prefers … Do not imagine that you will see God as the Good while you are living in an evil manner … [Only]

378 St. Philoxenus of Mabbug, The Discourses of Philoxenus of Mabbug: A New Translation and Introduction trans., Robert A. Kitchen (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2013) 6.14 (168): p. 133.

once you become like him in every one of the virtues he has commanded you to keep will he become visible to you as he is.”³⁷⁹

Fear is the beginning of the journey, supporting a person until he reaches full maturity and is perfected in love. St. Philoxenus of Mabbug says, “Just as fear accompanies natural childhood and urges it concerning all the teachings and incites it to accept [education in] writing and learning, so also the fear of God is attached to the infancy of the soul and urges it to guard the commandments and to fulfill the laws, and not to despise and disdain those things delivered to it by the word of God.”³⁸⁰

The true fear of the Lord is the faithful’s helper at the beginning of their journey as spiritual children, and it was also the instructor of the ancient people of Israel when they were like children, as St. Philoxenus of Mabbug says, “It was too much for [Israel] to love his God, and because of this [Moses] was urging [Israel] to fear his God. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ (Deut. 6:5). This was the commandment of the righteous among them. But to those who became like servants and were committing faults at all times like servants he had commanded, ‘Fear your God.’ Fear holds back vices and love fulfills virtues. Fear cuts off the course of those who are iniquitous and love stimulates the journey of virtues. ‘Fear your God and love the Lord your God’— both of these [commandments] were placed in the law that was given to the people in order that whoever rises above the commandment of fear may find before him the commandment of love which is more perfect than it. On account of this Paul, while he was showing the distinction between us and them, said regarding the discipline of Christ, ‘You have not received the spirit of servitude for the sake of fear’ (Rom. 8:15). That is, you were not called to become servants in order that fear will be born to you from servitude, but ‘you were invited for the adoption of sons’ (Rom. 8:15), which in love all good things are perfected.”³⁸¹

Fear supports the believer in his struggle against evil, especially in his resistance to evil thoughts. St. Philoxenus of Mabbug says, “The fear of God is a bridle that alters the impetuosity of a person from wandering after evil things and holds him back from running after contemptible lusts, not only for one’s public life but especially for one’s interior life.”³⁸²

“For see, a person who lives in this memory at all times, if even a simple movement of desire should fly over his soul, at once he is full of fear. He is shaken and astonished concerning that thought of desire which has occurred in him. It flees at once and this thought

379 St. Philoxenus of Mabbug, The Discourses of Philoxenus of Mabbug: A New Translation and Introduction trans., Robert A. Kitchen (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2013) 6.17–18 (170–172): pp. 135– 136.

380 St. Philoxenus of Mabbug, The Discourses of Philoxenus of Mabbug: A New Translation and Introduction trans., Robert A. Kitchen (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2013) 7.3 (194): pp. 153–154.

381 St. Philoxenus of Mabbug, The Discourses of Philoxenus of Mabbug: A New Translation and Introduction trans., Robert A. Kitchen (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2013) 7.8 (198–199): p. 157.

382 St. Philoxenus of Mabbug, The Discourses of Philoxenus of Mabbug: A New Translation and Introduction trans., Robert A. Kitchen (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2013) 6.29 (181): p. 143.

of evil things vanishes before the fear of the soul, like a bird that flies away in front of someone who suddenly has startled its rest. The fear and reverence of people guard the body from lusts, but the fear and shame that a person has before God guard the movements of the soul from thoughts of evil things. Because he sees that God is watching him at all times, he continually scrutinizes himself lest he sin and guards his hidden person from hidden flaws that the hidden eye of God perceives.”³⁸³