Human beings have a natural fear of rejection. It grows deep inside of us, a great trembling of the inner spirit that dreads the prospect of unclothing itself before the mercy of onlookers. It arises partly due to the personal suffering that accompanies previous unrequited loves, and partly due to the overwhelming bond between rejection and self-image. It hinders our freedom to love others without bounds, and to care for a dieing world without the lingering presence of “self” restricting the flow. The bible expressed it like this: “…fear hath torment.”

The words come from the writing of John, a man who called himself the beloved disciple. He wrote about the love of God, and how that men ought to love one another. He wrote about how the love of men one toward another can be made perfect through the love of God that abides within. He explains how perfect love can remove the fear of rejection that so often causes a Christian to avoid the risk that accompanies the heart exposure that is necessary for effective witnessing. Take a larger peek into this scripture:

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:17-20).

Jesus loved with a spirit of absolute sacrifice. He came offering himself in exchange for our sins. Men, even his own chosen people, rejected him with a hateful bitterness. They spat into his face, and they nailed him to a tree. They cursed his message of an everlasting love, and they despised his spirit of truth. They rejected him in the beginning, and by-and-large they still reject him today. Yet his love remains an eternal gift of God to mankind.

The beloved disciple wrote that we should love as God loves. Yet this requires that we step out on a limb of self-exposure. We must open our heart to those who cannot, unless God so move them, understand the emotions, the wonder, and the glory that salvation spreads throughout the being of those who love God. We must love those who may, more often than not, reject our plea for their understanding, their response, and their personal salvation. When self will and pride and fear linger in the heart of a Christian, it creates a tension between what should be and what is.

The fear of rejection hinders the freedom to love. If we as Christians, and I do not excuse nor exclude myself, could learn to love without fear, what a world we could have, what a witness we could be, what a difference we could make. Strive to walk without fear, seek to find a perfect love, and submit to the God of love that abides within. Then you shall win souls to Christ.

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