Perfect Love Drives Out Fear

River church,

As we conclude this "summer of love" focus of teachings, I just wanted to bring some final thoughts. 1 John 4:18 (NIV) "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 

From this perspective fear and love are opposing forces. They are on opposite sides of the spectrum of human experience. Either actions and decisions that we make are rooted in fear or they are rooted in love. The Bible states that they can't coexist together because "there is no fear in love." In fact, when fear in the form of insecurities, exists in a relationship, it chokes out the love between them. This is what we call in couple's therapy insecure anxious attachment. The fears that someone brings into the relationship cause them to be clingy, overstepping boundaries, projecting fears and catastrophic thinking upon their partner. This causes someone to want more space in the relationship and eventually leave the relationship if it isn't addressed. The more that partner wants to withdraw it makes the anxious partner more insecure and chase after and push away even more. The cycles continue from relationship to relationship until this person heals and becomes more secure in their attachment style. They learn that love doesn't need insecurities and this invites a healthy secure attachment. The more secure this person feels, the more they trust and the more they trust, the stronger the bond. Quite literally, by perfecting or maturing in love/attachment it drives out fear! 

-Joel

Song List:

I Know a name- elevation- https://youtu.be/2wJKiOEdUsk?is=hjIbtZXyL0ZZCrdB

With you- elevation- https://youtu.be/uHTvLyDSmkw?is=GBGYFtfbk7MgbwdF

Love like this- https://youtu.be/gLH2mNb2K6A?is=fTWGzM77j3DuWBky

God I'm just Grateful for You- https://youtu.be/YbGFYaA0SbY?is=R5eA4DgV4xkU8aTA