You shall know them by their fear

Stott notes that 1 John 4:19 indicates that the church’s great characteristic is love, not fear.

That is, it should be. Is it? Hardly. Read the next piece of direct mail you get from a Christian advocacy group. Look at the listings in a Christian book catalogue or bookstore. Analyze the rhetoric of your favorite Christian political figure. Think of the conspiracy-mongering that gets mixed up with Christianity in many circles. How many dozens of Christian ministries continue to exist only because of the fear they are able to generate?

As Jesus didn’t say: You can tell a Christian by his fear.