Essay
Existential Fear of the “Living God”
Critical Commentary on Chapter 10, Verse 31 of The Epistle to the Hebrews
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
This stark pronouncement from the Epistle to the Hebrews cuts to the heart of humanity’s relationship with ultimate reality.
The “living God” here is not a mere abstract concept or intellectual construct but a powerful, active force that wills beings into and out of Being, whether against or in alignment with the wills of those beings.
Indeed, it is not only those concepts explicitly named “Gods” that drive humanity to bend the knee but any system of belief or set of values that comes to dominate the soul.
Idol Worship
These “idols” may not bear the title of divinity, but they function as such in the lives of their adherents. They become, in essence, the living and breathing spirit of humanity — the prime movers that shape identities, guide decisions, and provide a sense of meaning and purpose.
At the root of this submission lies fear. But this is not simply a craven, cowering terror. Instead, it is a profound awe and reverence in…
