But is that right? Should Christians really approach life in a spirit of fear and trembling?
Of course, in practice, that is often how many of us spontaneously feel about life; but is it a Good Thing for a Christian to feel?
Well, no - it isn't.
A Christian who had perfect faith in God - our loving Father and the creator; would not fear life. Because he would know that creation was being shaped around his needs.
And one who had firmly committed to follow Christ to resurrected Heavenly life, would not be prone to trembling - but rather would have a sublime confidence borne of the prospect of an eternity of joy.
We cannot live up to this ideal at all times, far from it; but surely the times when we tremble fearfully about our present and future lives are times when faith is weak and sin has the upper hand. At a Man's best, he does not suffer so.
In a world afflicted (with official and media encouragement and indeed enforcement) by fear, resentment and despair (and by mandatory guilt if you are a white man) --- at such time surely it is one of the greatest things a Christian can do to strive for the opposite frame of mind - to live in the light of love, sustained by faith and hope?
And such a person would be mostly cheer-full and care-free (to the extent that this is natural to his nature, anyway). Why shiver and shake with fear when God is on our case, and Jesus is leading the way? A Christian - above all people - can afford to be discerning, active and decisive; since he is backed-up and covered by the power of repentance.
This ideal Christian would cheerfully approach his actual life in a spirit of adventure - confident that God brings him what he most needs, and his job is to learn from it - trying his best but knowing he will repeatedly fail; therefore ready and willing to repent - and knowing that repentance is fully effectual.
And contra that passage from Philippians; such an one would repent his lapses into fear, and trembling.
