The Fear of the Lord, Darth Vader, and the Debate I Lost to My Son

Related books: My Only Son (Memoir Series) or 100x (Revival & Spiritual Truths). Note to self: go back and post the videos of Cash and me lightsaber battles here.

As I go through my daily Bible reading plan, I actually listen to the audio version. The narrator reading the Scriptures to me every morning is none other than James Earl Jones.

Every time I hear his voice, I can't help but smile. James Earl Jones is, of course, the iconic voice of Darth Vader. Cash absolutely loved the Star Wars series, and Darth Vader was undeniably his favorite character. He was completely enthralled by the tragic, redemptive arc of Anakin Skywalker's life. I remember buying him his very first lightsaber when he was younger, and how we used to battle with them. Right before he passed, he was actually saving up his money to buy a $600, high-end replica of Darth Vader's lightsaber. I think his mom bought it later.

Listening to the Bible on audio brings back another powerful memory. Back in 2007, my friend Josh and I took a road trip across America to deliver a wakeboard boat to Whitefish, Montana. We listened to the entire Bible on that trip, and it was an amazing, unforgettable blessing. Now, years later, hearing that booming, Vader-like voice read the Proverbs to me has brought a very specific, heavy theological truth to the surface: the fear of the Lord.

When I was deep inside my own rebellion—wrapped up in manifestation, metaphysical sorcery, and New Age thinking—my son stood against me. He and his best friend, Terry, would debate me, bringing absolute, scriptural truth to the table.

We specifically debated the "fear of the Lord." At the time, I argued that we shouldn't actually be scared of God. I insisted it should just be a warm, fatherly relationship. I thought the word "fear" was just a metaphor for respect.

I know now that I was wrong. I will gladly concede that debate to Cash.

I was not living righteously, but my son was trying his absolute best to live a holy life. I commend him for having the spiritual backbone to stand up to his father biblically. He didn't back down.

As I read through the Bible daily now, I am stunned by just how frequently the "fear of the Lord" is commanded. For context, the exact phrase "fear of the Lord" appears approximately 114 times throughout the Bible, overwhelmingly concentrated in the wisdom literature of Proverbs and Psalms.

It is the absolute baseline of our faith, famously stated in Proverbs 9:10 (NIV):

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Cash understood something that took me much longer to grasp: the true fear of the Lord is a healthy, life-saving fear. Yes, we should be concerned about our standing before a holy God. We should be scared of the reality that sin separates us from the Kingdom. Sin isn't just "error" or a simple mistake; it is rebellion, and we must take it seriously. We have to ask for forgiveness, repent, and try our absolute best to honor Him.

This can feel complicated because human nature makes us feel like we have to do something to earn it. But God has already accepted us through Christ. To not accept His forgiveness, or to brush off our sin lightly, is to reject the reality of what it cost Jesus to die on the cross. If you do not accept the weight of the cross, you are not saved.

The fear of the Lord isn't about cowering in a corner; it is about having such a profound reverence for God's holiness and His sacrifice that it fundamentally changes how you live. Cash knew that.

The fear of the Lord is real. Get with it.

Today's SOAP