Fascinans & Tremendum--Brittany Gordon

After going through my notes from last class, I kept getting stuck on the portion covering the fascinans and the tremendum. It's interesting to think about how the two faces are displayed in regards to the Holy, as well as the wilderness in general. In terms of Christianity, we are taught that there are two "faces" of the Lord. On one hand, He is all-forgiving, loving, and a friend that sits closer than a brother. He will never leave us or forsake us and wants us to have all the joys of the kingdom. Clearly, this is the fascinans within God. On the other hand, we are taught to fear the Lord for His judgment is quick and unchanging. If we deny Him before man, we are in turn denied at the gates of Heaven and cast into the lake of fire. This is the tremendum within God. The Holy needs both faces to be fully appreciated.