The Church & Fear
- JCGR
- May 20, 2022
- 3 min read
If there are any, a valid assumption is that every single reader engaging in this post has encountered and dealt with fear. Fear is one of those defense mechanisms that are part of our design to help us evade hurt or demise. The issue is that when we look at fear in the context of God, then each reader is challenged to see and understand fear as something foreign to the way a Disciple of Christ lives out his or her life in the world.
Fear. Emotional foreboding or dread of impending distress or misfortune. Often spoken of as the source of religion. Yet fear alone can never account for true religion, since men are impelled to draw near unto God, the object of their worship. One does not desire to come close to the being he fears.[1]
What happens when a disciple or a local church approach life and ministry through a sense of fear? What may be the consequences of said individual or community living in fear?
Survivor Mentality. Whether individual or community, when fear is the mode of existence for daily living, there is a sense of not living but surviving. Joy is taken out of the work at hand, and the subconscious is driven to sustain and maintain life without threat as much as possible. That means individuals become dull. The focus becomes making it moment by moment regardless of how survival is achieved. For churches, it may realize as keeping the traditions alive. Maybe it also focuses on the entertainment that may keep people fooled for a short period of time or concentrate on keeping the lights on, on making it one more month. Reading the words of the Apostle John, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” [2] God designs us not to merely survive but to prosper, which cannot be accomplished when living by fear.
Second Guessing God. Rightly do we read in the book of Proverbs, “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” [3] Fear takes the focus off YHWH and places it on the situation at hand, which is a form of idolatry in its honest assessment. When fear besets each reader and becomes the way of life, then YHWH is not God; fear becomes an idol in place of God. When we place something higher than God, not only do we idolize, but we hold God in contempt. God is no longer trustworthy or perfectly and truly powerful in our minds. After all, Jesus compels us, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” [4]
Fear is a recurrent presence in our lives. Because the only constant in life is change, fear remains a constant presence and tool of Satan to keep us under his thumb, both to accuse us before God and cast doubt on God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love. Rightly do we hear the words of the Apostle John, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.” [5] In YHWH, the triune God, there is solace and power to remove fear and replace it with God’s perfect love. Fear might try to cast shows over the disciples of Jesus Christ and the local church, but fear will never cast shadows over God’s perfect love and care for His children and His Church.
How will you respond, Dear One?
[1] Sacks, S. D. (1988). Fear. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 781). Baker Book House. [2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (3 Jn 2). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Pr 29:25). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Jn 16:33). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (1 Jn 4:18–19). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.
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