FDR may have said it best when he said, "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". It has taken me some time, but I think I truthfully grasp this and believe it. I will also make the claim that if you are a Christian you need to do the same. I have come to the point where I hate fear.
I'll put down a little definition of what type of fear I am talking about: fear is a feeling of danger causing anxiety. There is no part of that definition that I would want to have (I mean how terrible is that word "of", ugh disgusting). Let's unpack it. Fear is a feeling. You guys are reading the writings of a very robot-like person; I assume if you've ever met me, you know this, so the following statements won't be terribly surprising. Feelings are façades for the mind. Feelings have some impact on what you do/how you act, but it is the doing and the acting that truly matters. People don't care if you feel sympathetic, they care when you show sympathy by giving your time for cause (for instance).
Fear is a feeling a danger. Let me first look at the danger about which most people have fear: uncertain futures. People mostly fear not having enough money next month, being injured by various animals, heights, rejection, the dark, flying, or the thought of public speaking. This type of fear is incredibly irrational. There is no reason to actually have fear of something that may never happen, or there is a significant amount of time before the object of fear being realized. Let us then look at the things that are staring you in the face. This is where I may have to only call out Christians. Jesus' speech on not worrying (Matthew 6) refers to more of the first type of fear, but the message is applicable to all fear. If we truly trust God, we must believe that, even despite ourselves, God will choose the best path for our lives.
This is why I have never understood the fear of death (most especially for Christians). Let us first look at a surprising statistic: 100% of people die (OK, as Christians we know that Enoch and Elijah didn't, but we'll round up. Also, I wouldn't hold my breath for being carried up to Heaven in a chariot of fire). I may take it a little far, but I can't wait for death. I won't have to deal with this life any more. I'll be whisked away to paradise. I'll see my savior, my redeemer, face to face. Sure, death will probably be a bit painful, but I think it'll be worth it.
OK, back to the definition of fear: Fear is a feeling of danger causing anxiety. This is where the irrationality of fear makes its impact. If fear had no effect, it would matter if we feared or not. The problem comes when fear negatively affects us. We waste our time, our energy, our efforts on combatting fear. This is the problem. We need to focus that time, energy, and effort on something positive, not something irrational and unhelpful.
Like many things, fear is not something we ever truly overcome. There will always be areas of our life where we fear. Even I have fears of which I cannot seem to rid myself. The growth comes in continuing to fight it, not in ignoring it.
Good post. I think fear is the biggest obstacle to mission work. Fear of fundraising and danger prevents overseas and/or full-time ministry, while fear of rejection and unpopularity stands in the way of the mission of every Christian to share the gospel with those in his sphere of influence.
ReplyDeletei can honestly say that there may never be a point in time in which I fear nothing AND act upon it (if you dont really fear death, what's the point of doing everything possible to keep yoourself alive? exactly.)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd classify staying alive as a fear of death. Doing everything possible to keep yourself alive probably includes things that are born out of fear. I don't think I'd ever say that I do everything possible to keep myself alive, though.
ReplyDeleteAs to your larger point, this is true. We are human and imperfect, and we'll never be free from fear while we are still imperfect humans.