Faith Verse Fear

[Craig Laughlin]

I have for a long time been surprised by how much fear grips American Christians. As a response to that I am planning an extended sermon series with the working/functional title of "Faith Verse Fear" but I will probably modify the title to something more user friendly like "Overcoming your fears."

My question is - what do you see as the relationship between fear and faith, maybe even love and fear... perfect love casts out fear... Resources? Props, visuals, videos, stories, great titles/topics, scriptures...

Any of you done much preaching on the topic?

[Greg Farra]

I have not preached on it, but I think you're correct about fear in Christianity. The left thought Bush was the devil, and the right thinks Obama is the same. We fear mosques, we fear government, we fear this, we fear that. Not that we shouldn't be concerned about politics, but it seems that's what many of us focus on, rather than Christ.

[Shea Zellweger]

As with any time the topic of fear comes up, I'm curious as to what you mean by "fear." In general, I would understand the term to be in reference to uncertainty- don't fear tomorrow, don't fret over anything beyond the worries that come naturally in your life, etc. One might also speak of casting out fear in regard to reaching out to other people- ie, overcoming xenophobias and ethnocentrisms that lead us to stay in our respective little bubbles. What I struggle with is the idea that fear is in and of itself a bad thing. fear of certain things is healthy... I'm certainly not going to try to overcome my fear of running in traffic or falling of of cliffs, and I doubt my wife's disdain for spiders will be going anywhere any time soon. There's also the fear of the Lord, which we're told is the beginning of all knowledge. Now, I'm sure the various "fears" I've referred to in this post have different Greek/Hebrew words, or at the very least are different forms of the word, but I don't know what those are, so... I guess before I answer the question, which fear do you mean Craig?

I can give ONE piece of advice though- throughout your series, fight the urge to say "Don't tell God how big the storm is; tell the storm how big God is."

[Todd Erickson]

Shane Hipps at Mars Hill recently had a great teaching on this (within the last three weeks) on the issue of Moses telling the people to develop their fear of the Lord, while John says that perfect love drives out all fear.

He presents it as something of a time line...we learn to fear God as children, learning of God, seeing God's place as Lord and creator. But as we grow to the point where we see and follow Jesus, Love (Agape) begins to replace the fear, and we grow into the perfect Love of God.

The parallel example he gave was, we teach our children to fear stoves, because they can be harmed by the heat. But as they grow older, we teach them to use the stove to cook. An adult who feared stoves would be an abberation.

The teaching I've always had on fear in this world is that, following Christ as we do, we know that our future is secured. We may experience many terrible things in this life, but we know where we're going, and so any fear that we have here is momentary, it does not promise or change that future.

Which still doesn't make it any easier to endure the fearful things here. I know that Jesus is there, but he's not going to stop the pain, necessarily. Things are still going to happen.

It's a bit of a quandary, really.

[Billy Cox]

I have for a long time been surprised by how much fear grips American Christians. As a response to that I am planning an extended sermon series with the working/functional title of "Faith Verse Fear" but I will probably modify the title to something more user friendly like "Overcoming your fears."

My question is - what do you see as the relationship between fear and faith, maybe even love and fear... perfect love casts out fear... Resources? Props, visuals, videos, stories, great titles/topics, scriptures...

Any of you done much preaching on the topic?

One of the curses of abundance is the fear of losing it. I think that most of the energy in the evangelical movement comes directly or indirectly from fear.

[John Kennedy]

On just about any issue you can name, fear will out-draw faith most of the time. If it bleeds it leads.

[Susan Unger]

I remember David Pettigrew commenting on this alot BC Naznet.

[Kevin Rector]

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

John 10:25-30

[Craig Laughlin]

Thanks all. I've been on vacation so I haven't had consistent internet access. Shea I think your question is a good one. The Fear I am thinking about is not healthy fear but unreasonable or paralyzing fear. I see this coming into play a great deal with decision making. People are so fearful that they start making decisions that are reactionary or more about alleviating their fears rather than trusting God. I see this fear as often morphing into anger.

I am really wondering what did Jesus mean when he said Perfect love casts out fear? On the face of it these would not seem to be directly related. I have a couple of ideas but I would love to hear others ideas before I pollute the thread with my thoughts. (Thank you Todd, those thoughts are great)

[Todd Erickson]

I find that when I fall into fear, I am focusing too much on how things are falling apart here and now.

This is not to say that I need to focus on "heaven, by and by", but rather the vision, the dream, that Jesus is calling me to better things here and now, and that will help him build the Kingdom...but only inasmuch as I can let go of what can or will happen here, to produce what should be.

[Craig Laughlin]

I find that when I fall into fear, I am focusing too much on how things are falling apart here and now.

This is not to say that I need to focus on "heaven, by and by", but rather the vision, the dream, that Jesus is calling me to better things here and now, and that will help him build the Kingdom...but only inasmuch as I can let go of what can or will happen here, to produce what should be.

Yeah, one of the things I think I think is that fear of loss is one of our "foundational fears" and the fear itself is a foundational emotion. I fear this or that but when I examine it closer often what I am really afraid of is that I am going to loose something I find important or I perceive to be essential. Maybe that is a part of the connection to love, if you love God, (trust as a child trusts a parent) then you know that God will provide so you are not afraid. ? ?

[Marsha Lynn]

I find that when I fall into fear, I am focusing too much on how things are falling apart here and now.

This is not to say that I need to focus on "heaven, by and by", but rather the vision, the dream, that Jesus is calling me to better things here and now, and that will help him build the Kingdom...but only inasmuch as I can let go of what can or will happen here, to produce what should be.

Yeah, one of the things I think I think is that fear of loss is one of our "foundational fears" and the fear itself is a foundational emotion. I fear this or that but when I examine it closer often what I am really afraid of is that I am going to loose something I find important or I perceive to be essential. Maybe that is a part of the connection to love, if you love God, (trust as a child trusts a parent) then you know that God will provide so you are not afraid. ? ?

I notice that Todd started off talking about "how things are falling apart here and now" but later switched to future tense -- "what can or will happen here." In your response you focused completely on what is going to be lost. I think that's an essential part of the conversation. Is fear ever about what IS happening or is it always and forever focused on what COULD happen? It seems that no matter how bad things are in this moment, what I really fear is the thing that hasn't happened yet but seems likely to happen.

For example, I might install a security system because I fear that an intruder will enter my home. When the security system fails and an intruder does indeed enter my home, I no longer fear that someone will enter. Instead, I fear he will harm me and my family. When he does indeed harm us, I fear that we will not recover from the injuries, that he will go on and kill us. Each happening removes the fear of that happening and shifts my focus to the next terrible thing that might happen. It's all about the future and it's based entirely on speculation and probability.

Does faith also focus entirely on the future?

[David Pettigrew]

I remember David Pettigrew commenting on this alot BC Naznet.

If only I could remember what I said!

[Susan Unger]

The only thing I can recall off hand is that you felt like [your board?] was making decisions based on fear and not faith.

[David Pettigrew]

The only thing I can recall off hand is that you felt like [your board?] was making decisions based on fear and not faith.

Hmm. I must have been going through a rough time. I have a great board! I can see myself saying something like that, but it had a lot more to do with my own issues at the time than anyone else's.

[Craig Laughlin]

I notice that Todd started off talking about "how things are falling apart here and now" but later switched to future tense -- "what can or will happen here." In your response you focused completely on what is going to be lost. I think that's an essential part of the conversation. Is fear ever about what IS happening or is it always and forever focused on what COULD happen? It seems that no matter how bad things are in this moment, what I really fear is the thing that hasn't happened yet but seems likely to happen.

For example, I might install a security system because I fear that an intruder will enter my home. When the security system fails and an intruder does indeed enter my home, I no longer fear that someone will enter. Instead, I fear he will harm me and my family. When he does indeed harm us, I fear that we will not recover from the injuries, that he will go on and kill us. Each happening removes the fear of that happening and shifts my focus to the next terrible thing that might happen. It's all about the future and it's based entirely on speculation and probability.

Does faith also focus entirely on the future?

Good point. This has led me to starting a list of fears, trying not do duplicate, that is to get a "root" fears.

- Fear of loss - I am trying to figure out if this is a fear because it changes the future. It also seems to me that this can be a huge category. In fact it might be so large as to not be helpful. ?
- Fear of Death - or maybe the unknown but I think this is a separate thing.
- Fear of suffering - Physical, emotional, ???
- Fear of loneliness
- Fear surrounding our children and their futures?
- Fear of embarrassment
- Fear of God and/or Judgement by God
- Fear of loss of control - close to fear of the unknown.

????

[Susan Unger]

Hmm. I must have been going through a rough time. I have a great board! I can see myself saying something like that, but it had a lot more to do with my own issues at the time than anyone else's.

I think you were.

[Susan Unger]

Good point. This has led me to starting a list of fears, trying not do duplicate, that is to get a "root" fears.

- Fear of loss - I am trying to figure out if this is a fear because it changes the future. It also seems to me that this can be a huge category. In fact it might be so large as to not be helpful. ?
- Fear of Death - or maybe the unknown but I think this is a separate thing.
- Fear of suffering - Physical, emotional, ???
- Fear of loneliness
- Fear surrounding our children and their futures?
- Fear of embarrassment
- Fear of God and/or Judgement by God
- Fear of loss of control - close to fear of the unknown.

????
Part of praying for my emotional healing these last 4 years has been to come up with a similar list of fears. Then I give them to God in prayer. After awhile, God shows me the roots of my issues and brings healing.

[David Graham]

Good point. This has led me to starting a list of fears, trying not do duplicate, that is to get a "root" fears.

- Fear of loss - I am trying to figure out if this is a fear because it changes the future. It also seems to me that this can be a huge category. In fact it might be so large as to not be helpful. ?
- Fear of Death - or maybe the unknown but I think this is a separate thing.
- Fear of suffering - Physical, emotional, ???
- Fear of loneliness
- Fear surrounding our children and their futures?
- Fear of embarrassment
- Fear of God and/or Judgement by God
- Fear of loss of control - close to fear of the unknown.

????

I would add to that list: "A fear of having a lack of purpose".... or if you like, a fear of uselessness.
Many of the older folks that I visit fear this..... particularly the older men.

[Craig Laughlin]

Any thoughts about props? I know this seems crazy to us older preachers but visual learners especially and folks in general retain more if they have visual representations. What concrete things symbolize fear for you. We have thought about an empty hospital bed, a back-lit screen with menacing images. As a trained preacher I often find it hard to think visually about theology. Interesting problem given how much of the Bible is visual theology rather than deductive.