What Then Shall We Do?
If there is anything I hate it is fear-mongering. That means those who are laden with fears are willfully communicating their fears to others. My salvation scripture was 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I will not receive a spirit of fear. I believe God intends us to be overcomers, take dominion and demonstrate the Gospel of GOOD news with power, love and using our sound mind.
Fear-mongering is despicable. Fear is like unseen termites undermining the very foundation of faith, like undetected saboteurs destroying the very lives of potential ministers and ministries.
Before you get hostile toward me just know I have tons of mercy for them in my heart. Fear seems so very real. The acronym for fear is False Evidence Appearing Real (Big thanks to a dear friend of mine who signs her emails with this).
I understand. I was once consumed with fears also. Before I was saved, I used to say, “Paranoia is my brother.” And then for two decades I attended a church where leaders sometimes used fear to motivate us to good works. Fears like – (1) Fear of being different than others (2) Fear of what others would think, (3) Fear of not being perfect, (4) Fear of displeasing the pastor or other leadership, (5) Fear of not being good enough to represent the church, and (6) Fear of missing the Rapture.
The fruit of that leadership by fear still holds many who attended with me in bondage. After spending years training, after giving up family, careers, education and waiting to be “released” to ministry – they still are fruitless. Most have never won or discipled souls. Most have never had any ministry other than worshipping or paying tithes. It is sad beyond belief. All those hours of Bible College and note-taking during sermons wasted.
Then there are ones who have attempted to move on, move out of fears – and have done things for the Lord – yet many of them are still in bondage. The trouble with being deceived by fear is it is deceptive and mostly unseen. (Praise God for those unafraid who do exploits! You know who you are!)
Along with the fear comes unaccountability. Thus difficulties are always someone else’s problem. I see this today in a large percentage of those who remain victims of other people’s manipulations (controlling pastors, the media, the world government, the medical fields and on and on.)
Many years of ministry has exposed me to hundreds of others whose faith and/or environments have tattooed them with fear. The more “religious” the faith is the deeper the fears typically. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it is liberal or conservative faith – it depends upon whether or not they are “religious” in the demonstration of their faith.
In one of our churches we had several families with more than 6 children. They received tons of flak from well-meaning (but fearful) believers who felt having children in this day and age was dangerous. They on the other hand felt like God had led them to have a large family. These children were, bright, articulate and extremely well-behaved. They had no lack. God had provided well for them and their parents – and yet these critical fear-mongers were “concerned.”
The sad part is the fear-mongers had forgotten that Jesus gave them free wills to choose. They do not have to be a victim or afraid. But – they are – and it mocks the price He paid to set us free from fear. (See Hebrews 2:14-15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.)
Now to the heart of the matter I am moved to discuss today. (Sorry – I’m longwinded – but I’m just trying to get a background for you.)
These same people and their children are now in round 2 (or 3, 4, 5,) of fear motivation. They are embracing paranoia about our government (yes it is imperfect) the end times (yes – we are nearing it) and about each other (yes – word curses are real.)
BUT – motivation by fear is evil and the result can be deadly.
In the end times – the Bible says in Luke 21:26 men’s hearts will fail them BECAUSE they look at the things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Beloved, that means heart attacks will be common to those who are fear motivated and concentrate on the evil around us!
Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 and 23 are all chapters detailing what the end times will be like. And every generation since those words were penned had times when they felt sure they were in the midst of the “end times.” I was so sure Jesus would return soon I sold everything and refused to marry, not once but three times. Oh silly girl.
I am really glad that not everyone agreed with Paul who wrote, “I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is” (unmarried) in 1 Corinthians 7:26. For if they had agreed and did it – the 1st century church would have been the last church!
What then shall we do? How do we stay apprised of the national and international news and not give in to fear? How do we keep from being “conspiracy theorists” rather than victorious Bible believers who plunder the enemy’s camp? How do we operate in an evil world but remain subject only to the KING of kings?
First – we must recognize – these facts.
- We are not greater than our Master. Matthew 10:27 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he becomes like his teacher and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign the members of his household! THEREFORE do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
- We do not have to submit to fear because we are redeemed by love. 1 John 4:18-20 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.
- We will be tested and tried, persecuted and perhaps killed. Revelation 2:10-11 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
- We are to continue being obedient to the command given to Adam in the Garden. Genesis 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
- We are not to let present distresses affect us – we are born from above, we are citizens of heaven, and we are co-workers with Him. We are in the world but not of the world. He is and has always been our protector, our provider, our strong tower, our refuge and our strength. And if He is not – now is the time to change that!
Secondly – we must act!
- We must speak up when people use hyperboles to describe world situations; words like plunging, soaring, skyrocketing, and crisis in attempts to make us fearful.
- We must use balance in our lives so we don’t invite trouble from people who are fearful themselves. That may mean being educated in politics, medicine, education and other fields where ignorance could cause people to be fearful.
- We must demonstrate the GOOD NEWS with power, love and a sound mind. That means being pro-active, not reactive, when situations arise such as natural disasters or political uncertainty. Reach out! Don’t just sit on the couch worrying or uninvolved in your church, city or community.
- We must trust God. Worry is sin. Being alert and vigilant is not sin – it is wisdom. We may learn things that are not pleasant – but to worry indicates a lack of faith in God to whom nothing is impossible.
- We must do our part. Even if the worst political candidate is elected – God can still save our country. Remember He used Cyrus to bless His people, and Daniel and Joseph were both prosperous leaders in heathen nations. Esther was a queen to a horrid man according to history and saved her people. Don’t allow fear and worry to consume you.
- We must remember perfect love casts out fear. Be humble enough to ask others if they believe you to be fearful or paranoid. If they say “yes” – practice deliverance. Ask them to pray for you and show you where fear has you in its grip. You may not need to change your opinions, but you need to be free from fear’s grasp.
- We must get on with the Master’s business! Stay busy in God and you don’t have time for fear.
- Have the attitude of a Berean (see Acts 17:11) who Acts 17:11 searched the scriptures daily, to see the truth of the matters. And have this attitude - whatever is true , whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8
