Fear — The Mother of Many Evils, Part 2

April, 2009

by: Jack Hughes

In the last Calvary Review, where we started to look at “Fear, the Mother of Many Evils,” we learned that there are good fears and bad fears. The fear of the Lord is a good kind of fear. In fact, it would be wrong not to fear God. Sinful fear, however, keeps us from obeying God, and trusting in God, living life for His glory. Some are so paralyzed by fear they can’t function. Scared of germs, of becoming victims, of failing, they hide in their homes trying to be “safe.” Their fear, like an iron cage, keeps them from living for Christ. As they grow older the bars grow thicker until at last they are completely encased in an iron coffin of fear. Their tomb stone reads, “Fearful they never lived and dying they went to a fearful place.”

But what is fear anyway? Fear is an emotion often associated with what has or what we think might happen. Fear is usually the dreadful feeling we have when we think we might lose something. Fear might be described as the emotion of covetousness. We have something e.g., safety, health, money, etc., and we don’t want to lose it. If something threatens to take away what we have, the emotional response is fear. Even if we think something might happen, we can be fearful. Let us take a closer look at some examples of sinful fear in an attempt to see how ungodly fear relates to covetousness.

The Fear of Man

Prov. 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” Fearing man is pictured as a trap into which the fearful person steps and is caught. Why do we fear men? Because we don’t want to lose what people give us. We might fear losing a pleasant friendship, popularity, our job, our reputation, or a business deal. We also fear men because of what they might take from us or do to us. We fear offending people because if we do, they might not give us what we want. We fear persecution, ridicule, or scrutiny, for example. We don’t want these things. They are bad in our eyes. Therefore, we fear receiving what we don’t want others to give us. So depending on how you look at it, whether it be coveting what we have, peace, friendships, respect, etc., or receiving what we don’t want, persecution, rejection, etc., fear is the emotion driving what we hope to keep or obtain.

Consider Abraham. He feared being killed so he told Sarah to lie, and say that she was his sister, and she was taken into another man’s harem (Gen. 12:11-13, 20:2, 11). Isaac, like Abraham, did the same thing. He feared losing his life and so he lied and said Rebekah was his sister so that she too was taken by another man (Gen. 26:7). Saul refused to obey the Lord because he “feared the people” (I Sam. 15:24). Even the prophet Elijah, who boldly slew 450 prophets of Baal, was overcome with fear and ran from Queen Jezebel into the wilderness (I Kings 19:3).

During Jesus’ ministry the Apostle John wrote, “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (Jn. 12:42-43). Here we see that many of the religious leaders believed in Jesus but would not openly confess Him as the Messiah. Why? Because they feared losing their synagogue privileges. They wanted the approval of man more than the approval of God. Other examples could be sighted but the point is clear, we fear what we think we might lose. We covet something and fear not getting what we want or think we need. This is sinful fear.

Fear of Persecution

Persecution is a sub-category of fearing man. Some preachers won’t mention Hell, judgment or call sinners to repentance. They fear it might invite criticism from their congregation. Every Christian has feared sharing the Gospel. Why? We want people to like us. We don’t want them to ridicule us or get angry. I think we would all agree that general safety and the desire to preserve one’s life is natural. We don’t play on the freeway at night wearing black clothes. We don’t put our hand in the fire. We don’t slam our fingers in the car door on purpose. Naturally we seek to preserve our health and physical safety. Yet persecution for being a Christian is not something we should seek to avoid. In fact, we are told to expect it. Jesus told His disciples in Mt. 10:16, “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” Wolves eat sheep!

Paul speaking to Timothy says in II Tim. 1:8“join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” Here Paul encourages Timothy to embrace, accept, receive suffering while engaging in Gospel ministry. Keep in mind that Paul is writing to Timothy from prison! He goes on to say in II Tim. 1:12“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” He also says in II Tim. 2:8-10, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”

Notice that Paul was not concerned about his reputation. He said he wasn’t ashamed to be in prison for preaching the Gospel. Some probably saw him as a heretic, others a religious fanatic, Jesus freak, or Bible thumper, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t trying to be popular among men, but faithful to his calling. He knew he was going to die physically (everyone does eventually!). He knew that his faith in Jesus Christ made his eternal life certain. He knew that dying physically would merely expedite him into glory. Jesus said “he who believes in me will live even if he dies and everyone who believes in me will never die” (Jn. 11:25-26). Paul believed and lived this truth.

I am sure Paul battled the fear of suffering physically. No one likes to hurt, but this did not deter him from following Christ. While speaking to the Ephesian elders at Miletus, he says in Acts 20:23-24, “the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul loved God and lost souls so much he was willing to physically suffer to see sinners won to Christ. In II Tim. 2:10 he says, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.” Paul had an eternal perspective which made him willing to suffer for Christ. In fact, this is the perspective every believer should have. We should all be willing to suffer for Christ knowing that while we might lose the things of the world and the favor of men, we will never lose the glories of Heaven, our salvation, or Jesus Christ Himself. In fact, our suffering for Christ will purchase for us treasures in Heaven (I Tim. 6:18-19).

It comes down to this, are we willing to live for Jesus even if it means suffering for Him? Paul told Timothy in II Tim. 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Do you want to be godly? If so, you invite persecution. Jesus, speaking to the believers in the church of Smyrna, said in Rev. 2:10, “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.” Notice the exhortation to not fear testing, tribulation, and even death for the cause of Christ. Notice also that Jesus isn’t concerned about their suffering for His name’s sake. He knows they are going to suffer for Him and invites them to do so. Just as Christ demonstrated His love for us by dying on the cross for our sins, so we demonstrate our love for Him by suffering in His name. Jesus is glorified when the world sees Christians willingly suffering for His name.

Other Fears

The fears mentioned above, though common are just the tip of the ice-burg. The fear of man and the fear of persecution with their many expressions take up the lion’s share of fear. Nevertheless, there are many other fears that people have. When the Lord called Peter, James, and John away from the occupation as fishermen, they were fearful. Think about it, fishing was all they had ever known. They had families. What would happen to all their fishing gear if they just left it? How would they support their families? In this case legitimate concerns and responsibilities led to fear. They didn’t want their families living in poverty. They didn’t want to see their wives and children begging for food. This is why Jesus tells Peter, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”

Another kind of ungodly fear is the fear of being exposed for what you really are. John writes in Jn. 3:20, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” Many live in hypocrisy, fearful of being “exposed.” They do everything in their power to keep up the facade, the show, the deception so that others think they are one way when they are not. Their hypocrisy is driven by fear.

Some who break the law are fearful of being caught by governing authorities (Rom. 13:3-4). They know they are doing wrong and don’t want others to find out lest they get fined or thrown into jail. Thus they live in fear of being caught. In I Pet. 3:6,14 Peter reminds wives not to fear submitting to their husbands. Some wives feel they can do a better job leading their family than their spouse. This may be true, but God has not called wives to lead their husbands. Thus women must overcome the fear of letting their husbands, and sometimes unfaithful, less competent husbands, take the lead. Peter goes on to mention another kind of fear in vs. 14, which is closely related. It is the fear of being persecuted for obeying the Lord. He says “do not fear their intimidation.” The ungodly will try to intimidate believers into denying the Lord. The Lord, through Peter, says do not let this happen. Jesus said in Lk. 12:5, “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” When it comes down to it there is only one person we should fear, the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” (Job 28:20; Psa. 111:10; Prov. 9:10; Eccl. 12:13). So let’s say you are struggling with fear. How can you overcome it? In the next Calvary Review we will see what the Word of God says about overcoming the fear of man. Until next time, when you find yourself afraid, ask yourself, “What am I afraid of losing?” Talk to the Lord about it. Ask Him to help you trust Him in all things knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you and that nothing can separate you from His love!