I’m Tired of Fear Leading Us
I’m going to get in trouble for this article. I know I am. But, at some point, you have to just step out of your comfort zone–for me, my comfort zone is being non-confrontational–and say what needs to be said.
This post really has been in my mind for awhile, and it wasn’t nerves that kept me from writing it, but it was just how to start it. I knew where I wanted to go…I just wasn’t sure how to get there.
Then I watched a little TV and checked social media for just a few minutes over the weekend, and it clicked.
Late on Saturday afternoon, I watched the end of a college football game in the state of Florida. Almost 91,000 people were riled up and having a grand time watching a really good game.
Late Saturday night, I was reading, but had on a football game in Pennsylvania in the background. Something like 93,000 people were in the stadium having a blast and enjoying what turned out to be a tremendous game.
I didn’t watch (I never watch), but I saw on social media where Hollywood’s elites got together to celebrate themselves (I mean, the best of their work) and had a show with speeches and hugs and conversations while in California for that show.
And then I hear about congregations returning to Sunday morning services only. I hear of places deciding to still not have Bible classes. I hear of churches that are having 20% or more of their members still not return to worship.
Far too often, it is only out of fear.
And I have to ask myself: for how long are we going to let fear lead us?
Now, let me say, I understand that there are still real health concerns. The covid numbers in area where I live seem to be slowly improving, but they have been rough for the last few weeks. I understand that some people must stay away for a time because they are preparing for surgery or they have had covid and are still contagious or they are awaiting the result of a test. I get that. At this point, we all do.
I am also not suggesting that congregations (or other places) might not need to still have some safety measures in place, especially if/when cases increase in their particular area. Some might need to reinstall mask mandates at times while others might need to block off seats again if things get bad in their area. I mean, our elders asked me to make a video announcement just last week, asking people who have not been immunized to consider wearing a mask again, simply because the covid numbers in our area have been high in recent weeks. They didn’t mandate it, but they asked it as a way to let people know that we are still looking at things and being thoughtful.
But here is what I am saying: these types of decisions need to be decisions made out of prudence, and not decisions of fear.
Too many members and too many congregations have gone from being cautious to being fearful, and the fear has become the driving force.
And I believe our enemy (1 Peter 5:8) loves it. Why? Well, ask yourself…
…if we are living in fear of being with our fellow Christians, how much evangelizing are we doing? I mean, if we are scared to be with God’s people, are we really going to invite others to be there?
…if we are scared to be around God’s people, how much encouraging of our brothers and sisters are we going to do? We might do some digitally, but we are likely to offset a lot of that by sharing on social media about how fearful we are of everything.
…if we are worried about our children being in Bible classes, how much Biblical education are they missing by not learning from those teachers who do so much work to prepare lessons with them in mind?
…if congregations are scared about fellowship and edification now, what will it take for them to stop similar “family-building” events in the future? The longer we go without them, the more likely we will come up with any number of excuses to not have them going forward, and then we’ll wonder why our congregation is not as close as it once was.
…if our conversations at home are about how uncaring and non-compassionate our elders are because they are not taking this thing seriously (which translates to “because they aren’t making the decisions I would make”), then how much are our children learning to respect our elders when they must make even more important decisions?
Concern is totally understandable and prudence is always a good thing. If you are concerned and want to wear a mask, that’s great, and it might be the right decision at times! If you feel like you need to sit more off to the side or even ask the elders if you can sit somewhere basically alone, they would likely understand and accommodate if at all possible. Congregations have made all sorts of adjustments over the last 18+ months and, I think, a lot of Christians have grown more understanding of these types of differences and disagreements. We have several members at Central who wear a mask and it’s totally fine and no one makes fun or looks askance at them, nor do they look with disappointment at those who make the decision not to wear a mask currently.
Additionally, if you must stay away due to health–prepping for a surgery or because you are ill–those things are always understandable. Those are wise and prudent decisions.
Further, if a congregation has a huge covid outbreak and needs to scale back some events or reintroduce some safety measures, that would be a decision made from prudence and from a present reality, and members should understand those types of changes for a short time.
But if it is fear that is keeping you away, or if it is fear that is holding leadership back from doing things, it is well past time that we repented of that and moved forward in faith.
Concern and prudence are one thing. Fear is totally another. And fear is leading far too many of us. How dangerous is it? Fear will cost us our soul (see Revelation 21:8 and notice what the first thing on the list is).
Let’s not let fear lead us anymore!
This is not a North vs. South, Republican vs. Democrat, liberal vs. conservative, or red vs. blue issue. This is an issue of fear versus faith, and we must let faith win.
“…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7)
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
