"The Fear Factor"

Wouldn't life be wonderful if all we had to fear were werewolves, vampires and the occasional witches brew? That would be nice, but we have much greater things to fear. Let's see...where do I start? Well, there is H1N1 that experts estimate will infect 65% of the population...and then there is the ongoing economic and unemployment threat...Terrorist are still blowing up cars and we are all too aware that their eye is on bigger targets that will cost a greater number of lives...North Korean and Iran are just fascinated with testing nuclear missiles...and, then there is Jon Gibson, at least he frightens me sometimes (Just kidding, Jon...well...no, I am kidding)and those are just global fears not mention more local and personal fears.

With all these things to fear in our world, it makes me wonder, how much of what I do or don't do is driven by fear? Before we are too hard on fear, let's be thankful for fear. Fear can be healthy. For instance, I want my kids to fear sticking their finger in the light socket. However, it is very easy for fear to very quickly leave the realm of healthy. You can always tell when fear crosses over to being unhealthy, because when we have unhealthy fear it keeps us from living.

You see, healthy fear helps us live (not sticking my finger in the light socket helps me live without being electrocuted). Unhealthy fear keeps me from living by causing me to withdraw from life and others. Unhealthy fear paralyzes. It isolates. It convinces me the only way to be safe is to stop living in some way...For example, since H1N1 is spreading so quickly, unhealthy fear says, "Don't leave the house." Unhealthy fear says, "Terrorists may high jack an airplane again so never fly again" or "The economy may never improve so cash out and hide your money in a mattress." Unhealthy fear moves fear from serving as a healthy safe guard to an irrational trying to control what we cannot.

Recently, I heard another pastor say, "As the world gets darker, the church ought to shine brighter." Of course, he stole that from Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before all people, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

In other words, for the Follower of Jesus our response to the fears of this world is not to deny or ignore them, nor to hide from them. instead, we are to shine all the brighter. We are to live life to the full in Jesus and as we live by faith and not fear may others see God and praise him.