“I’m no longer a slave to fear,
I am a child of God”
It’s funny how we sing this so passionately during Sunday morning worship services then we walk out of the building and let fear rule our lives.
We are fearful of our choices for president.
We are fearful of welcoming refugees from war-torn countries.
We are fearful of illegal immigrants.
We are fearful of our financial security.
We are fearful of the changes to our health care.
We are fearful of protests and possible protests.
We are fearful of other religions.
We are fearful that the government will take away our guns.
We are fearful of our neighbors.
We are fearful of suffering.
We are fearful of death.
We are fearful of the unknown.
We are fearful of liberals.
We are fearful that we are not in control, that we are losing control, and that in the future we will have no control, all the while ignoring the fact the we were never in control to begin with (I think we sing a song about that).
We are liars.
The truth is, fear keeps us safe and secure in our habits as American “Christians.”
Fear causes us to vote for politicians we have no confidence in.
Fear keeps us comfortable in the church culture that we have created and fear keeps us busy trying to protect it.
Fear gives us an incredible shortage of missionaries in foreign lands and an overabundance of pastors selling insurance and driving for UPS.
Fear keeps “Christians” attending “church” on Sundays and hiding at home throughout the week.
Fear keeps us dependent on emotions, experiences and mysterious inclinations of "God's will," more than truth.
Fear keeps our Bibles shut.
Fear keeps our eyes closed.
Fear keeps our hearts hard.
Fear keeps us singing words that we don’t really mean and refusing to deal with it.
Fear keeps us from acknowledging our fear.
We think it is courageous to say we have no fear, but lying is never more courageous than telling the truth.
