Blogs View All Blog Posts

Fear-Six months of Sundays

July 6, 2010 at 4:04 PM

We have spent a good portion of the first half of 2010 considering the subject of fear. It seems like we have barely scratched the surface!

I don’t think that fear in general, or the fear of God in particular, is not something we can ever “close the book on”. We continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Some quotes worth some time for reflection:

“Everyone will live quietly in their own homes in peace and prosperity, for there will be nothing to fear.” Micah 4:4

“Do not fear their fear.” 1 Peter 3:14 (Isa 8:12-13)

“Different people fear different things with different levels of intensity, but all of us fear what we cannot control. … Fear is provoked when the threat of danger exposes our inability to preserve what we most deeply cherish.” Dan Allender, Cry of the Soul (with Tremper Longman), NavPress, 1999, p. 81. (Cited in When Fear Seems Overwhelming, Tim Jackson. See below)

“We are surrounded by fear just to the extent that we are surrounded by people who profit from fear.” Scott Bader-Saye, Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear, Brazos Press, 2007, p.14

“Fear tempts us to make safety and self-preservation our highest goals, and when we do so our moral focus becomes the protection of our lives and health. Security becomes the new idol before whom all other gods must bow. … We are more likely to tell our children to ‘be careful’ than to ‘be good.’”

Scott Bader-Saye, p. 28, 31

“Try this test. First, think about how much you fear losing your house, your car, your savings account, or your job. Then think about how much you fear being unlonving, inhospitable, selfish, or impatient. Which do you fear more? Why?” Scott Bader-Saye, p. 62

“Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the overcoming of fear.” Harold Kushner, Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World, Knopf, 2009. P. 168

“Is he – quite safe?” … “Safe? … ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” Susan and Mr. Beaver in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

“In a culture of fear, it is hard to believe that God is enough.” Scott Bader-Saye, p. 134

On fear in general, “Perfect Fear Casts Out ‘Luv’”, Peter Kreeft,

On the fear of death, “The Helpful Strangeness of Jesus” John Stackhouse;

When Fear Seems Overwhelming. Finding Courage & Hope. Tim Jackson;

“Death & Dying”.

Larry