Controlled by Fear

According to what I read, more people are killed by dear than by any other wild animal in the United States.  People know bears, mountain lions, wolves, and other predators are dangerous, and avoid getting too close to them.  Antlerless deer do not appear threatening, and people assume they are safe.  As long as the deer do not feel threatened, they may allow a person to get very close, perhaps even to pet them.  If something frightens them however they go into panic mode, striking out blindly at anything close with their hooves, and may kill the person petting them in a misguided effort to protect themselves.

Unfortunately, many people react in a similar way to fear of anger, lashing out either verbally or physically at those who are perceived as a possible threat.  Under the influence of powerful emotions, they lose the power to think logically, as those who have seen people in panic can attest.  If nothing is done to help them deal with the fear they felt, they respond even more violently the next time something similar happens.  Throughout history. Evil people have played on people’s fears to gain control of them, whether it was Hitler stirring up hatred for the Jews by accusing them of destroying the German economy, or the KKK stirring up hatred of blacks by accusing them of stealing jobs and attacking white people, or Black Lives Matter accusing police of murdering blacks, or liberal activists accusing Trump of trying to take away women’s rights.  Fear and anger are infectious, and people’s fears feed on those of others, inevitably leading to riots and physical violence, and attempts to explain their concerns are often incoherent and incomprehensible. 

This fear comes from Satan, not from God.  II Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  When we are not controlled by fear of anger, we are able to think logically and make reasonable and effective decisions, free of bias and hatred and being considerate of other group’s concerns.  Our fears no longer control us if we allow the Holy Spirit to direct us, as Romans 8:15 tells us.  “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Because he is our father we do not have to fear what others may do.  In Matthew 10:28-31, Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”  If God cares about how many hairs are on your head or about every little sparrow that is killed, he surely will notice if a person is hurt.  Knowing that, Hebrews 13:5-6 tells us, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”  We don’t have to worry about anything that may happen to us.  As President Kennedy is quoted as saying, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

When we really get to know and love God personally, our fears disappear.  I John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  The Holy Spirit frees us fro that bondage to fear as II Corinthians 3:17 tells us, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 

People who give into their fears and go along with the crowd usually end up doing things they regret, often spending time in prison for the things they have done.  Revelation 21:8 warns, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”