Fear Tactics
Tune in to almost any network news program and you will be hit broadside with a plethora of headline words designed to scare you. Words like “horrific” and “terrible” along with phrases like “out of control”, “no possible solution” or “no end in sight” are all designed to frighten you toward the conclusion the network would like you to adopt. Their conclusion is that you have no hope. The driving force behind the covid 19 pandemic is FEAR. If enough people decide that they have no hope, then they will buy in to whatever the government or the “health industry” tells them.
For the Christ follower this goes against everything the Gospel teaches. Jesus came to set us free from fear. The Apostle John reminds us that “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18.) In FDR’s first inaugural address he uttered the classic line, “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Often fear or dread is what I call a “floating” emotion that is not attached to any real cause. In order to overcome the fear-mongering of those seeking to control us, we need to “keep our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith”. Henry Blackaby tells of being out on a fishing boat on the wild waters of a stormy sea. It was a frightening experience. One of the sailors gave him this advice; “Keep your eyes on the Captain. If he’s not afraid, then you don’t need to fear.”
Make up your mind that when the news is frightening you will use that as a reminder to focus on Jesus, who said to His fearful disciples when He walked on the Sea of Galilee toward their boat in the midst of a storm, “Fear not, it is I”.
Bill Cole is originally from Alabama, grad of Samford University in Birmingham, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served churches in AL, LA, CA, and FL in various positions. He experienced the beginning of Jesus movement in the ’60’s and have done short term missions in South Africa, Russia, and Barbados. He Retired in 2023 from a 12-year pastorate in Lake Placid, FL. He is currently living with his wife in Sebring Florida. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcole39/
Amen Bill. Good Word. I said the almost same thing to a young man the other day and he “Not every Christian wants to live like a monk!” Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you Brian. Have a blessed day pursuing Christ.