I'm a Christian, I Can't Fear! Or, Can I?

Over the last few months, fear is something that seems to rear its ugly head more and more. With COVID-19, people were fearful that they or their families may get the virus, their family business may take a hit or they may have to cut their own hair. Over the last couple weeks fear from riots, injustice and lack of peace has been what has taken over the media and our lives. All while, Christians hear the phrase, “You are a Christian, you aren’t to fear!”, but for me, I struggle with that statement and I hope I am able to clearly explain why.

I first want to touch on a verse from the Bible that may be on your mind at this moment and that is 2 Timothy 1:7, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” I want to touch on this, because I think it supports that it’s okay to be fearful. Paul here is saying to young Timothy that we must not have a spirit of fear, but he doesn’t say we can’t be afraid. Our spirit as Christians should be of power, love and self-control. What if I said it is ok to be afraid if we are not controlled by that fear but rather let that fear strengthen our relationship with and faith we have in the Lord to help grow our spirit of power, love and self-control?

There are two types of fear that I believe are not only okay, but Biblical gifts of the Lord. The first type of fear we see can be found by reading Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 19:23, Psalm 111:10 and Philippians 2:12-13. If you read these verses, you will see two things; 1. We must fear God and what He can do and what happens when we turn from Him and 2. Paul reminds us in Philippians that when we put our faith, hope, trust and belief in Jesus, we must realize that we are now known as a Christian and our fear of the Lord shifts, as we grow to understand our calling and purpose as a disciple. The second type of fear I believe the Lord gives us is a responsible responsive fear, like the fear that a mother has for her child who is in danger. If you see your baby is about to fall down the stairs, you don’t let them fall, get injured and then look at them and say, “Now, son, I had to show no fear for your well-being and because of this, you now have a broken arm.” No, his mother responds. She is triggered to respond by fear for her child’s safety and runs to his aid because of the wisdom and knowledge of what may occur.

So, now that you get the point that I am saying it’s okay to fear, what do we do with this fear and how to we overcome it? How do we get from a point of letting fear direct our path to letting the Lord direct our path? You don’t live in, as Paul says, “A Spirit of fear.” The fear or anxiety that you may have in your life right now, give it to the Lord and let Him strengthen you. Let this fear you have bring you closer to the Lord and not let it push you away from Him. Let this fear you have remind you that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) with a plan and purpose by a creator who loves you with a love that is unmatched by any other love and He is your ultimate comfort and peace.

Matt Coyne, Student Minister at Sturgeon Bay Community Church