Don't be afraid

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Eigenheim Mennonite Church, 1896
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
There are fully 70 admonitions in the Old Testament alone that urge the Children of Israel not to be afraid, not to be discouraged because God is on their side and will prevail. Add to that the roughly 20 references in the New Testament that urge us to be fearless in the face of a hostile world and you begin to approach 100 repetitions of that theme.
It's amazing that so many Christians have swapped that obviously-Judeo/Christian value for its opposite: a doctrine of intolerance and self-defense borne out of fear of “the other” and the prevailing view that security lies in military might. What can that mean but that we have lost confidence in the God whom we purport to worship and in Christ who said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
Being afraid is, of course, a normal response to apparent danger. Not to “be afraid” when enemy planes are flying overhead and distant and approaching explosions are heralding a coming holocaust, well, that would be abnormal. To be paralyzed by fear, however, is quite another thing. When Jesus urged his followers not to be afraid, he was imagining that they would be doing his work in the world: proclaiming his gospel message, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, visiting prisoners and generally rescuing lost and despairing souls. They would be boldly challenging the status quo. Paralyzed by the fear of consequences, this just wouldn't ever have happened.

The promise of outcomes much, much greater than self-preservation is, after all, the meat and potatoes of the gospel.
That Christians in Canada today have become increasingly susceptible to nationalistic visions of security is discouraging—but not surprising. We are human; we are not gods. But surely, it's a trend we should struggle against with all our resources. Surely we should at least recognize the wedge issues in this election, for instance, and remind ourselves that they are based on fear. Surely we should be the first to recognize that people enter the kingdom through the love gate, not the fear gate, if they enter at all.

There's so much to be afraid of these days, as in days past: ISIS (and by association, everything Muslim), the redefinition of marriage and its long-term implications, creeping secularization of society, the failing world economy, corporate control of national agendas . . . need I go on. Then it was Roman soldiers, the leadership in their own “church”, the Egyptians, the worshippers of Baal, the Assyrian hordes, etc.

There are always legitimate excuses for being afraid.

But clearly, if we are going to base our beliefs on scripture passages, the 100 or so that urge us to be bold and courageous in our faith, to be risk-takers in our approach to our world, should not be overshadowed by wedge issues that divert us from the boldness that should characterize our walk.
While some of us shiver in our boots over the news of ISIS, Assad, Al Qaeda brutality, S. E. is walking Palestinian children to school to help keep them safe in dangerous Hebron; Gord and Carolyne E-F are working in the war-torn Middle East with MCC, doing what they can to demonstrate and foster values that seem so odd in today's environment.The upside-down kingdom.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

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