The Church and The Culture of Fear
We have established that 2020 is the year of death. Everyone around you is consumed with their own mortality. It's why we have so keenly honed in on who is or isn't wearing a mask. It's why we have confined ourselves to our homes. It's why we've allowed our political factions to pit ourselves against one another. It's why firearms and ammunition are sold out around the country. It's why our churches and businesses remained closed. That said, "The Culture of Fear" is the most fitting description of this not so brave new world we find ourselves in.
Its an odd place to live. I keep waking up with recurring scenes in my mind where I am responsible for the safety and protection of my family. I watch them over and over in my head, planning my response. Though I may remain vigilant and ready, I am not at peace, and unfortunately, that has uncovered a deep flaw in my faith.
You see, Jesus promised us His peace. Peter promised that we could cast our cares on Jesus because He cares for us. Paul reminded us that the fruit of the Spirit is peace. So why am I consumed with worry?
Because I have not realized the benefit and hope of being Christ's.
Yes, we will have tribulation in this world, Jesus promised that too. We will be persecuted. We will be shunned. All manner of evil will falsely be said of us. We will be slandered. We will be accused of defying the state.
Or we won't...
As the world has relegated itself to its own four walls, the church has two options: to acquiesce to the culture of fear or to live as those who have hope.
We cannot give an answer for the hope that is in us, if by fear, we live as if we have none. How can we claim, "To live is Christ, to die is gain!" If we are so focused on self preservation? There just seems to be this cognitive dissonance rampant within the church in this culture of fear.
We sing, "Oh, fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue. Fear is a tyrant. He's always telling me to run" or "I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God," but then we cower in our homes, hoarding toilet paper, and freak out about the national shortage of Lysol.
Now, none of this is an indictment to any church that has closed its doors in accordance with local guidelines. It is with love for our neighbor and a desire to protect the vulnerable in our communities that those actions were taken.
However, I am not so sure that we have done so without detriment to our witness. In a time where fear reigns, it is the hope of the gospel which ought to have penetrated the panic of this world. Instead of standing as a bastion, I fear many of us have come off as weak and fearful. Again, this is not an indictment on local churches who for the sake of public health limitted their gathering as the church collective. It is an indictment, however, on us individual Christians who have shunned our neighbors, held our community at arm's length, and did not assume the mantle of gospel responsibility as our churches have been forced to make sacrifices.
When was the last Bible study you held in your home? When was the last time you shared the gospel? Have you so isolated yourself in self preservation mode that Jesus has become irrelevant? Perhaps He had you in mind when He said, "Which of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to your life?"
2 Corinthians 9:6 says, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." The context of this passage is with regard to giving, but as a principle, it broadens our understanding of ministry. Do you remember the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 13? Jesus likened the Kingdom to a sower casting seed in a field. He likened it to a dragnet cast in the sea. He likened it to a man who planted a mustard seed in his field. Wherever the Kingdom of Heaven is to be manifest, there also appears the principle of sowing and reaping.
That said, as the Body of Christ (us individuals comprising the church collective), we ought to be concerned as to whether or not we are sowing sparingly or sowing bountifully. We cannot allow the culture of fear to affect our harvest. It would appear that now the fields are white unto harvest. If there was ever a time for church planting, it is now. If there was ever a time for personal evangelism, it is now.
People are living in fear and dying without hope.
It would seem a "Seeker Sensitive's" dream come true! People are facing down their frailty and pondering eternity. If nothing more, the church is a sanctuary for the lost, the last beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak and hopeless world. It's time to swing the doors open and if one in good conscience cannot, it's time to get creative. Hit the open air venues. Do something... Anything... As long as mitigates our tendency to "forsake" the gathering of ourselves. We are mandated by the Scriptures to gather and spurn one another toward love and good works, and all the more as we see "the day" drawing near.
This is something that cannot be done as we sit in our underwear in front of a live stream. We have always denounced the individual who refuses to attend church, claiming to get their spiritual fill from their favorite podcast or radio ministry. That is consumerism. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Each of us comprise the multi-faceted body of Christ and who knows what contribution the church may lack as a result of our fearful complacency.
This is not an easy road for today's pastor to navigate. On one hand, he is concerned for the health and safety of his flock. Yet, on the other, he is aware that the fields are white unto harvest. Let us do our part as individuals as we comprise the Church collective. Let our devotion to the Great Commission be displayed first in our homes and in our neighborhoods. May we be keen to protect the most vulnerable, while considering our own lives something not to be grasped.
Remember the words of our Lord in Matthew 10:39, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
Be not afraid. Be anxious for nothing. Jesus has overcome the world. Our lives are hidden in Him.
Its an odd place to live. I keep waking up with recurring scenes in my mind where I am responsible for the safety and protection of my family. I watch them over and over in my head, planning my response. Though I may remain vigilant and ready, I am not at peace, and unfortunately, that has uncovered a deep flaw in my faith.
You see, Jesus promised us His peace. Peter promised that we could cast our cares on Jesus because He cares for us. Paul reminded us that the fruit of the Spirit is peace. So why am I consumed with worry?
Because I have not realized the benefit and hope of being Christ's.
Yes, we will have tribulation in this world, Jesus promised that too. We will be persecuted. We will be shunned. All manner of evil will falsely be said of us. We will be slandered. We will be accused of defying the state.
Or we won't...
As the world has relegated itself to its own four walls, the church has two options: to acquiesce to the culture of fear or to live as those who have hope.
We cannot give an answer for the hope that is in us, if by fear, we live as if we have none. How can we claim, "To live is Christ, to die is gain!" If we are so focused on self preservation? There just seems to be this cognitive dissonance rampant within the church in this culture of fear.
We sing, "Oh, fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue. Fear is a tyrant. He's always telling me to run" or "I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God," but then we cower in our homes, hoarding toilet paper, and freak out about the national shortage of Lysol.
Now, none of this is an indictment to any church that has closed its doors in accordance with local guidelines. It is with love for our neighbor and a desire to protect the vulnerable in our communities that those actions were taken.
However, I am not so sure that we have done so without detriment to our witness. In a time where fear reigns, it is the hope of the gospel which ought to have penetrated the panic of this world. Instead of standing as a bastion, I fear many of us have come off as weak and fearful. Again, this is not an indictment on local churches who for the sake of public health limitted their gathering as the church collective. It is an indictment, however, on us individual Christians who have shunned our neighbors, held our community at arm's length, and did not assume the mantle of gospel responsibility as our churches have been forced to make sacrifices.
When was the last Bible study you held in your home? When was the last time you shared the gospel? Have you so isolated yourself in self preservation mode that Jesus has become irrelevant? Perhaps He had you in mind when He said, "Which of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to your life?"
2 Corinthians 9:6 says, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." The context of this passage is with regard to giving, but as a principle, it broadens our understanding of ministry. Do you remember the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 13? Jesus likened the Kingdom to a sower casting seed in a field. He likened it to a dragnet cast in the sea. He likened it to a man who planted a mustard seed in his field. Wherever the Kingdom of Heaven is to be manifest, there also appears the principle of sowing and reaping.
That said, as the Body of Christ (us individuals comprising the church collective), we ought to be concerned as to whether or not we are sowing sparingly or sowing bountifully. We cannot allow the culture of fear to affect our harvest. It would appear that now the fields are white unto harvest. If there was ever a time for church planting, it is now. If there was ever a time for personal evangelism, it is now.
People are living in fear and dying without hope.
It would seem a "Seeker Sensitive's" dream come true! People are facing down their frailty and pondering eternity. If nothing more, the church is a sanctuary for the lost, the last beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak and hopeless world. It's time to swing the doors open and if one in good conscience cannot, it's time to get creative. Hit the open air venues. Do something... Anything... As long as mitigates our tendency to "forsake" the gathering of ourselves. We are mandated by the Scriptures to gather and spurn one another toward love and good works, and all the more as we see "the day" drawing near.
This is something that cannot be done as we sit in our underwear in front of a live stream. We have always denounced the individual who refuses to attend church, claiming to get their spiritual fill from their favorite podcast or radio ministry. That is consumerism. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Each of us comprise the multi-faceted body of Christ and who knows what contribution the church may lack as a result of our fearful complacency.
This is not an easy road for today's pastor to navigate. On one hand, he is concerned for the health and safety of his flock. Yet, on the other, he is aware that the fields are white unto harvest. Let us do our part as individuals as we comprise the Church collective. Let our devotion to the Great Commission be displayed first in our homes and in our neighborhoods. May we be keen to protect the most vulnerable, while considering our own lives something not to be grasped.
Remember the words of our Lord in Matthew 10:39, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
Be not afraid. Be anxious for nothing. Jesus has overcome the world. Our lives are hidden in Him.
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