Wednesday, August 16, 2006

 

'Not ... a spirit of fear'

Perfect timing, considering the spirit of the e-mail upon which the previous post was based.

--ER



Devotion for Wednesday, August 16, 2006

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1.7

Just today, during a meeting, a group of us began talking about all of the fear that is being spewed out into the world via the airwaves, Internet and print media. Oh, I'm not saying that the world is free of violence or hate or terrorism, but I remain amazed at the amount of speculation about terrorist activities, natural disasters and nuclear war that permeates our communication sources and, so, permeates our lives.

We talked about how many news sources are trying to predict where the next terrorist strike might occur and how many innocent people would be impacted. So, I wonder, "Does fear breed fear?" Does the fact that we are constantly talking about terrorists and destruction some how reprogram our minds and hearts and souls to expect the worst in people and in our world and expect the worst possible outcomes?

I actually think that fear-based thinking goes against everything Jesus lived and taught. The Gospel witness tells us that Jesus said, "I came that they might have life and have it abundantly." So tell me, where is the fear-based thinking in that? Paul put it another way when writing to Timothy, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline."

So, if all of us began to think about the fact that God, through the life, death and resurrection, has promised us life abundant, and if we thought about that until it became part of our molecular structure, I wonder if that would begin to change the way we live in a hostile world. I wonder if our positive thinking and our penchant for hope would begin to permeate the minds and hearts and souls of all those we met. Then I wonder if we would be real evangelists by helping people reclaim their God-given spirit of power, love and self-discipline.

As faith-filled people we do not have to live under the oppression of fear. We, of all people, have reason to have eternal hope. Let us cast off the chains of fear and let us take on the mantle of hope. Let us be the people who, by living in hope and by speaking of hope and by sharing our hope, change the hearts and minds and souls of all whose lives we touch. Help us to start a contagious reaction of hope and let us do it not just for our sakes or even the sake of the world, but because we trust the in the extravagant grace of God.

Holy God, teach us to be people of hope, pushing back the veil of fear that holds so much of our world hostage. Use us to bring about hope, love and peace in your realm. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson
Senior Pastor/Rector
Cathedral of Hope, Dallas
rector@cathedralofhope.com

Comments:
I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God...

-Holly Near
 
Caution is good, Fear kills.
Fear of Indian attack was prevalent among those going West on the Overland Trails (Oregon- California-Morman etc.) from the 1840's to the 1870's. Everyone armed themselves accordingly. Indian attack did account for a few dozen casulties among the quarter million or so who made the trek. Death by gun accident or friendly fire from the guns used to protect the travelers accounted for several hundred. One source said there were ten accidental gun deaths per each "hostile" caused death. Fear has always been more deadly than reality. We counted on Fear (our fear & their fear) when we adopted the M.A. D. policy of the 1950's, 60's, and 70's. (Mutually Assured Destruction). Totalitarians absolutely require fear in order to succeed. Find someone sowing fear and you have defacto found a totalitarian personality.
 
By the way, off the subject, which is a natural for me, if anyone who reads the ER blog has never gone over to dan trabue's site and looked at his photos or heard his wife play the dulcimer, you really ought to do that. We all know his logic ain't too fine,and his point of view is bent, but damn if he doesn't take fine pictures and make excellent music. Make's him almost forgivable.
 
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