The Culture of Fear

/ Christian Living, Parenting, Pastoral Ministry, Spiritual Warfare, Worldview / By

We live in a terrifying world. The world is so much worse today than it was in the past. In fact, many of previous generations have looked at me with sadness and lamented, “I’m glad I’m not raising children in the world today, as bad as it is.”

This is what I hear and am tempted to beleive, and yet statistics do not justify the fear.

According to crime statistics, we in America are safer today than we have been in many many years. In recent years, gun sales have exploded, but the homicide rate has fallen steadily since the 90s. Contrary to the fear we have of our children wandering out of our sight, the overwhelming majority of violence against children comes from their family, not from strangers (Based on various websites and statistics, 3%-5% of violence toward children comes through strangers). The most likely people to abuse children continue to be their parents, not strangers.

The 24 hour news cycle thrives on fear

The 24 hour news cycle thrives on fear. But, as beleivers, we are called to live with wisdom, not fear. Tim Challies posted a great article today about public schooling. Though I would urge you to read the entire article and consider his position on public schooling (with which I agree), I want to bring your attention to one quote:

However, if we were to begin again today, I am quite sure we would not enroll our children in public schools. What concerns me is that our decision would not be based on conviction but fear, fear generated by statements we have heard from others about public schools and, in particular, about public school teachers. Over the years we have encountered hundreds of statements about the dangers of such teachers. We have been assured that public schools are the breeding ground for every kind of social evil, that they are the lair of predatory teachers, that they are full of tenured and unionized employees who care nothing for children. We have heard that public school teachers care only for ideology, that they will allow no leeway for Christian beliefs, that they will do their utmost to undermine the hard training of parents who attempt to raise their children with biblical ideals. In many Christian circles, public school teachers are made out to be the enemies of the faith.

Public school teachers are members of our churches, contributors to our communities, parents, and lovers of children. Certainly they are not all great, but there are bad preachers, bad police officers, and bad politicians as well, but the exceptions cannot be used to create a rule. As Christians, above all others, we must reject the culture of fear (Isaiah 41:10) and walk in wisdom (Colossians 4:5).

When my children are out of my sight, I can be guilty of assuming the worst, but I must combat the lie of insecurity with the truth. All truth is God’s truth. The truth is that God is in control. The truth is that my children, statistically speaking, are safer with strangers than they are with loved ones. The truth is that my hyper exposure to the “if it bleeds it leads” news cycle has transformed my brain to revert to fear as my default status. But, what is the antidote?

Is fear or faith your default status?

In Psalm 56:3 we are encouraged, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul encourages believers with the reminder, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” The problem is not the world around us or the promises of our God. The problem is the place of our minds. We live controlled by fear not because of the overwhelming evil of the world, but because we have allowed our minds to be shaped by the culture around us instead of being transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2).

Christian, walk in wisdom. The days are evil, but no more evil than other days, and statistically speaking are less violent than in the past. We must reject fear and embrace faith. Fearing the world will not make us more godly or more evangelistic. Unfounded fears for our children’s well-being will not guarantee their safety or their spiritual well-being. My daughter has broken two bones under close adult supervision. I’ve seen home-schooled children adopt the sinful ways of the world and I’ve seen public school children become evangelists on their campus. Of course we can all share stories of children who grew up in godly homes who rejected the faith of their parents.

Much of our reaction to the world is based in unfounded fear of what exists “out there” and an inflated pride about what we are actually able to do in our own lives and in the lives of those we love. Your heart-healthy diet will not save you from bad genes. My efforts to protect my children from the world cannot protect them from the sinfulness that lives in their hearts.

Join with me in fighting against pride and fear and relying upon God for all things.