Christian Living

Are You Living by Faith, Or In Fear?

by John Clark 
02/23/21
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Every Christian has a choice to make, to live by faith or live in fear, particularly at this time with all that is going on with the virus. Isaiah 41:10 was the most popular Bible verse in 2020. “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

     On March 4, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt gave his inaugural speech, during a time of grave national crisis. In it he expressed that “the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed effort to convert retreat into advance.”

     This sounds parallel to what the world is experiencing today. In case you haven’t realized by now, though COVID is very real, much of the government restrictions and media coverage is based on fear. Fear is being used as a means of controlling people, even if it is unreasonable and unjustified, and many people have allowed it without questioning. 

     The same tactic of fear was used by Adolf Hitler. While we are on the subject of Germany, it has been reported that on January 10, 2021, German officials uncovered internal documents showing that the German Interior Ministry paid people to invoke fear to justify lockdowns.

     Christians should be the first to adhere to, and promote, reasonable and common sense practices for the health of all concerned, and set a good example. However, if restrictions are unreasonable and not justified by statistics, as is the case with this virus, and are based on fear, then perhaps Christians need to become peaceful non-compliment resisters based upon faith. It is also resistance against deception.

     From a spiritual standpoint, writer Bud Hancock states, “When Christians allow fear to enter their lives, into their minds, and control their actions, even their entire lives in some cases, they are allowing that fear to separate them from God they claim to love, worship, and obey. If acceptance of fear becomes habitual, they may find themselves believing and obeying anything they hear or read, whereas resistance to that fear will bring the strength needed to refuse the lies and deception and will produce the ability to enjoy in complete freedom a close fellowship with God.” This is not to say that there is no risk with faith. There is.

     Can it be said that churches that have met in defiance of government restrictions and have risked being fined and their pastors thrown in jail, have demonstrated faith? Conversely, are churches that have not opened up, or have adhered to strict unreasonable demands, done so in fear? Let God be the judge!

     The bottom line is that God wants his family to live by faith, no matter the circumstances or the risks. We should live in accordance to God’s promises of protection and provision. I am not saying that all Christians will be spared from physical harm or sickness, but I draw attention to Psalm 91 that says, “...it is God who gives deliverance from the deadly pestilence (which is what COVID is) and “He will give his angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.”

    The only kind of fear we should have as Christians is the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:7 says “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” God can give wisdom for each person to know how to respond to any situation. His knowledge can see through all lies, deception, and fear. 

     At the same time, Christians must remain strong in faith and resolve. Proverbs 24:10 states, “if you are slack in the day of distress your strength is limited.“ Walk strong in faith. Seek God’s wisdom. Take common sense and reasonable precautions. However, it may be necessary at times to be a peaceful resister and stand up against lies and deception.