The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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Fear of people is dominant in our culture. Having lost a healthy fear of God (reverence,
awe, respect) we have ended up with either no fear of God at all or a phobic, slavish fear which
sees God as a Celestial Cop. This nonfear or neurotic fear of God has left us fearing ourselves
and fearing man. Isaiah, the prophet, reasoned:
“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men,
the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who
stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in
constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on
destruction?” (Isa. 51:13).
While Isaiah addressed fear of physical safety, it is fear of social and spiritual safety that
often keeps us in fear of man. We play it safe, stay in the ministry rut, for fear that what we
attempt to do may be unacceptable, frowned upon and even rejected by fellow believers.
Saul sadly admitted to Samuel:
“I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions.
I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them” (I Sam. 15:24).
Our innate desire to be accepted often prompts us to do things which deep down inside
we know are wrong or that desire of acceptance keeps us from doing what we believe God
calls us to do. Too often we compromise principles simply to avoid being misunderstood.
This does not mean that we are to be independent and individualistic in our approach to
Christianity. While our religion is private, it is not individualistic. The church of Jesus Christ is
a body and we are to function within that body as fellow members (I Cor. 12). Mutual
upbuilding in the body is impossible where believers see themselves primarily as individuals
who “go it alone with God.” Such Lone Ranger mentality frustrates and destroys fellowship
and service in the body. We are not to be harsh, belligerent or unconcerned about what others
think. It is natural and right to desire acceptance and approval from people, but not at any
price—our integrity and our faithfulness to God.
If a course of action is right we should take it because it is right. If it is wrong, we
should avoid it because it is wrong--even though it may cost us acceptance, approval,
friendship, popularity, position, prestige.