THE FEAR OF MAN
May 23rd 2012 16:34
When we discuss the topic of fear ( in particular "threat: fear) - we often discuss situations that cause us to fear - heights, depths, dogs, elevators, death. When discussing the root cause of these fears we can talk about how we were raised, people in our lives and most importantly – the spiritual component - it began in the Garden - which leads to our fears. But there is another fear that at times may be just as overwhelming, as threatening, as paralyzing - (as our fear of danger) and that is the fear of man. When I say that I don't mean a fear of the male gender but I mean humankind, people. When I say fear of man, I don’t mean a threatening kind of fear of what men would do to hurt us but rather a reverential fear that should be reserved for God. It is more likely seen as a fear of being separated from mankind. While we may fear what people can do to us (physically harm) what we often fear most is what they think of us. The fear of people are the strings of the puppet master - our emotions - that can cause us to do, say and be who we are not. It causes us to lie, to fake and perpetrate as we build images and even idols so that we and others can worship. Some call it the fear of failure, or the fear of success, or the fear of people’s opinions. We do it to fit in, to be accepted, to be part of the group, to gain respect.
How often do we hear those voices echoing in the back of our minds - rather than hearing the voice of God?
How often are we motivated and de-motivated by the voice of a mother, a father, some teacher or peer – or even the voice of society at large? How often does this voice dictate what we do, say and become?
Even in those times when we are trying to prove that others are wrong about us - we are still listening to their voice and not that of our God. We may be more motivated by what they think, say and feel about us rather than God.
This fear of man when combined with other emotions and feelings (e.g. unworthiness) can lead to low self-esteem. Motivated by the fear of man we have often elevated humans to positions above ourselves and at the same time lowered our self-esteem. At times we have made these people more important than God himself.
In several of the psalms - David asks the question, whom then shall I fear?
In most instances he was discussing the subject of threat fear - David feared for his life. But while the reverential fear of man will not kill you physically, it will paralyze, stifle and eventually kill who you are as a gift to this world and as God’s creation.
But God, who gives beauty for ashes, can take the ruined, messed up pieces of our lives and turn them around for good. So if you have allowed the fear of men, the concern of men to define you, take heart, help is on the way. For those who perhaps in their pride would say, I don't care what men think about me, you may suffer from a symptom of this same fear - pride. I would suggest that deep and sometimes not so deep behind the mask of prideful people are hidden deficiencies, inadequacies and flaws, which they mask and hide behind an exterior of accomplishments, and outward images. They are overly concerned and deftly afraid of what people think of them. They fear people and not God.
How often do we hear those voices echoing in the back of our minds - rather than hearing the voice of God?
How often are we motivated and de-motivated by the voice of a mother, a father, some teacher or peer – or even the voice of society at large? How often does this voice dictate what we do, say and become?
Even in those times when we are trying to prove that others are wrong about us - we are still listening to their voice and not that of our God. We may be more motivated by what they think, say and feel about us rather than God.
This fear of man when combined with other emotions and feelings (e.g. unworthiness) can lead to low self-esteem. Motivated by the fear of man we have often elevated humans to positions above ourselves and at the same time lowered our self-esteem. At times we have made these people more important than God himself.
In several of the psalms - David asks the question, whom then shall I fear?
In most instances he was discussing the subject of threat fear - David feared for his life. But while the reverential fear of man will not kill you physically, it will paralyze, stifle and eventually kill who you are as a gift to this world and as God’s creation.
But God, who gives beauty for ashes, can take the ruined, messed up pieces of our lives and turn them around for good. So if you have allowed the fear of men, the concern of men to define you, take heart, help is on the way. For those who perhaps in their pride would say, I don't care what men think about me, you may suffer from a symptom of this same fear - pride. I would suggest that deep and sometimes not so deep behind the mask of prideful people are hidden deficiencies, inadequacies and flaws, which they mask and hide behind an exterior of accomplishments, and outward images. They are overly concerned and deftly afraid of what people think of them. They fear people and not God.
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