“I am just choosing faith over fear.”
These are words that many of us have probably heard or even spoken since last March and the beginning of this thing called a pandemic. But have you ever asked yourself how such a difficult, once-in-a-lifetime, out-of-nowhere, worldwide health crisis became such a clear dichotomy?
Faith vs. Fear for the modern Christian is not a choice between taking precautions or not as some would like us to believe. It is not even the difference between going about one’s normal life and using common sense.
According to the Bible this opposition is only accurately applied when it comes to a promise God has clearly made in His word. For instance, God clearly told the children of Israel that He would give them the Promised Land (Exodus 12:25; Lev. 20:24). Their fear (Num. 13:31-33) was then unwarranted and an outright lack of faith in God (i.e. sin). The result: God became angry, and consequences came (Num. 14:10-12). They were truly guilty of choosing fear over faith.
On the other hand, God never promised protection from a pandemic for any of us. Verses such as Psalm 91:10 have been plucked and proclaimed over the last year and a half but, as those who were “afflicted” and “tormented” in Hebrews 11 illustrates, none of these are air-tight promises to those with faith. This should not lessen our faith in what God can do but should simply focus our faith on what God has promised to do.
It is in these moments we use our best wisdom based off the facts God allows us to have and in conjunction with faith in the promises He has given. Promises such as His continual presence (Heb. 13:5; 1 John 4:16) and His authority over all creation (Psalm 115:3; Jer. 32:17) are ones worth looking up even today.
It is also true that God has not “given us a spirit of fear” (2 Tim. 1:7) as many have pointed out over the last 18 months, but too many are trying to equate all precautionary measures as a part of that spirit. And they would be wrong.
The spirit Paul was referring to in this verse was not in correlation with the changing of some habits because circumstances and safety encouraged it. This spirit was in reference to the overarching motive for changing one’s foundational and spiritual beliefs. Paul was admonishing Timothy to not allow this “spirit of fear” (vs. 7) to make him “ashamed” of Christ and of Paul himself as a prisoner (vs. 8). No safety precautions were reprimanded as persecution was discussed, only the forsaking of Timothy’s beliefs and obedience to his ministerial calling.
In other words, a fear of the pandemic or any earthly circumstance should never trump my belief that God is in control or inhibit my obedience to Him. I should never come to the place, as a Christian, that I am unable to think clearly (“sound mind” – 2 Tim. 1:7) because my fear alone is dictating my beliefs and the decisions that follow. If this describes you or I at any given moment repentance is necessary.
And yet God has also given us five senses and the functioning mental capacity to make amoral decisions outside of those core beliefs for such a time as this. Within a pandemic or not these decision-making abilities are always available as part of God’s gift to mankind having fashioned us in His image (Gen. 1:26-27).
For example: when a tornado is close enough that I can see the Land of Oz upon the horizon I can freely choose to hunker down in a basement while still whispering prayers from my faith to the God who’s in control. To not contemplate any precaution I might as well charge the cyclone waving an American flag while screaming “’Merica!” as the angels of heaven sincerely ask Jesus if I was worth His leaving Glory. In all seriousness, I believe every created being understands that wisdom sometimes dictates precautions to be considered—not to negate faith but stemming from it.
In Matthew 2, God tells the Wise Men to refrain from returning to King Herod after visiting and worshipping Jesus. Their faith included belief in this direction from God. Their wisdom in response to that belief implemented a precaution as “they departed into their own country another way” (Matt. 2:12).
There are multiple sides and layers to many of these circumstantial matters we face here on earth. Not all of them are as clear as a tornado in your yard or a direct message from God Himself. Therefore, may we not make reactions to the pandemic or any other issue of its kind a foolproof spiritual calculator or thermometer of faith.
Debatable? Yes.
Political? Probably.
Controversial? Certainly.
Biblical? In most cases, no.
We must be careful as the church and body of Christ to never draw lines where God’s Word does not. The Governor of New York[1] and Pastor Greg Locke[2] might think they know what God wants but our job, as His followers, is not to sketch our own ultimatums but merely trace the ones He has already so plainly drawn for us.
It is then and only then we can be confidently unified around His Word. It is then and only then we can keep from being divided over things that are not.
No matter where we fall on this “dividing line of faith” during these days our prayer, as His children, should all be the same:
“Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!”[3]
How this prayer looks when it is answered may differ from person to person. But if grace is the source of this trust then let’s allow grace to be a part of the result as well.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
John 13:35
Many times this verse doesn’t compel us to become “apostles” for our side of an earthly issue, Madam Governor and Pastor Locke. Because, as you’ve both recently illustrated, when we do this and seek to redefine fear, we end up redefining our faith instead.
And may that be something we all fear more than anything else.
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/27/tn-pastor-greg-locke-says-masks-arent-allowed-bible-church/5385007001/
[3] Stead, Louisa. “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” 1882. www.hymnary.org/text/tis_so_sweet_to_trust_in_jesus_just_to
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