Power of Fear
At the height of The Great Depression we heard FDR say “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” in his first inaugural address. The power of fear is wrecking havoc on America right now. If people refuse to spend their money because of fear then we will lose more and more jobs. Americans are causing the current economic crisis because they are living in fear. Our country is addicted to drama, we are glued to news channels and websites just waiting for the next catastrophe to happen. Our fears are actually creating the next catastrophe. Fear is an evil artist because it paints illusions that we will act upon and then our fears becomes reality. In the year 2005 a movie called Crash was released that painted a few brilliant pictures of how our fear actually causes bad things to happen. Americans today are gripped by fears of terrorism, opposing political forces, spiritual fears, economic fears and more. How are these fears negatively shaping our society? In America the number one prescribed drugs are for anxiety and depression.
- Antidepressants most-prescribed drugs in the U.S. according to The Center for Disease Control
- Of 2.4 billion prescriptions in 2005, 118 million were for antidepressants
- 25 percent of adults will have a major depressive episode at some point
The institutional church is just as guilty as the secular media of fear mongering. Fear is very, very damaging to society. Using fear to control people is witchcraft. Generating a sense of fear in people whether intentional or unintentional is placing a curse on people. Our fears are destroying both individuals and our nation. Using fear to control people is using a powerful psychological weapon. Using fear to motivate may produce quick results, but it literally will eat people alive from the inside out. In the movie Apocalypto Jaguar Paw teaches his son about fear in the line “Fear is a disease. Strike it from your heart”. How many times does God tell people in the Bible not to be afraid. Pastors who teach God’s word will be held to a higher accountability because they have the potential to plant the damaging seed of fear which becomes a disease inside of people souls. If there is one thing we should seek to abolish in the hearts of people all around us it is fear. If we can cure the fear then maybe we can avoid prescribing the drugs that only control the symptoms of fear. Using fear has provided a temporary benefit to drug company’s, to politicians, to pastors and many others. As fear destroys people from the inside out it will steal their focus, motivation, marriages, families and will eventually lead to reckless living, addictions or even suicide. Today it is fear that is truly America’s greatest threat.
- What are you afraid of?
- What important aspects of your life is fear currently destroying?
Fear is a demon:
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
