{"id":166,"date":"2009-03-05T18:00:22","date_gmt":"2009-03-05T23:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/?p=166"},"modified":"2009-03-05T18:00:22","modified_gmt":"2009-03-05T23:00:22","slug":"dont-be-cowards-fear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hi10.in\/dgcc\/2009\/03\/05\/dont-be-cowards-fear\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Be Cowards; Fear!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Should Christians fear? Or should they not fear?<\/p>\n

In our passage for last Sunday\u2019s sermon, Paul and Barnabas show great boldness in the face of fearful circumstances. Paul tells the young believers \u201cIt is necessary for us to enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations\u201d (Acts 14:22). That is, don\u2019t fear such tribulations; they are the passageway to an eternity with our loving God. Similarly, Jesus says that we will always have such tribulations in the world. \u201cBut take heart; I have overcome the world\u201d (John 16:33). Because He is sovereign over all that happens, we can have peace in Him even now, even when we face frightening circumstances. For we know that God is working all things together for good for those who love Him, for those whom He has called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). When nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God, then we need not fear even those who are putting us to death (Romans 8:35-39).<\/p>\n

Consider the story of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, told in Mark 4:35-41. While out on the lake, a great windstorm arises \u2013 so great that the waves are breaking over the sides of the boat. Though the disciples bail and bail, the water in the boat rises higher and higher. It looks certain to sink in a few minutes. And the wind continues to howl; the waves continue to pound.<\/p>\n

But all the while Jesus sleeps in the stern! I can see Peter and John and James bailing furiously, and looking with disgust at their Master \u2013 just sleeping away.<\/p>\n

So they wake Him. They are deathly afraid. And they are now convinced that Jesus doesn\u2019t even care about them. They ask, \u201cTeacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” <\/span>\u201cDo our lives mean nothing to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus calms the wind and the waves with a word. Then he rebukes his fearful disciples: \u201cWhy are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Since the word translated \u201cafraid\u201d always has negative connotations, it is perhaps preferable to translate this phrase, \u201cWhy are you so cowardly?\u201d (the same word is rendered \u201ccowardly\u201d in Revelation 21:8).<\/p>\n

Note that Jesus links cowardice to faithlessness. A lack of faith leads to cowardice. If we believe, we will not be cowardly, we will not fear.<\/p>\n

What should the disciples have believed? That Jesus cared for them. That He loved them. That He could not perish in this storm, because of who they knew Him to be. That He had chosen them for a purpose, and they could not perish until that purpose was fulfilled. That He was mighty and powerful.<\/p>\n

Do they learn their lesson? Yes \u2013 but perhaps not in the way you would expect. Note carefully how the disciples react to Jesus\u2019 rebuking the wind: \u201cThey were filled with a great fear.\u201d Didn\u2019t Jesus just rebuke them for being fearful?<\/p>\n

No. He rebuked them for being cowardly, for being fearful about their circumstances. He rebuked them for not believing in Him, for not trusting God.<\/p>\n

This second fear is a good and right fear, as taught in Scripture.<\/p>\n