Life without fear

Justin Thacker, Head of Theology for the Evangelical Alliance recently wrote this.

Everyone seems a bit scared these days.  Duffy who won ‘best female solo artist’ at this weeks Brits has told us:

I’m scared to face another day

Cos the fear in me just won’t go away.

In an instant, you were gone and I’m scared.

Similarly, Paul Weller, who won ‘best male solo artist’ has sung:

Above the clouds, what’s to be found,

I have to wonder –Will I be around.

As my anger shouts –At my own self-doubt,

So a sadness creeps –Into my dreams

When your scared of living –But afraid to die

Get scared of giving –And I must

Find the faith to beat it.

So Duffy is scared of being alone and Weller is fearful of death and what lies beyond.

What a sad reality this is but also a great opportunity for us at Oak Tree and in the wider to church to show people what it is to live a life without fear.  In Christ we are never alone and beyond the horizon of death is a landscape more beautiful and wondrous then anything this world can offer.  In the words of the late President Reagan “you aint seen anything yet.”

But how does the world respond, and how does it reflect our own attempts to dull the pain of fear?

Just a couple of weeks ago Lily Allen released ‘The Fear’ and in it she captured the mood of many.

I want to be rich and I want lots of money

I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny

I want loads of clothes and f***loads of diamonds

I heard people die while they are trying to find them

And I’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless

Cause everyone knows that’s how you get famous

I’ll look at the Sun and I’ll look in the Mirror

I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner

I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore

And I don’t know how I am meant to feel anymore

When do you think it will all become clear

Cause I’m being taken over by the fear.

Some how in all of that chase after all the world seems to offer she is likely to finish up with nothing more than her fear.  What a dreadful way not to live.  As someone else once said “the opposite of life is not death it is fear.”  Fear is faith placed in the devil.

So as for me I choose life. I choose to boldly go wherever God sends me.  I am in Christ and Christ is in me and nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).  HOW ABOUT YOU?

Talking of going anywhere I would love your prayers as I go off to minister in India from Wednesday.  I look forward to hearing from you as to all God does in you and through you whilst I am away.

Blessings,

Mark