ISIS, Ebola, EV-D68, ABC123…Okay, the last one is not a real one…yet…

I am jumping out into the deep end this morning. I want to talk about fear mongering. Most of us know what fear is. We have experienced it. Perhaps it was a frightening situation in a vehicle, the sickness of a family member, or well, something like Halloween. Ask me about those and I am more than willing to share my experience! But, what has come to me recently is the amount of people who are living in fear.

Mongering-what a word!The dictionary defines “monger” as a person who is involved with something in a petty or contemptible way. A promoter of something unpleasant. A person promoting something undesirable or discreditable. Often used in combination. A fear monger is one who promotes fear!

I do not need to write this list, as I am sure you are aware of them. But for some it might be, I am not married, or I am failing school or work, or some such thing.

The Bible does not list lots and lots of spirits (Sorry, Pigs In The Parlor fans.) but it does list a few. Here is one I would like to mention, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 The spirit of fear. So, I recognize that fear is a BAD thing. (Please do not talk to me about “healthy” fear. First, that is not what I am talking about. Second, I think what we call “healthy fear” the Lord might call wisdom. Third, I am not talking about the “fear of the Lord”. Unlike, #2, I am not in avoidance of the Lord. Let’s keep the ducks in a row!)

So, FEAR IS BAD. It causes people to do dumb things like riot, run off cliffs and avoid the very thing or people they need to see. Bad, bad, bad. And not only does it cause us to do things that we ought not do, but it creates systems of anxiety and depression in our lives. Add in “disease mongering”, a little herd mentality and everything blows up.

I work with people who do not know Jesus. Some are gay, some are not. Some are married and some are not. Some have money and some do not. But, often people reveal to me their life and it nearly always contains a fear or two.

Now, I think if people do not know Jesus, it is my job to share Him. Not hold them over hell in gasoline underpants! (Heck, we can not even agree what hell is, how long it lasts or does it even “exist”. I will share heaven. That I get! Heaven is at hand. Here on earth as it is in Heaven.)

So when fear mongering is in play, it is participating with the devil. For it is he who will lead them to destruction. It is being participant in his playing out his “Kabuki theater”. Here is one of the scenes I just read this morning. CDC: Worst-Case Scenario NOW More Than 500,000 Infections… (No link necessary-find your own!) Fear mongering. Okay, well as someone who was a publisher, there are better ways to talk about things. This is fear mongering. “Fear sells”. Well, so does sex, and we as believers ought to have a “problem” with being the vehicle. When we post headlines like this as “prayer requests” we are at best gossiping, at worst, fear mongering. Why do I say that?

To pray, one needs to believe a few things, one being what their faith is settled in. For me, my faith is settled in Him, Jesus Christ. The work on the cross He already has done. And that I am to live in Him and promote Him and His kingdom, not the world and its program. I am to live in a place of peace. To leave that place to “pray” out of urgency is not in keeping with the presence of the Holy One. Where He is, is righteousness, peace and joy. So, to send me headlines of “urgency” will not help. I am praying to begin with, as He shows me and how He shows me. Sometimes it is for the government, sometimes for people who are sick. The scripture tell us, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.(James 5:16) Not the urgent, hepped out, fear based prayer.

So, you want to tell me that things are bad, listen to this scripture. “Be innocent of evil.” Romans 16:19. Or perhaps this one 1 Timothy 5:13 And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. James 3:10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

How about this? Ephesians 5:11-13 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.…

How do you expose something? Not by praying “expose their deeds” BUT by releasing LIGHT!!! Start talking LIGHT! My yoke is easy and my burden is (Wait for it…) LIGHT!

Oh, Lee, you are just a Pollyanna. People that know me know I “see” darkness (If that is not an oxyMORON, I do not know what is!) but I do not release it. I release light. When I see pornography in a young persons life, I release purity and love. When I see condemnation, I release freedom. When I see war, I release peace.

(I am sorry, just seeing the word “urgent” about something causes me a struggle.)

You do not need a prophet to teach you how to pray or necessarily encourage you to pray. (They can help you learn to listen though.) You need the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

And for you that seem to want participate with the works of the devil, the works of darkness, go right ahead. It is your choice. Use twisted eschatology and fear burdened teaching to get results. And watch the results. (You may want to read this article, Life and Death and the Last Days, or Why Eschatology Matters.)

Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? Ezekiel 34:18

That is old covenant. God has us in a better covenant. One that is light. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

I would ask you. Are you taking the fresh waters of God and making them muddy? Taking good food and walking on it?