Theology in the News

By Hilary Tompkins

I’m afraid of you.

No, really.

I believe that people have power over me. Power to wound, expose, shame, injure, and expect something I’ll never be able to deliver. The thought of disappointing you all makes me want to run and hide. I am caught between the rock of their approval and the hard place of their rejection.

I’ve sought refuge under the radar. My fear robs me daily. Here are 10 ways it does so.

1. Fear Robs Me of Experiencing God’s Favor

I’m way more concerned about what people think of me. Pleasing people is my goal and although it’s an ever-moving target, I keep trying to hit the bull’s-eye of their approval. If people compliment me, I exhaust myself making sure I never disappoint people—or I give up entirely. I must know what they think.

2. Fear Robs Me of Hearing God’s Voice

When things go well, when I receive accolades, I miss God’s kind and tender, “Well done,” believing that it simply can’t be true. My ears are tuned to their thoughts and opinions—they’ve become my standard. When God lovingly rebukes me, I run back to their latest compliments and feed on them for a while.

3. Fear Robs Me of Honoring and Obeying God’s Leading

When I receive direction in prayer or conviction through a sermon or sense the Holy Spirit while reading my Bible, I feel a momentary call, a renewed vision, a rush of freedom that encourages me to step out in faith. But if I do that, people will judge me, so I wait, rethink, and conclude that what I heard was probably just my own thoughts and ideas anyway.

4. Fear Robs My Trust in God

I take great measures to ensure that I am safe from what people can do to me. My family’s health and behavior, my job, daily inconveniences, schedules, unpredictable relationships, even my pain—these must all be managed. It is all within my power to control. I am risk-averse. Circumstances are better determined by a spin doctor than the great physician, Jesus.

5. Fear Robs Me of Pursuing Conflict Resolution

Relationships wither as I refuse to address sin and allow its consequences to flourish. Prickly sinful patterns go unchallenged and I only hang out with those who “get” me. I’m certain that people won’t respond lovingly so I avoid building intimacy.

Read more

Share this:

Glenn Beck interviews Eric Metaxas author of the new biography on theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The book has received a great deal of attention. Former first lady Laura Bush disclosed President George W. Bush was reading the book. Barnes and Noble just announced the book as one of their Best Books of 2010. The book is bringing a renewed attention to this important 20th century theologian.

Part One:

Part Two:

Share this:

C. Michael Patton, the author of Parchment and Pen blog and president of Reclaiming the Mind Ministries has started a new column at the religious portal Patheos.com. The column is called “Pulpit Creeds” and will focus on sharing thoughts with pastors (and other church leaders) about how their ministry intersects with theology.

You can see his first publication called “Cracked” here.

Here is a direct link to “Pulpit Creeds“

Share this: