Facing Fear: A Call to Courage for Christian Men

Confronting the Crisis of Fear in the Heart of Faith

In today's world…it's not just the dark alleys or the evening news that are drenched in fear; it's seeping through the pews of our churches too. This is baffling, really. We're supposed to be the folks standing firm on faith, yet it seems like we're as skittish as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

What gives?

Let's get something straight: This isn't about throwing stones from a glass house. It's about asking the hard questions. Why, when Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:14, “Do not fear what they fear,” do we find ourselves shaking in our boots just like everyone else?

The problem is as plain as the nose on your face: the self-exalting spirit of the world has crept into the church like a thief in the night. Look around at the big-ticket issues causing a ruckus today – abortion, gender, marriage, and now, euthanasia. They're all knotted together by a common thread: We've been playing God, making calls that aren't ours to make.

Life's beginning, gender identity, the definition of marriage, and even choosing the exit door from this world – last time I checked, these were God's department, not ours. But here we are, trying to swipe the Almighty's job like it's up for grabs. And when we try to sit in God's chair, boy, does it get uncomfortable. It's like trying to wear shoes three sizes too small – it's not going to work, and it's going to hurt.

The root of this mess is our sinful knack for wanting to replace God. We're like little kids trying to wear their dad's boots and stumbling around the house. It's a ludicrous sight. But when you're trying to play God, fear becomes your constant companion. After all, who do you turn to for help when you're sitting on the throne yourself?

So, what's the Christian solution to this mess? It's certainly not the watered-down, feel-good Christianity that's as satisfying as a meal of cotton candy. This brand of Christianity, spreading like wildfire, is as ineffective as a screen door on a submarine. It sells a gospel that's all about personal comfort and zero about divine truth. It treats God like a genie in a bottle, there to grant our every wish. And when life doesn't play out like a fairy tale, we throw a fit.

This is where the rubber meets the road: Are we going to be Christians in name only, sitting pretty on our thrones, or are we going to get real with our faith? The church is teeming with fear because it's full of people who've shoved God out of the driver's seat.

Here's your call to action, fellas: It's time to step down from playing God (godship). It's time to trust in the One who made us, loves us, and has a rightful claim over our lives. This is about surrendering control, and yes, that's as tough as nails to do. But it's the only way to replace fear with faith.

To all the Christian men out there: it's high time we stopped being afraid of our own shadows. It's time to live out our faith boldly, grounded in the truth that we're not God – and thank goodness for that. Let's reclaim our courage, rooted in a trust that's deeper than our fears. It's time to let God be God and find our strength in Him. That's how we'll turn the tide against fear, not just in our churches, but in our hearts too.