Faulty Fears
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
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Going straight to the Cross
I believe; therefore, I feel.
Faulty Fears
by Barry Newton
They are real. They are so convincing. We cannot
ignore them. They often influence how we respond
to others. We express them with words such as:
“I’m on top of the world,” “I just don’t see any
solution,” “everything is just fine,” or “I’m
stuck.” We call them feelings and they are
extremely powerful in influencing how we perceive
our lives and the world around us.
Have you ever tried to convince someone who was
fearful or constantly worrying that she did not
need to feel that way? It is not an easy task is
it? To convince someone whose veins are pumping
with elation, confidence, fear or worry that he or
she ought to be feeling different is a formidable
undertaking. This is predictable since what we
believe creates how we feel. To challenge a
person’s feelings is to confront what he or she
regards as true.
In Luke 12, Jesus tackled this daunting task of
challenging some faulty feelings by correcting
their deceptive source: erroneous underlying
beliefs. As Jesus systematically unveiled, to
believe that our security lies in what we possess
leads to either deceptive joy or unnecessary fear.
After warning against greed, Jesus told a story
about a man who had acquired great financial
success. Exhilarating thoughts raced through the
mind of this newly wealthy man. “From now on,
everything is going to be just fine. My life is
going to be great! It’s time to enjoy myself!”
Undoubtedly, like his modern-day counterparts who
win the lottery, his emotions were jumping for
joy. As far as he was concerned, the sun was
shining and all was rosy.
Although his feelings were real and genuine, Jesus
revealed that his unconquerable spirit and
happiness had deceived him. After all, he was
still “poor toward God” and because of his
thoughts God had called him a fool since he would
die that night. Feelings are driven by beliefs.
Faulty beliefs lead to faulty feelings. Our
security does not lie in what we have. Luke 12:16-
21
Immediately, Jesus launched into destroying those
thoughts responsible for creating unnecessary
financially based fear and worry. Our powerful God
is capable of providing. God cares even about tiny
plants and birds. And then Jesus switched to the
tender and sustaining language of familial
relationship. “Your Father knows you need these
things.” Jesus’ message was, don’t worry about
your life. Seek God’s kingdom and God will provide
for you. Luke 12:22-31
Feelings are driven by beliefs. Faulty beliefs
lead to faulty fears. Our security does not lie in
what we have, it rests upon us being rich toward
God.
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