“For
God had not given us a spirit of fear but love, power and a sound mind” (2
Timothy 1:7)
Legend
holds the Apostle Paul writes to his protege in ministry to encourage him to
persevere in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. An adolescent at the time,
Timothy is susceptible to the need for affirmation and popular praise. Living
in Ancient Near Eastern and biblical times, Timothy is no less prone to these
teenage needs than contemporary adolescents. One harsh criticism from an
influential adult could derail this young lad’s promising future. His mentor
sends this letter to redress Timothy’s fears and offer extensive
recommendations on how to conduct himself as a minister of the Gospel. Like
squashing cockroaches, they brutally beat down anyone or group whom they
perceived as competitors. Understandably, the prevalent threat of physical
repression created fierce fear and apprehension within Paul’s young
apprentices. To encourage them to remain steadfast in their growth as ministers
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul pens these empowering words to Timothy. For
God hath not given is a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a
sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Initially, Christianity
was an illegal religion in the Roman Empire. Paul’s insistence upon unwavering
devotion to Christ competed with emperor worship that Roman government rulers
demanded of people. Myriad biblical texts allude to these legal and religious
tensions. The Book of Acts records secret house church meetings because of the
prevalent and imminent threat that surrounded Christians and other religious
adherents. Anyone pledging allegiance to any deity or power that competes with Caesar
lived under the dread of death. Hollywood depictions and caricatures of
Christians being fed to hungry lions abound. Unsurprisingly, the fervor and
neophyte fever of an adolescent minister would shrink under that kind of legal,
political and military pressure. Paul in contrast recommends that Timothy harness
God’s power and wisdom as foundational to his personal and ministerial growth.
Legend
posits that Timothy was an adolescent. Imagine his intrapersonal predicament of
forging his character during those precarious years while striving to be
faithful to his ministerial calling. A strong bravado could fuel his words and
activities. Adolescent arrogance can be formidable. In contrast, he appears to
suffer with considerable and noteworthy fear. Across the expanse of the Roman
Empire, Timothy’s father in ministry writes to reassure him that fear is not of
God. Each day, the constant threat of arrest, imprisonment, flogging and death
could paralyze a young minister. Reasonably, he would recoil under such horror.
To combat Timothy’s fright, Paul simultaneously exhorts and encourages his
protégé that faith in Almighty God triumphs over fear. He recommends necessity of
reliance upon God in making decisions. In the daily battle between fear and
faith that rages within a person’s mind, a disciple decides whether he will
trust God. Will he rely upon God’s unfailing love and unquestionable faithfulness,
or will he will choose to indulge self-serving fear?
Paul
declares unequivocally that Gd is never the source of fear. Elsewhere, he says
that God is not the author of confusion. Church affairs are to be conducted in
“decency and order.” These teachings remind disciples that God does not intend
for us to live in fear and chaos. An abundant and fulfilling life would not
include either of these adverse effects. Still, many people live in prisons of
fear and despair. Like the third servant in “The Parable of the Talents,” countless
people choose to surrender to fear. They prefer to succeed perfectly at doing
nothing rather than attempting something new and possibly failing. Fear of
failure leads to inertia. People stay on jobs because they are afraid to follow
their dreams, passions and destinies. They remain in dead end jobs. There are
those people who cower underneath unwarranted and unsolicited criticism from uninformed
and misguided busybodies. Paul fears his younger clergy colleague may recoil
from his ministerial duties in response to unjust social pressure. He reassures
Timothy that God graciously imparts His unfailing love, rationality and creativity
to triumph over fear.
An inverse
relationship exists between fear and logic. Fear oftentimes can be insidious
and ridiculous. Fear forms in the heart and mind like a pervasive fog that halts
traffic. Fear stifles creativity and innovation. It paralyzes anyone who
placates it. Fear of rejection prevents people from asking someone out on a
date. Fear of failure ironically creates a pile of unwritten books, uncomposed
music, incomplete blueprints, unopened businesses and myriad other unfinished
projects. Fear destroys incentive and motivation. Consider what fear has taken
from you? What big costs do you pay as tribute to any fears that lurk in the
crevices of your mind and closets of your heart? Paul cautions Timothy against
permitting fear to undermine his ministry.
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