Identifying Influences on Our Fear of Man (Fear of Man 2)

We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another. When man’s terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God. A Puritan Golden Treasury, compiled by I.D.E. Thomas, by permission of Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA. 2000, p. 108. William Gurnall

We spent time last night establishing the point that WE all experience the fear of man.

We examined what the fear of man and even considered alternate names for it.

As we go through the weekend, we are going to see that...

We fight FEAR (of man) with FEAR (of God).

This morning, we are going to consider the influences that are strengthening our fear of man. Unless we understand what is influencing and strengthening it, we will have little to no defense in overcoming it.

What are some things that influence our fear of man?

Book

Past hurt’s influence

In what way(s) does our past influence our fear of man?

Makes us more susceptible to the fear of man.

Strengthens existing fear of man.

What form can our past hurts take?

Physical

Emotional

Social

Spiritual

Psychological/Mental

Physical Harm

The threat of physical harm OR the past experience of enduring physical harm at the hands of another can and does prompt and provoke the fear of man in us.

Let me show you an example

Read Genesis 12:10-20.

Genesis 12:10–20 ESV

10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. 17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

Abraham’s fear of man and the threat he posed to his life, prompted a lack of faith and trust in God. Instead of trusting God to protect him, he composed his own plan and lied in order to protect himself in the face of the fear of man.

The sad thing his, despite how God overrode his foolishness, protected him anyway, and essentially rebuked Abraham and his tactic, Abraham would repeat this mistake later in life, in Genesis 20, in an almost identical situation.

Genesis 20:1-18.

The fact that Abraham did so, twice, and AFTER God so miraculously came through for him the first time, just exposes HOW powerful this threat and our past experiences can be.

We do not know if there was some sort of past experience that prompted this fear but even if there was not, it shown how poignantly this fear can overtake us. Truth is, if there was no past experience and this was the level of fear he had, past experiences would only have made it worse.

Despite this fear and these failures, there is hope.

Did Abraham always remain enslaved to this fear of man? How do you know?

By the end of his life, we see this....

Genesis 22:12.

Genesis 22:12 ESV

12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Anyone know the context behind this verse?

Abraham was told to sacrifice his son.

He was going to murder his son…if anything should have provoked his fear of man and tempted to hold his hand and NOT obey Christ, it would have been this.

Despite how this might have been perceived by others, by Sarah, by Isaac himself, Abraham willingly embraced this command and made no objection or question in his obedience to it.

But he did not hesitate.

By the end of his life, Abraham had overcome his fear. He now knew that God was bigger than death, bigger than man.

The Nation of Israel succumbed to the fear of man when told to enter the promised land.

Does anyone remember what happened?

Numbers 13:25-14:12.

When the spies returned from scouting out the land, they raved about the abundance of the land.

HOWEVER, they also had come to believe that they could not take the land for fear of the GIANTS that lived there.

Fear of man, fear of physical harm stayed their faith .

Man became bigger than God.

Fear of man stayed their hand, destroyed their faith, and prevented them from seeing the wonders of God at work as he delivered them into the promised land as he had promised he would.

Like Abraham, like Israel, our fear of harm make us susceptible to the fear of man.

Our PREVIOUS experiences of harm, make us more susceptible to the fear of man as well.

Personal illustration

WV experience of being bullied, picked on the locker room

NY, never experienced it but I was always anxious, nervous in the locker room. The Past experience provoked a current and prolonged fear of man in me and a fear of locker rooms.

What’s more…as we learn from both Abraham’s and Israel’s experience, this fear of man that become stronger than our fear of God causes us to miss out on seeing God in all His glory and enjoying the benefits of intimacy and his blessings that come with that.

But it is not just physical threats that provoke fear of man.

Verbal/Emotional Harm

This really encompasses anything in the emotional, social, psychological category and can even include spiritual. Words may not hurt physically, but they hurt in every other way.

How many of you have heard the expression, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?”

What is wrong with that statement?

It is not true.

Words hurt worse and leave longer lasting wounds than do physical assaults.

Why do words hurt so badly, sometimes worse the physical wounds?

Because they cut to the core of our identity, our values, our being.

They attack our character.

They attack our sense of belonging (wanting to belong), to be accepted, loved, cherished, valued.

Consider the following…(Have people look up and read them)

Proverbs 12:18.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV

18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Psalm 57:4.

Psalm 57:4 ESV

4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Psalm 64:1-6.

Psalm 64:1–6 ESV

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, 3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, 4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. 5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” 6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

What is the common theme of these verses?

That words have power and that words can hurt. They can be used as weapons.

Rash words are like sword thrusts…

Teeth are spears and arrows…

Tongues are sharp swords…

Evil men whet their tongues like swords….who aim bitter words like arrows…

Their intent, to maim, hurt, and kill.

Make no mistake about it….words can be purposefully used a weapons.

Words can unintentionally be used as weapons.

Words can hurt and devastate.

Honestly, the truth of these verses OUGHT to make us very cautious and careful with our words.

Our hurts with words, ought to make us careful NOT to pass that along through the use of our words.

What are some examples of how words are used as weapons?

Name calling

Accusations

Guilt trips

Shaming

All inclusive language

Manipulation

Doubt

If you have ever been hurt by words, you know how they can provoke and inspire fear of man in us. We will do anything to avoid feeling the piercing pain of words carelessly or strategically placed.

If you have never heard a hurtful word….hang on…you will. But, if I had to hazard a safe guess, there is not one here who is exempt from hurtful words.

This all begs the question…is there ever a healthy use of fear? Is all fear wrong?

Healthy use of fear

Fear, like all emotions, are God given and serve a purpose.

So, yes, there is a healthy use of fear.

Fear warns us of danger. There ARE legitimate dangers in the world. The emotion of fear, when we sense it, can warn us something is wrong

This can be external dangers

OR EVEN internal dangers

External dangers seems rather obvious, but what do I mean by eternal dangers?

Legitimate threat of physical danger and harm.

Legitimate threat of verbal or emotional harm. Fear can warn us that something is off and not right and that we may be about to face harm. This fear can be used to prepare us to respond rightly To such dangers.

What do I mean by internal dangers?

Fear can warn us that our heart, attitudes, or thinking might be wrong.

Fear can warn us that we are facing spiritual attack.

When fear warns of us danger, it should prompt us to run to God for protection – Psalm 18:2-3.

Psalm 18:2–3 ESV

2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Healthy fear prompts us to respond wisely and prudently but does not take over control of our lives.

We should be afraid when physically threatened. It is certainly not sinful for your adrenaline to be flowing when you are being fired upon. But fear of man is fear run amok. It might start with the very natural fear associated with being vulnerable and threatened. At times, however, this alarm is not regulated by faith. It becomes fear that is consumed with itself and for a time forgets God. It becomes a fear that, when activated, rules your life. In such a state, we trust for salvation in others.

Being afraid is not wrong in itself. As creatures living in a sinful world we should be afraid at times. The problem is when fear forgets God.

Ed Welch

Fear, like all other emotions, are God given. They serve a purpose. In and of themselves, they are not wrong.

HOW we respond to them, can be.

The REASON why the emotion is evoked, can be.

Emotions are like the warning lights on the dashboard of your car, telling you something is wrong, something needs attention, something, needs fixing.

When you sense fear, for instance, you can ask…why?

Is there legitimate danger I need to be wary of and take proper action to avoid?

Is my heart worshipping or trusting in the wrong thing and I need to repent and return to God?

Fear can be healthy but we must be aware of the tendency for fear to run amuck.

Fear Running Amuck

So what do we do fear run amuck? When it becomes sinful? What is the solution?

The solution, as we will see, is fear of God. Jeremiah 17:5-8.

Jeremiah 17:5–8 ESV

5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

We are going to examine this much further later, but for now, understand that we are going to fight fear with fear.

Fear of God vs the fear of man.

There is one more influence we need to examine regarding our fear of man. In addition to our past hurts….we have the culture influencing our fear of man.

Culture’s influence

In what way(s) might culture be influencing our fear of man?

They are probably a plethora of ways this happens, but let’s point out six.

Victimization

What makes victimization so challenging to address is that is often rooted in legitimate suffering at the hands of others.

So what makes victimization wrong? What is it?

Defined: The act or fact of blaming others for the hardships one encounters in life. (Websters)

Akos Balogh gives us this following definition.

If you have a victim mentality, you will see your entire life through a perspective that things constantly happen ‘to’ you. Victimisation is thus a combination of seeing most things in life as negative, beyond your control, and as something you should be given sympathy for experiencing as you ‘deserve’ better. At its heart, a victim mentality is actually a way to avoid taking any responsibility for yourself or your life. By believing you have no power then you don’t have to take action.

In other words, any bad thing in your life is the fault of other people. They’re the ones that are bad, wrong or dumb, and you are good, right and brilliant. Other people do bad or stupid things, and you suffer as a result.

He does not offer this definition in a void.

Born in Hungary

Ending up a refugee in Australia running from the communist regime, he understands suffering at the hands of others.

He saw loved ones, others from his nation, imprisoned, killed, and many forced to flee in the face of oppression.

Victimization begins with a constant and overly hyper awareness of suffering at the hands of others.

When this happens, everything begins to be get filtered through the lens of suffering; of the suffering endured. One is unable to escape the reminders of said suffering and unable to escape the grip it has on you.

He notes….

But now I’m seeing the victim mentality go mainstream here in the West. It’s through the ideology commonly known as ‘identity politics’, which neatly divides society into victims and oppressors. It’s an ideology that tells various minorities that they’re hapless victims of an oppressive system: whether of racism, heteronormativity or sexism (for example).[1]

Again, this isn’t to minimise the suffering of such minorities.

But I am concerned about the adoption of a victim mentality: a mentality that—like a drug—makes you feel good for a while, but then sucks the life out of you.

Never in any way do we mean to minimize the suffering one has endured.

However, that suffering must not come to define the sufferer NOR be an excuse for one’s actions.

The common mantra we so often hear from those claiming victimization is that

My issues are always your fault.

You are responsible for my actions.

THERE IS a distinction between an innocent victim and that of adopting a victim mentality.

Balogh notes…

there is such a thing as an innocent victim. Such a person suffers (exclusively) because of another person’s sin.

We see this clearly in Scripture.

For example, oppressing innocent victims is condemned by God throughout Scripture (e.g. Zech 7:9-10; Jas 2:6). Jesus himself is the victim par excellence of human wickedness (Is 53:6-7; Lk 23:15-16; Acts 3:14-15). And the New Testament affirms the unjust persecution that many Christians suffered (e.g. 1 Peter 2:19).

People can be innocent victims. We can suffer unjust evil at the hands of others.

But we need to beware of moving from being an innocent victim, to adopting a victim mentality.

And in the case of other victims, we should affirm the reality of their suffering (and as we have opportunity, address it). But we do them a grave disservice if we promote in them a victim mentality.

He notes six reasons why we do people a disservice if we promote a victim mentality.

Six Disservices By Promoting a Victim Mentality

The Bible does not encourage a victim mentality. Jesus, the greatest victim of all time did NOT adopt a victim mentality. (Phil 2:7-8; Heb 12:2; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Mark 10:45.)

The victim mentality distorts our view on reality. Our suffering and other’s sin against us become magnified and we begin to see thing exclusively through that lens.

It blinds us to our own sin and our need for a Savior. It becomes a justification for our sinful responses and actions.

It disempowers - It removes any motive and desire to improve the situation.

It sucks the joy out of life - It does so because we become thankless. It causes us to ignore or overlook our many blessings, blessings we are told in scripture to give thanks for

It damages relationships. “If you’re in relationship with a person having a victim mentality, chances are they won’t take responsibility for their actions in the relationship. If there’s ever tension, it will be your fault. If there’s conflict, you’re the one to blame, not them. They won’t be open to being challenged about their sin—why would they? They’re innocent, and you’re guilty. Such a relationship is fraught and full of tension.”

Victimization is a bad mentality to embrace and it never leads to anything good.

But, it is a mentality highly encouraged in our culture today.

Blame-Shifting

A tacit as old as creation itself is blame shifting.

Genesis 3:1-12.

Adam blames Eve AND God

Eve blames serpent

Blame shifting has been going on since the dawn of time.

And we have gotten good at it.

If you had not yelled me, than I would not have…

You make me so angry….

It is all your fault….if you had not….then I would not…

If you would have helped me study, I would not have had to cheat…

And the list goes on.

In addition to victimization and blameshfitting, the cultures emphasis on self-esteem is problematic.

Self-Esteem

How would you define self-esteem?

a realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect.

an inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself: (Dictionary.com)

Self-Esteem is essentially the boosting of ones view of self in order to feel good, confident, or respected by yourself.

It often, if not always, involves comparison to others.

Tips for improving it seem to universally include self talk that addresses the things you love about yourself, that you admire or respect about yourself, and making a list of all those positive things.

Do you see the focus?

Self-esteem is pride wrapped up with a bow. It has all the focus on self.

Self-Esteem is strictly a human thing.

The emphasis on it actually increases our fear of man. Consider how much we do to feel good about ourselves before others?

Dieting

Working out

Apparel

Skills and Talents

We will try to impress others in order to gain their praise and approval and in so doing, boost our self esteem.

Victimization, Blameshifting, and self-esteem are not the only cultural influences.

The increasing rejection of God is also a problem.

Rejection of God

There was once a day when most people believed God was real, even if they did not worship him.

That tide has turned. Less and less are convinced of his existence.

And more and more, those who do profess to believe in Him, their profession is void of gospel truth…of this truth…

1 Corinthians 15:3-5.

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

So little of those who do profess God, hold to this understanding of who God is.

And this is the problem when man rejects God and begins to redefine who God is.

This rejection of God comes with a rejection of truth.

The more our society rejects God, the more something else has to take center stage. Self has become that thing.

Believe in yourself. Follow your heart. Trust yourself. You are valuable and worthy. Etc.

Anything that erodes the fear of God will intensify the fear of man.

When God’s approve and acceptance is not an option anymore, when it fails to be the refuge and fortress for us, we have to look somewhere else. Thus, we have to look to others for our self of worth and being and thus the fear of man increases.

Thus, the rejection of God naturally increases the fear of man.

In addition to rejecting or redefining God, we have a wrong view of man.

Wrong View of Man

What are some common views of man?

We are morally good.

Emotions are the way to truth

Everyone is spiritual

All spiritual paths lead to the same place.

What does scripture sure about man?

Romans 3:10-12 - None righteous

Jeremiah 17:9 - Heart is deceitfully sick

Matthew 15:19 - Out of the heart sin comes

James 4:1-4 - Sinful desires lead to sinful actions.

Problem is, when you reject God, when you espouse self-esteem ideology, when you embrace victim mentality and when you are blame-shifting and refusing to take personal responsibility, all that is left is elevating view of man in order to find some good.

And this has led to the final Influence of modern, man based psychology.

Psychology

Defined - Dictionary.com

the science of the mind or of mental states and processes.

the science of human and animal behavior.

the sum or characteristics of the mental states and processes of a person or class of persons, or of the mental states and processes involved in a field of activity: the psychology of a soldier; the psychology of politics.

mental ploys or strategy: He used psychology on his parents to get a larger allowance.

Psychology is the study of man’s mental and emotional state.

The rejection of God, the man centered view has led to a very man centered psychology.

American psychology has become the official caretaker of these modern assumptions. It has nurtured the person-as-good, the emphasis on emotions, and the importance of spirituality. It has also developed a related theme: the person-as-psychologically-needy. Ed Welch

It is all man-centered.

It has become NEED and RIGHT motivated.

Listen to psychology or even just every day conversation long enough and you will hear the list of NEEDS that man has…you will hear the list of RIGHTS a person is claiming.

I NEED this to be happy.

I DESERVE this. I am WORTH it.

Modern psychology and the various diagnosis and terminology reinforces a man centered theology, which in turn reinforces fear of man.

I do not have time to really expound here, but a study of the modern psychological point of view will make it clear.

Fear of man is therefore influence by our culture in these six ways

Fear of man is influenced by our past and previous experiences.

What do we do when we discern the areas we are being influenced by?

Repent from bring wrongly influenced.

Reject the influence, perhaps even making lifestyle changes to minimize contact with those influences

Renew your mind upon truth and learn to know and fear God better.

When we begin to take a good, hard look at our current struggle with fear of man, we have to understand how these things are influencing and strengthening our fear of man.

And then we have to begin to UNLEARN it and replace it with something more…FEAR OF GOD. That is where we will go this evening and tomorrow morning.

Look

Brethren, if our trust is in God, it is unworthy of it and of us to fear, for all things are His, and there is no evil in evil as men call it, so long as it does not draw away our hearts from our Father and our Hope. Therefore, he that fears let him trust; he that trusts let him not be afraid. He that sets his heart and anchors his hopes of safety on any except God, let him be afraid, for he is in a very stern world, and if he is not fearful he is a fool. The Heath in the Desert and the Tree by the River, Jeremiah 17:6, 8. Alexander MacLaren

There are many influences upon our fear of man.

They all must be repented of, guarded against, and discarded in favor of placing our trust in God and in God alone. Jeremiah 17:5-8 is an arsenal verse you must stick in your quiver and be ready to use when fear of man rears its ugly head.

Answer and reflect on the following questions. Be specific.

Where are you being most influenced by the fear of man in your life?

What past hurts or suffering is affecting or strengthening your fear of man?

What cultural influences are affecting or strengthening your fear of man?

Took

Read and respond to the following statement...

It is not the being seen of men that is wrong, but doing these things for the purpose of being seen of men. The problem with the hypocrite is his motivation. He does not want to be holy; he only wants to seem to be holy. He is more concerned with his reputation for righteousness than about actually becoming righteous. The approbation of men matters more to him than the approval of God. Augustine

2. Is there any sign or evidence of this sort of attitude in your own heart?

3. How do you begin to change your focus to be better on guard against cultural influencers and the fear of man?

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