We have not been given a spirit of fear

Ok, here I go being unpopular and politically incorrect again.

I enjoy reading Vox Day. Not because I agree with him, I probably disagree with half of what he writes, but because he does make me think. He has written an excellent commentary called "What would John Wayne do?" which I am in full agreement with.

Here is a snippet from the article:

"And while there is something about the modern American man that is absolutely worthy of criticism, I don't think it's exactly what these feminists had in mind. For you see, the main problem with men today is that they are not men, but frightened little boys – afraid of their bosses, their wives, their girlfriends and their government. They are afraid of their employees, their children and their children's teachers.

They are not men because the hallmark of a real man is one who is not ruled by fear. Consider the real men of history, the immortals whose names we still honor today. Leonidas and his Three Hundred did not run before the Persian army at Thermopylae even though they knew they would fall before the host of Xerxes. Winston Churchill, a military and political failure, did not quail before the might of Nazi Germany, but inspired the nation of Britain to stand with him. And not even years in the Soviet gulags could silence the brave voice of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, whose iron will enabled him to outlast the very government that imprisoned him.

Can you imagine one of these men meekly submitting to the harsh words of a boss? Can you imagine Cicero cowering before the sharp tongue of a nagging wife, who did not cower before an emperor? Or the Apostle Paul remaining silent for fear someone might take offense to his words?"

Now, I would probably insert Jesus' name instead of John Wayne's because Jesus is the toughest, most manly man I know of. Some may find the previous statement offensive or surprising. I think whether they realize it of not, most people think of Jesus as this sort of milque toast, Mr. Rogers kind of man. You know, he goes around with a lamb under his arm and always says nice, happy, non-confrontational things that wouldn't offend anyone. Since we are to emmulate Jesus as believers we do so according to our stereotype of Him rather than going by the picture painted for us in the Scriptures. You know, be seeker sensitive, non-combative, non-offensive.

Please do not get me wrong, Jesus is clearly the most loving and compassionate man that ever walked the face of the earth. However, we must have a balanced view of Him. This Jesus was the man who called them like he saw them. He called hypocrites hypocrites. He called people a brood of vipers and whitewashed tombs. He beat the money changer out of the Temple with a whip. He stood before the Pilate and told him he had no power over Him. The toughest act of all was the excruciating death he willingly suffered on that Roman cross.

If you look at most modern Christian men the most important thing to them seems to be safety and comfort. We are a bunch of air bagged, helmeted, seat belted, insured, non-confrontational sissies. We are raising our sons to be the same. We don't let them do anything dangerous or risky. We put knee pads on them so they don't skin their knees for crying out loud. We teach them to be "nice".

The days of chivalry are dead and gone. No longer do boys pass tests to prepare them for manhood. We tell them not to climb that tree, they may fall out and hurt themselves. Now, I am not advocating that we let our sons go out and do something that may seriously injure them, but we should let them run and climb and jump and do all of the things that boys naturally do instead of training it out of them. God must have designed those things into men for a reason don't you think?

I have a seven year old boy. I had no idea what kind of a sacrifice that God made in giving up His Son for us until I had a son of my own. My first two children were girls. I love them dearly but I have found there is a special bond between a father and son. I suspect there is a similar bond between mothers and daughters. The point is that I would do anything, including giving my own life, rather than let my son die. Yet that is exactly what The Father did for us. I just can't fathom it.

I want to raise my son to be the same kind of man that The Father raised Jesus to be. I am not afraid to let him skin his knees once in a while. I want him to grow up not fearing the battles that will undoubtedly come his way in life. I want to raise him to speak the truth in love. To rescue those in trouble, the damsel in distress if you will. To stand for what is true and lovely. Most of all to stand for the Gospel of Christ fearlessly.

I have been told their are some 365 "fear nots" in the Bible. Perhaps God was trying to tell us something. I have been asked how I can go in front of a group of people and share the Gospel without being afraid. I ride motorcycles and raced them in my younger days, people tell me how dangerous they are and how afraid they are of them. The thing is we have gotten our emotions confused with reality. Feeling fear is not the same as being afraid.

Sure, I feel afraid sharing the gospel or standing up for what is right or doing things that are "risky" by most people's definitions. The fact is that everything is risky. Motorcycles are risky but the fact is that more people are killed on bicycles and on foot in traffic every year than on motorcycles. People don't consider those activities risky however. The fact of the matter is that the only way to avoid risk is to not get out of bed in the morning. I indeed do feel afraid all of the time. I would only BE afraid if I let those feelings win out and I failed to do something.

It has been said that everyone in battle is afraid. Fear does not make you a coward however. Acting on those fears is what makes you a coward. Stonewall Jackson was asked how he remained so serene in the middle of battles and this was his answer, '"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"'

Men, God has ordained the number of your days before you were even born; go out and live like it! FEAR NOT for the LORD thy God is with you!