There are many fears ...

Or they are often called ...phobias.

Fear of dying ...

Fear of flying ...

Fear of gliders (the flying type, not the furniture)...

Fear of spiders ...

Fear of mites ...

Fear of heights ...

Fear of bats ...

Fear of cats (big cats) ...

Fear of germs ...

Fear of perms (worsening a bad hair day) ...

Fear of snakes ...

Fear of fakes (or 'Fake News') ...

Some are personal fears ...and others are more universal, but then there are also societal fears, prejudices, and biases.  They create a set of beliefs and often a culture of false impressions. Some call it hate ...yet, more accurately, it could be called ignorance.

We can not always be blamed for our ignorance ...but, we can be more responsible with how we respond to others and their beliefs.  We can hear someone out ...and not send them out.

We can discuss most things ...yet, if emotions have caused us to be so set in our ways, we may find it difficult to set those emotions aside just long enough to listen to a bit of reason.

There are people and religions who fear God ...

Yes, even the Bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom ...but, it says the beginning.

We should not stay at the beginning ...as  more dominant and healthy emotions should draw us closer to God, inclusive of gratefulness and love.

Most people in the world believe in God.

Let me be clear here ...the reality of the existence of God is not pending our majority vote as to the belief in His existence.

The majority of the world may be too large a sample for my blog here.  How about narrowing the scope to all those who'd be reading my blogs??  Okay, that would probably be nobody.

Okay, perhaps I need to expand a little bit ...to the nation I live in.

The United States of America ...not just the Americas.  In times past, there were tribes that feared their Supreme Beings ...and would actually sacrifice people into a volcano.  That would give more reason to fear God, not satisfy Him.  But, let's focus on the U.S.A. ...of today.

Most people in the U.S.A. say they believe in God ...and most of them would call themselves Christians.  And Christians would say they are Christians because they believe in Christ Jesus.

If you believe in Jesus, you probably also believe in Abraham, Moses, and a multitude of other people in the Bible ...so, why don't they also call themselves Abrahamians, or Mosesians??

Well, it's because when we say we are Christians ...we believe that Jesus died for our sins, and that He is our only salvation. 

Salvation from what??

Well, that would be hell ...the eternal death, that we would think we would not want for anyone.  So, wouldn't that be our most major concern??

Yet, we allow our concerns to center more on societal fears. 

There is also the thing called mongering ...

Mongering means:  attempting to stir up, or spread something that is petty or discreditable.

Heaven and Hell are not petty ...though there are people who attempt to discredit both.

Believing that Jesus is how we get to Heaven, or if you prefer, avoid Hell ...what could be more significant to us, within the realm of all that we profess to believe as Christians??

It is not mongering to seriously talk about how significant this is.  As a Christian, who could just stand idly by as someone else is being tormented??  And if you've been paralyzed with fear, and are ashamed that you did nothing, feeling powerless to do anything ...who could say looking back at that moment makes them laugh??

And does it make it any easier to hear of a situation like this happening ...if you just happened to be absent during the time, and did not witness it??  My guess is that it would still be very painful to hear about it ...and angry emotions could easily rise to high levels.  So, how does it feel when considering what Hell will be like??

But, certain factions of society sometimes learn that it is beneficial, not to the whole, but to them ...to create certain fears in others.  They have on occasion some bits of truth, but when used to manipulate and even worse to paralyze beyond any hope of normal functioning ...it becomes actual fear mongering.

Some people don't mean to promote fear, as they are preoccupied with it themselves ...and wish they didn't have to be, but they see it boldly staring them right in the face.  Their overreaction can really cause unnecessary fear in others.  After World War II, in truth, the Soviets did get involved in a nuclear build-up ...but, how useful was it to build all those fallout shelters, fearing atomic nuclear annihilation??

Hopefully, if it had happened, all you Christians would be confident that if you died ...you'd go to Heaven.  

How about September 11th 2001, and you are on an airplane that has been hijacked ...one of the two heading towards the Twin Towers, and this is for real?? Hopefully those who died had some moments where they could turn the unavoidable horror into some moment of peace, knowing, as a Christian, that they were going to soon go to Heaven.  And maybe they'd even be able to say a prayer for all those who'd be panicking, as the Twin Towers are hit.

One of the best ways to avoid disaster ...truly is to prepare for what you feel is assuredly going to happen.  You can set up a disaster drill, and practice until you are confident that you give yourself the highest probable chance of survival.

One of those training drills was set up on the coastline of California.  It took place within a huge gymnasium, and I was standing in the center of that perilous moment.  There were four exits to the gymnasium ...and I had to make haste to get out of the building with very little time to spare.  I was chosen for this test, because I am one of the few remaining people to have a condition called Jethro Bodeenitis ...and it was lunchtime.

Each of the four exits posed an immediate and eminent danger, as each exit faced a different, yet equally ominous challenge. 

The North Exit was guarded by a banana slug. Though I felt I could normally very easily outmaneuver a slug, I felt this particular variety must have a secret weapon ...and I was afraid I'd slip up, quite confident that it was not called a banana slug for no reason. I also was not eager to get slugged.

The South Exit was guarded by a garden snail ...and I felt best to avoid this one also, as I was uncertain what plot it came from or what plot it had in mind for me. But, I heard they fight dirty.

The East Exit was guarded by a three-toed sloth.  I heard they can move nearly a dozen inches in one hour, but Grandma used to say her neighbors were rather slothful ...and if you gave them an inch, they'd take a mile.  I thought best to assess the fourth exit.

The West Exit faced the ocean.  I hesitated, but was able to avoid doom as I recalled what I'd heard about 'climate change'.  Even though in the past seventeen years I'd seen no change with the expansive beach a couple hundred yards outside the door, certainly all those scientists had amply warned me of the danger. It could be subtle as a serpent, with no real visible cause for panic for over a hundred years ...then suddenly, tsunami-type devastation.  It could be as fierce as an African Lion, or as overpowering as a Saltwater Crocodile. I could not simply ignore the greatest danger since the invention of the wheel, or is that ...Grandma behind the wheel??  I don't really know, but could anyone be so bold as to challenge the greatest threat to our present society??

I decided to take my chance with the three-toed sloth.  I made a dash for the East Exit, but I stubbed my fourth toe ...and tripped. It wouldn't have happened if I only had three toes ...but, that's evolution for you.  Yes, 'survival of the fittest' ...and I know some of you are going to really have your 'fits' over this story, but you're not the one who missed lunch.

If you don't think this is funny, you are probably right ...but, I feel 'climate change' is one of the biggest jokes.  And I definitely call it 'fear mongering'.

And all you Christians ...please try to wake up, and give more of your time and energy to telling people about Jesus, or encouraging them along those lines (or verses, which ring true to each of your hearts).