Why do we oppose fear? Fear is not necessarily a bad thing. Fear of falling will keep us safe on a ladder. Fear of dangerous animals will keep our hands free from their mouths and claws. Fear of sin will keep us appropriate around one another. Fear of rejection will cause us to use discretion in our speech. Fear of punishment will help us make wise choices to behave well. Fear of God will cause us to obey His Word and live an abundant life. So why does the Bible say in 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"? And then it says in Ecclesiastes 12:13: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Should we fear or not fear? A healthy fear keeps us from harm's way. An unhealthy fear keeps us from doing what's right, such as in fearing what man can do unto us. Another example of an unhealthy fear is a phobia that keeps one from functioning normally throughout the day. Fear the right things and let that motivate you to do the hard things and live well.
My initial thought was about people accusing Christians of being "homophobic." We have consciences for a reason. Whether it's adultery, fornication, dangerous acts, risky behaviors, addictions with marijuana and other drugs - fear of consequences and slippery slopes are God-given for SELF PRESERVATION. That is extremely important, and when we deny ourselves of these safety checks, we become fools.
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