Fear in Its Rightful Place Introduction

1. What is Fear?

2. Appropriate Fear vs. Pathological Fear

3. Definition: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

4. be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.

Pathological comes from the English word pathology which is derived from the latin pathologia & the Middle French pathologie both of which, in-turn have their origins in the Greek word pathologia which originally meant the study of the emotions. Patho has a combined meaning of emotions, suffering and disease and logy meaning to study. To the ancient Greeks emotional suffering and disease (dis-ease or not being at ease) were considered to be deviations from normal good health.

Pathological therefore means anything that deviates from the normal or healthy and these days tends to mean extreme deviations, hence the connection with disease and pathology (the study of disease). So a pathological fear really means a fear that is not the norm and is considered to be unhealthy for the individual with the fear.

1. Fear is useful when what we are afraid of warrants it. (Sharks for instance, but only if we are swimming in the ocean, not driving down the highway)

2. But can become unhealthy and limiting when we allow it to control our lives. (As a child I would pitch spectacular fits because I was afraid our sailboat would capsize, sink, and drown us all.)

3. It also plays a special role in the life of faith.

4. Since scripture admonishes us to Fear the Lord. As human beings, we experience fear, awe and respect whenever we encounter things that are powerful and beyond our control. Think the ocean in a storm, or an earthquake, a Bengal tiger or a mighty river like Niagara.

5. Yet the scriptures also repeatedly encourage us to “fear not” when it comes to challenges of life, because God is with us.

So what should we ask ourselves? Does our fear hem us in? Control us and our decision making? What would you do differently if you weren't afraid? (It is useful to have a friend we can trust to help us ask these questions if that is possible)

1. I think we may not always be honest with ourselves about WHAT we are afraid of, because sometimes it is hard to figure out, but if fear is controlling us we need to take the time to ask ourselves:

2. Am I afraid?

3. And if so, what is it that I fear?