“Be not afraid”, “do not fear” or some other phrase with the same meaning appears, according to the internet, in the Bible 365 times. One time for every day of the year. Think there is a message there? I am sure of it. And, I was feeling much fear when I read our Nina’s post from yesterday “Christmas: In Midst Of Worry And Strife, A Time Of Hope And Joy.” Christmas is a time of hope and joy. BUT, the human default setting is fear. We are all afraid all the time. That’s why God had to say “Do not be afraid” 365 times.

Shepherds were watching their flocks by night and had to be totally afraid when the Angel came with astounding news. First, the Angel had to allay their fears:

The Birth of Jesus

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For…

— Scripture (@ScriptureSocial) December 25, 2023

It’s even better when you watch the Angel spread the word in Radio City Music Hall.

There is a lot to be afraid about. There’s aging and aging and aging and again. Oh wait. That’s just me. Seriously. old is bad enough, but old and infirm. Yeow! This verse doesn’t say the world no fear or afraid, but that is the message. This verse is over the chapel at my son’s college:

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;
5 when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Really, there is the fear porn of disease we have had from Covid for the last two and one half years. And, the fear of the Orange Man Bad the last six years. Like this letter from PennLive:

The 2024 election: Be afraid; be very afraid! | PennLive letters

This is a frightening time to be an American, and particularly to reside in our country as a member of a minority group.

The presumed Republican nominee for the presidency in 2024 is someone who has told us that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of America,” who has demonstrated antipathy for the LGBTQ community, and who has identified with white supremacist thugs whom he has told not to cease and desist, but to “stand back and stand by.”

Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, which is lapped up by the mobs that attend his raucous rallies, is precisely the mindset which inspired the mass murderer who committed the worst act of antisemitism in American history at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018, slaughtering eleven precious souls who were worshipping on the Sabbath.

Donald Trump has promised to make a new term about getting revenge against those who have disagreed with him, and to persecute and imprison political opponents by appointing loyal stooges to key positions in the Department of Justice.

How can it be that such a person, who now faces 91 criminal counts, most of which revolve around efforts to overthrow the government, can be leading his opponent in the polls? How is it possible that he is gaining in popularity with Blacks and Hispanics when his entire life has been devoted to isolating and ostracizing “the other”?

If American voters forsake presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden or choose not to vote, they will be responsible for the end of our country’s experiment in democracy. That would be a lot to have on one’s conscience.

In his first four years, Trump did nothing they should fear, but that doesn’t stop them from being AFRAID. And we should not fear either. 2nd Timothy 1:7:

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Besides praying for Democrats, we do have the advantage with our love and our self-discipline.

So let’s let that be our marching phrase this year. No fear. No fear. Do not be afraid.

Featured Image: Toni Williams