Thread by @RelevantQuest

“The fearful, & ​​​unbelieving​, & the abominable, & murderers​, & ​​​whoremongers​, & ​​​sorcerers​, & idolaters, & all ​​​liars​, shall have their part in the lake which burneth … which is the ​​​second​ ​​​death​.” Rev. 21:8

‘Fearful’ is the sin listed first. (THREAD)

Context is important. To be fearful is not merely to feel sudden fright: it means ‘to be inclined to fear, to cause fear, or to display fear.’ The coward, the fearmonger, & the weakling—people who passively or aggressively bring others to harm. This is sin.

Fearfulness, when passive, is the opposite of faith, the opposite of courage, the opposite of self-mastery. It causes one to halt on the path, stumble, even run backward or away from safety. Fearfulness, when aggressive, is grabbing power by causing those around you to fear.

A fearful person releases despair like plumes of smoke blocking out the light of faith. Fearfulness has destroyed many formerly-principled people & collapsed entire civilizations. Fear is poison. Spreading it is sin.

The only ‘holy fear’ is not aptly named, by modern standards. Healthy respect for that which is truly venerable, that which has actual power to move earth & heaven at will: the fear of God. To “fear” God is to recognize him with reverence & awe, feeling our smallness before him.

One who fears God need fear nothing else. His might makes us mighty. His divine parentage makes us divine children. No other fear can abide his presence. When he is near to us, we have peace. We are courageous. We cause others to take heart. We shine his light upon the safe path.

Practice faith, every day. Answer your fear reactions with courage & godliness. Disregard the panicked masses rushing to prop up Babylon. Turn your face toward the Lord’s mountain & build Zion. Others will follow you to high ground.

“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings…”

“For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (2 Nep. 8, Isa. 51)