The sound of rain beating against my window almost rhythmically is normally enough to cause my eyelids to droop during the early evening. Not today, however, as I have been practicing what has become standard across the world at the moment: social distancing. Working from home has kept me from expending energy through my traditional means. Whether I was taking walks across the campus to meet with students or friends, trips around our building to talk to colleagues and share with prospective students about the work we are doing, or simply sauntering up and down the hallways because I can; I rarely sat still.
Yet here I am. Sitting still. This is the new normal. I hate it.
I hate it not simply because I long to be with my family, friends, and colleagues, but because of the responses I have seen across the world and particularly the United States. While there have been moments of hope and people working together, I still see news channels and countless people across various mediums inciting fear.
Inciting greater fear is not an acceptable motivator for people who are already fearful.
The idea of anyone we love dying is frightening. The thought of not being able to provide for oneself or others is scary. The prospect of thousands of people succumbing to an invisible evil is terrifying. We do not need any more nightmares, but we are still making them.
We are sharing headline after headline of victims and story after story of the economy. We are pointing fingers left and right at ethnic groups and races, religious groups, the LGBT community, political parties, and others. Some are saying this is the apocalypse and I agree…to an extent.
The meaning of the word “apocalypse” is “unveiling.” Unveiling in the sense that something is being or is to be revealed. I think, if anything, in this crisis – yes, we are in crisis – what has been revealed is that we allow fear to control the way we view and treat one another and the world.
We turn to jokes to laugh it away (I am undoubtedly guilty of this one), while we suppress the anxieties of tomorrow. We blame the sins of others for bringing judgment upon the world when we are really quite frightened of how this “judgment” might impact us. We lie, spread rumors, and other falsities to prove our righteousness and that we are not afraid, only leaving us looking foolish.
It is okay to be afraid, but we should not spread any more fear.
But the Bible tells us not to be afraid right? Correct. There are several bits of material floating around the internet claiming it the Bible says, “do not be afraid,” 365 times. Kudos to the person who counted. I am not overly concerned with the number.
What I believe is important about this request is that it comes with the understanding that we will be afraid. The Bible’s acknowledgment of fear is not advisement or restriction against it, but an understanding of what is inevitable and a provision of hope and grace as a reminder we are not perfect and that fear is normal.
In Matthew 8, this is illustrated to perfection:
“23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Often read as an accusation, my friend Colin Kroll once preached that this is more of an acknowledgment of understanding and not a disqualifier. Jesus certainly questions the fear, but it does not result in him inciting more. Jesus still calms the storm. Jesus still provides comfort and grace. We are called to do the same.
We must stop blaming people and ascribing this crisis as God acting as judge upon the world.
We must stop sharing negativity and propagating hate.
We must stop spreading lies and rumors while making a mockery of fact and precaution.
We must stop inciting fear.
Instead, let us provide comfort to our neighbors through a kind message.
Let us bring a smile to the face of a loved one when we call them.
Let us bring peace to a friend in need through an act of service.
Let us highlight what is good, what is right, and what is pleasing in this world.
That is love. And love casts out fear.