Sermon: "Be Not Afraid"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

If we took an inventory of fears in this room, I suspect that we could amass quite a collection. For instance, some of us may be fearful about money issues - about having a regular job, adequate insurance, or about long-term expenses for ourselves or a loved one. Others of us may have fears about health problems and what the future may hold, including death itself. We may have fears about events in day-to-day life or about people we encounter on a regular basis. I suspect also that we have represented here quite a list of good old phobias, particular things we are afraid of - heights, enclosed spaces, doctors, dentists, and on and on. Some of you who are candidates for confirmation this morning may have a bit of fear about what will happen later in the service. And those who were here on my last visitation may be fearful about what the bishop is going to say this morning! Fears tell a lot about us. To some extent anyway, we are defined by our fears.

Our biblical faith has some things to say about fear. For instance, First John's words of encouragement include this observation: "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them…There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (4:16b,18a). The perfect love of which First John writes is the hallmark of our faith, the summary of our Law.

Over and over again in the Bible the point is made that the primary enemy of faith is not unbelief but fear. For instance, the Twenty-third Psalm is probably best known: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me." The promise of God's presence - and trust in that promise - drove out fear for our ancestors in the faith. When God appeared to Abraham in a vision, God said, "Fear not, Abraham, I am your shield" (Gen 15:1). Faith in the presence of God made fear retreat. Thus, where faith increases, fear decreases.

Like his heavenly Father, Jesus often comforted people who were afraid by assuring them of his presence. For instance, when the disciples saw a figure walking on the sea, they became frightened. But then Jesus himself spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear" (Matt 14:27). Then, again on the sea, the disciples became afraid during a storm. Jesus quieted the waves, and he spoke to the disciples: "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?" (Matt 8:26).

The objects of fear do not go away when faith increases, but their fearfulness becomes less ominous. A strong faith helps us deal with fear and uncertainty about money, health, and all the rest.

The theological message in these examples is rather simple. The opposite of faith is not unbelief, but rather, fear. Where there is fear, then faith cannot take hold. But where there is faith, then fear is vanquished. A well-known motto often found framed on walls of homes a generation or so ago proclaimed this message: "Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. There was no one there."

Last week Annie and I attended the Niobrara Convocation in South Dakota. This is the annual gathering of the Oglala People, the Native American Sioux Indians. The Convocation this year took place on the Pine Ridge Reservation, in what by many measures is the poorest county in the United States. Among those people and within their lives, many causes for fear are quite evident. Especially clear are poverty and extreme health and social problems. Indeed, objects of fear abound in the daily lives of our hosts. And yet, the primary impression I have of the Oglala People centers on their faith, not on their fears.

This faith-fear dichotomy is one subject in our readings from Jeremiah and from Matthew this morning. In the first reading, the fear specifically mentioned is that of not being supported, of being left alone. Jeremiah laments, "O Lord, you have enticed me, and I was enticed…" Then, he complains, "All my close friends are watching for me to stumble." The prophet speaks here of his fear that God and his own friends will not support him in his prophetic task and that he will be by himself. Jeremiah's faith suffers because of his fear.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the lack of support his disciples may sense - and the subsequent fear they may feel - when they are on their own. He says, "I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves." Jesus goes on to list some potential reasons for their fear, as he speaks of those wolves: "Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues." Then, "brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name." Jesus knew that without the support of his presence - and the faith that support encouraged - then his disciples might succumb to fear. And how appropriate that concern was - not only at this point in time but, especially, immediately following his death.

In our day, we find many potential causes for fear. Most fears have to do with the unknown. And, most often, we experience crises of faith at precisely these points - those points of the unknown, those places beyond our control, those moments of fear.

However, the clear word from scripture is that faith is stronger than fear. Further, faith will win out in the end. This morning, I simply want to proclaim that reality … the reality proclaimed also in the Bible. Faith casts out our fear.

The passage from Jeremiah finally centers not on the prophet's fearful lament but on words of hope and faith. After expressing his fear of God's non-support, Jeremiah concludes this way: "The Lord is with me … my persecutors will stumble … Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers."

So, too, the Gospel reading provides a message of hope and of faith. Jesus does indeed speak to his followers about the realities of persecution, possible causes of fear. But then he concludes, "So have no fear of them … Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul … Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven." Thus, Jesus offers reason for hope and for faith, even in the face of very real reasons for fear.

In conclusion, it would be a mistake to say that people of faith never experience fear - either in biblical times or in our own day. But I can say with certainty that faith helps us all live in the face of fear and to conquer it.

The knowledge that faith brings is that we are not alone. We are supported in this life. Our ultimate support is in the person of God that we call the Holy Spirit, who is with us even now. Therefore, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me." Amen.

Copyright © 2002 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee