It has been said that the phrase “Fear not” is repeated 365 times in the bible, once for every day of the year! Many of us are familiar with 1 John 4:18, which says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love.” In context, this scripture is meant to reassure us that loving God means loving our neighbor, and that we can have confidence in God’s love for us when we face Judgment.
It’s important that we remember the context. It has become commonplace for anti-vaxxer and anti-masking Christians to claim “faith over fear” as a way of actually saying “faith over medicine” and “faith over citizenship.” Touting ‘faith over fear’ as an excuse to refuse self-care or the protection of others is a serious diversion from the intention of scripture. When I hear an anti-vaxxer Christian claim faith over fear, I want to reply “Reason over Political Ideology,” but that’s not a very snappy comeback. Faith over fear fundamentally means that Christians no longer fear the judgment of hell. There is no condemnation for those who believe in Christ. But the phrase has become bumper sticker jargon to support political ideology rather than have any depth or theological value.
Wesleyan Christians have a history rooted in John Wesley’s connections with medicine, science and faith to promote the well being of the entire body and soul. God has gifted and graced us with incredible advances in medical science, and with people who can interpret trends and give advice on how the public should operate. I am reminded of the story of the person sitting on their roof in a flood, believing that God would save them. A boat came by to rescue them and they said, no God will save me. A helicopter flew over to rescue them and they said, no, God will save me. Finally, when they drowned, God said, Um, why didn’t you take the boat or the helicopter that I sent to save you? It is so sad to me that people are literally dying from their obstinance over COVID. And things are picking back up, it’s getting more serious again.
In his book Tattoos on the Heart, Gregory Boyle tells the story of a gang-banger who had a dream that he was blind in a dark room. But in the dream, Father Greg was there with a flashlight shining directly on the light switch. But it was up to the homie to go flip the switch and turn on the lights. All we can do is be faithful to point our flashlights. We cannot force anyone to turn the lights on for themselves. This rings true on many levels, both spiritual and practical. In the meantime, we are called to love our neighbor, as God loved us, as Christ loves the church. No matter how differently we see the world, no matter how crazy they drive you with their spiritual beliefs or their political ideologies, you must love first. It’s a tall order, but that’s where the real faith over fear kicks in. I have faith that God’s love for me and God’s love for them could never be any more or any less than it is now. And so I am not afraid to love my neighbor. I have faith, and so I wear a mask to protect my neighbor, because I’m not afraid. I have faith, and so I get vaccinated to protect myself and others, because I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid of condemnation. I’m not afraid of judgment. I’m not afraid of hell on earth or in the afterlife. Christ’s love models for me the way to put others before myself, even when it is difficult to do so.