The Spiritual Danger of Misplaced Fear and Idolatrous Worship

Constant Anxiety about Public Opinion and the Worship of Social Status

Fear, when misdirected, can insidiously transform into worship, elevating mundane concerns to the status of idols in our lives. When our fears dominate our thoughts, dictate our actions, and shape our worldview, we inadvertently place them on a pedestal that should be reserved for God. This misplaced reverence can manifest in various ways:

• obsessing over financial security may become worship of money;

• constant anxiety about public opinion might develop into worship of social status;

  or

• an overwhelming dread of the future could morph into a worship of control.

In each instance, we should shift our

• focus

• energy

• devotion

resources that, in a spiritual context, should be directed toward genuine worship—away from these fears.

By giving our fears such power, we risk creating a pantheon of worldly concerns that compete with, and often overshadow, our relationship with God. This subtle shift from healthy caution to paralyzing fear distorts our perspective and diverts us from true spiritual growth and authentic worship.

We fear God

God is to be feared. Fear is reverence, awe, and respect for His power and glory. This fear is not fear in the traditional sense of the word but recognizing God for who He is in all His power and majesty.

As believers, we are to fear not. Perfect love casts out fear. We do not fear because He is with us. He will strengthen, help, and uphold us. We do not fear what man can do because we know God is greater. We do not have a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

What time we are afraid we trust in God. We cast our cares and our worries on Him.

Fearing God for the believer is worship. It is loving God who cares for us.

Fearing anything else is worship as well.

We are showing reverence when we fear. Our fear is greater toward the created than towards the Creator. That is idolatry.

The minute our worldly concerns get that amount of fear and reverence, we allow them to take the place of God in our lives.

Our fears reveal what is truly of value to us, what holds power over us.

Fear is a function of worship.

Think about your fears from the past, present, and future. Do you fear living people?

Do you think your money, or the people you know, your connections, can provide for you or protect you? That is worship.

Have you trusted what a man said to you, sought his approval, or conformed to his societal pressure? Then is that not worship?

Others who have control over you might take the place of God.

Confession

I have allowed myself to fear men, traditions, and what people think to where I have allowed myself to be compromised. Fearing people is much more dangerous than we ever want to believe. We allow public opinion to become truth, and we go with the flow. We do not act like the Bereans and investigate for ourselves. Bowing to the accepted truth is highly dangerous, and I have to confess that I had lived much of my life as a victim of my group, my friends, and well-known people’s opinions, even when I wasn’t sure it was correct or biblical. Shame on me!

Bible verses

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 
2 Timothy 1:7.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9.

The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25.