Fear spawns...

"So our world is overwhelmingly fear-driven today. We have made self-interest into a virtue and called it enlightened self-interest. We have made "going to heaven" into the supreme goal of Christianity, which might or might not have anything to do with love—which might or might not have anything to do with fear. When love and service of the other are no longer culturally idealized, we are all put on the track of fear—because the small insecure self is now center stage and must promote and protect itself. When religion makes individual soul saving into a substitute for a transformed presence in God’s world, religion itself is on a track of fear instead of love, which is not very good religion." –Richard Rohr, Sojourners 10/04

Fear seems to occupy space in many hearts and heads, even in the church. Consider the competitive nature of many Christians who wage war within the Body rather than living in the spirit of love. Anything that is opposed to our way is a target to be treated like an enemy. It reminds of some the senseless acts of violence between fans of two competing teams. I am not talking about conservatives versus liberals-- I am talking about those who supposedly are in the same camp.

Why are folks so afraid?

Are we trying to preserve ourselves instead of living in God’s abundant grace?

Why is there so little transformation in the church?

Perhaps it is the unwillingness to pick up the cross to face the fear, shame, and pain and allow it to be transformed into good. It is like we think we can preserve ourselves and it is self-preservation that fear spawns.

"Why were you afraid? O you of little faith."