Americans Living in Fear

Nena Arias | December 18, 2017

There are many things that threaten us in today’s world. Why do humans experience fear? Where does fear come from?

Naturally speaking, and in all fairness, I must say some threats are very real, not imagined. Especially the ISIS inspired terrorist attacks that are increasing and becoming bolder in various parts of the world and now in our nation. Americans are more fearful today of a terrorist attack since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to a new poll by the New York Times.

There is fear of the threat of nuclear attacks now that some countries are using their nuclear capability to intimidate. The economic struggles of nations and individuals are huge fears and present much uncertainty, which causes people to live in fear of a crash in our economy. How about identity theft? Reports say that approximately 15 million United States residents have their identities stolen used fraudulently each year with money losses totaling more than $50 billion. That’s approximately 7% of all adults have their identities used by unauthorized users resulting in approximately $3,500 in losses. 

We cannot deny that in the last decade the spikes of threats have been sudden as opposed to a gradual ascent. We all perceive the acceleration in these happenings. If you add the fact that people have lost faith in their government so they are finding out that whatever comes they will have to face on their own. People, who in times past would have never conceived the idea of buying guns, are now arming themselves, storing food, survival supplies and learning how to work and live off the land and the grid in case they would have to be self-sufficient.

Are we helping to create a culture of fear in the nation that is supposed to be the freest nation in the world? Just think about our way of life. Did you ever think you would see stores provide anti-bacterial wipes to protect their customers from germs on grocery carts? Parents obsessively protect their children by driving them to school and picking them up each day for fear of the threats that lurk and that we hear about daily on the news. Playgrounds are fenced in to prevent anything bad from happening. In our schools there are alarms to protect classrooms from school shooters and some schools are paying for training their teachers and personnel in the use of guns and allowing them to be armed. Alarms are being set off everywhere on the cable news channels of the dangers that lurk.

One more fear I would like to mention that has taken over our culture is the rotten-to-the-core philosophy of having to be politically correct in everything or risk being ostracized, loosing friends and even being sued. 

I do not need to go on enumerating the present fears because I think you get the picture. What is pushing us off the cliff culturally, emotionally and spiritually? It is not that complicated to understand how we have arrived at this deplorable condition.  It is actually very simple. The key is found even in the laws of nature; we cannot plant poisonous weeds and expect to harvest apples. The prophet Isaiah told us this long ago:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who exchange darkness for light, and light for darkness; who exchange bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight! Isaiah 5:20-21 (MEV)

Are Americans afraid of the wrong things? Yes, they are!  America has betrayed the biblical values that gave it life. When people trust more in their own understanding and ignore God and disrespect him, they are left to their own inadequate devices that will always threaten and ultimately destroy them.

Matthew 10:28 says, “ Do not fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” 

America, place your fear in the right place and all will be well because God is in control.