Fear Mongers

Fear Mongers. You know who they are and what they do. They work hard to get people to be uneasy, to be afraid, to hate someone/something by trying to convince others to be frightened by whatever it is they are talking about. They have been around for thousands of years. Oog the caveman was afraid of fire, so he tried to get others afraid of it too. Hitler convinced many people to be afraid of the Jews. The KKK tries to convince people to be afraid of African-Americans, Gays, and whoever else is on their hit list. Liberals tried to get people to be afraid of G.W. Bush. Conservatives tried to convince people to be afraid of Liberals. Now, there is a group joining into the fray of Fear Mongering - Christians.

Let me say I am NOT talking about all Christians here. After all, I am a Christian and I am appalled by the actions I am writing about here. Yet, there is a faction out there using the Internet, E-mails, Print Media (Newspapers) and even the Pulpits of their churches to spread fear about our current President. Let's take a look at a couple examples I have received in my in box this past week.

First, I get one with a "Tombstone" of the USA stating the date of birth as July 4, 1776, and the date of death as Nov. 4, 2008. The article goes on to say (and I quote):

"If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's (sic) and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years."

Another example is one that states that what President Obama is doing "Scares the h*** out of me", and goes on to accuse the President of turning this country to socialism, being a lover of Muslims as a bad, evil thing, and other such ideas.

These are just two of the many examples I am sent by fellow Christians. Now, I have no doubt of these people's faith. Many of them I worship with, pray with, and even teach their kids in my Sunday School class and Children's Church. Yet when I have one of my kids ask me how God can love everyone, yet why does God hate Obama (they say this because their parents told them this), then it is time to raise the flag and my voice and say "ENOUGH".

Why are Christians so afraid of this man? Okay, don't agree with his policies on abortion or gay rights or the economy. Fine. This is America, where we can disagree with each other. But to send on anything that advocates hatred, fear, and even disloyalty is not the way God would want to be.

The Christian Bible, in 1 John 4, tells us "My dear brothers, we must love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves others is God's child and he knows God.

But anyone who does not love others does not know God, because God is love." (verses 7-8)

Further on in the same Book and Chapter, it reads: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (Verse 18). We are told numerous times not to fear.

We are commanded as Christians to concentrate on what is good, right, and true. Fear does not fit into this description. Yet, there is - for all the world to see it. No wonder so many people are not coming to church.

It is time to stop the spreading of the fear. As Christians, we need to share the peace, the hope, the calmness that comes from having a relationship with Christ. THAT is what will help people through these rough times.

Fear comes from Satan, and when we help to spread it, we are doing Satan's work. THAT is not a side I want to be on.

For me, while I disagree with some positions President Obama has, I will pray for him. I will hope he becomes a great leader. I will state my case with positive messages. THAT is, I strongly believe, what God wants us to do.