Two Great Resources on Fear

I came upon this great little book on fear while listening to a talk given by Michael Reeves at Southern Seminary.  I’d like to recommend both the talk and the book.  Without completely stealing the thunder of either, I will share with you what has been helpful to me about both.

First, I could listen to Michael Reeves read the phone book.  I’ve become so accustomed to hearing his soothing English accent extol the love of Christ and commend the wonder of the Trinity that if I did hear him read the phone book I suspect that by reflex my attention would be turned to the Lord.  I can’t recommend his resources enough.    

This particular talk was focused on our current culture of fear.  Our students are so fearful of hearing opposing viewpoints that they require “safe spaces” where their own ideas cannot be challenged by facts or other legitimate opinions.  Parents are afraid to allow their children to play on a playground without more protective equipment than a quarterback wore fifty years ago.  Both political parties use fear to stir up the masses: “they’re going to take your guns!”  “They’re going to take your health care!”  And it works!  

Why are we so fearful in the West?  Michael Reeves answers the question by appealing to the Scriptures expounded by a voice from the past…John Flavel.  As I listened to Reeves, as usual, I was reminded that my whole reason for living is to know God and love God.  At the end of the talk, I wanted two things: to love God (as Reeves had made it sound like the highest of delights), and to read John Flavel’s book, upon which Reeves had based his talk.

John Flavel (1628-1691), as Puritans tend to do, wrote a smallish work on fear that in its insight and helpfulness dwarfs most modern works put together.  If you are the kind to mark up books as you read, you may find early on that you’re underlining every sentence.  Suffice to say, Flavel does not waste paper or ink.  He not only diagnoses our fear, but identifies three kinds of fear—one essential for human existence, one sinful, and one necessary for the enjoyment of God.  As the title implies— Triumphing Over Sinful Fear—one of those categories is the focus of the book.  His instruction is thorough yet succinct, describing the causes of sinful fear, the results of sinful fear, and blessedly, the remedies of sinful fear.  

Some of my own highlighted passages:

“If we were to understand how dear we are to God, our relation to Him, our value in His eyes, and how He protects us by His faithful promises and gracious presence, we would not tremble at every appearance of danger.”

“A guilty conscience gives a man a view of his enemy through a magnifying glass.”

“To the extent that our souls are empty of faith, they are filled with fear… If people were to dig to the root of their fears, they would find unbelief.”  

“A covenant is more than a naked promise. In the covenant, God has graciously considered our fears, doubts, and weaknesses; therefore, He proceeds with us in the high-test way of solemnity, confirming His promises by way of oath (Heb. 6:13, 17) and seals (Rom. 6:11).”

You will benefit from both of these resources whether you struggle with fear or not.  The undercurrent of both voices—Reeves and Flavel—is to draw us to awe and love of the Lord.  I’m not one given to sinful fear, but I loved these resources and believe you would benefit from them greatly.

Let me encourage you: Some Puritans are hard to read.  Not Flavel.  He is among the most accessible.  Reading the Puritans is a practice that will only help you in your walk with the Lord!