I'm finishing up a class on cultural anthropology. Some of you may wonder, "why take a social science course at a theological institution?" Well, I'm glad you asked. In part, it has to do with fear. I'll explain. Over 40% of the world is animistic. Animism is a belief system that spiritual forces inhabit every created thing and efforts must be made to appease these spiritual beings. Does 40% sound high (it did to me)? What about saying, "C'mon baby, take us to work" when trying to start your car in the morning? How about the common phrase about giving "the evil eye" or even "the look" to someone with whom you are angry? Even the phrase "good luck" can bear some animistic influence. I haven't even mentioned Halloween yet. These examples are typical in the US and don't even begin to address widespread animistic practices in majority world countries.
The key paradigm in animistic cultures is fear verses power. Fear dominates people and drives them to exert power over spiritual beings or other people. In Psalm 2, David encourages leaders to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. In the US, discussions of one's fears rarely indicate fear of God as a primary concern. Many people are fearful about finances, relationships, health and many other tangible human experiences, but they give little thought to God in day to day decisions of life. These indictments apply to Christians, in church three times a week and baptized as a child! If the Church does not fear God, what message does that communicate to the world?
Listen to Luke's inspired message: "4 I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" (Luke 12:4-5). What fears are driving our lives? Do we recognize the holiness and power of God? Do we understand the eternal consequences at stake when we chose to live sold out for Jesus Christ?
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