Living in Fear

Living in Fear
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Living in fear. How many people do you know live in fear?

We’re taking a break from the series “The Bible and…:” for today’s entry.

As some of you are aware, I live in a smaller town, in what would be considered rural, or at least semi-rural, Oregon. The area is far removed from what has been taking place in Portland, though it is within striking distance of Eugene.

But fear is on the increase. Twice in the last week I’ve nearly been attacked by aggressive dogs that owners weren’t carefully watching. The first was more or less a nuisance, the owner was a visiting someone, and the dog was not that large.

The second incident, which happened yesterday, was a very different matter. The street seemed quiet, but as I was walking down it in order to do some errands, two dogs came out of nowhere and made an angry beeline towards me. The owner—her voice sounded small—was able to call them off just before they reached me. With my lack of eyesight, I am more or less defenseless. There was no way I could even clearly identify which residence they came from. Even in the evening, the adrenaline was still going.

Ironically, I no longer feel safe walking down this little side street, not from threats from potential criminals, but from improperly attended aggressive dogs.

The number of these types of dogs on the street has increased. Douglas County does have a drug problem, and crime is up. I’m guessing that people feel a little more safe having an aggressive dog to help defend them. In context, I find 1 John 4:18 of note:

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (NAU).

Perfect love casts out fear. As I’ve written on a number of occasions, our culture embraces hate. Hate is the new love. For many the best way to demonstrate “love” is to hate them. But it is love, perfect love—God’s type of love—that casts out fear. But, as a culture, we’ve rejected that love, we refuse God’s answer, God’s solution regarding fear.

What do we get by embracing hate? More fear. For those who are on the receiving end of much of society’s vitriol, will their fear lessen or increase? It will increase. Will they most likely respond in love, or return the anger? They’ll most likely respond with anger. What then happens to the first group? They get to enter into the “fear fest” as well, and follow up with even greater anger: how dare that other group not respond as “I” insist they do?

The more our culture embraces hate, the more fear will rise. On the one hand, I do understand that owning an aggressive dog (or dogs) is one way to try to combat that fear. But, it won’t solve the problem. How much protection is enough? At what point will a person feel truly “safe”?

There is only one true place of safety: salvation through Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, a relationship with God, whose love is perfect and casts out all fear, a relationship that comes via faith in Jesus Christ. Even if I had become fodder for those two dogs today, my eternal future was secure. Christ alone is our future and hope.

Share This Blog: