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Faith and Fear in Decision Making in Christian Life

In Christian life, decision-making is often understood through the lenses of faith and fear, which represent contrasting approaches to navigating choices and circumstances. Faith, at its core, is a persuasion of the mind that a statement is true, rooted in trust [1]. This trust is directed towards God and His promises, forming a foundational element of Christian character alongside hope and love [3]. Fear, conversely, can manifest in various forms, some of which are considered unholy and characteristic of the wicked, such as the fear of idols, man, or future judgments [4].

Faith is not merely an intellectual assent but involves a dynamic trust that influences conduct [1]. It is seen as a "work of faith," indicating its active and continuous reality in a believer's life, producing fruits and demonstrating alacrity in receiving truth [11]. This active faith is essential for salvation, often linked with confessing Christ [5]. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, speaks of the "work of faith," which commentators interpret as the working reality of faith, not just a passive agreement [11]. This implies that faith should lead to action and shape decisions. The influence of the Holy Spirit is considered necessary for confessing Christ, which is an evidence of union with God and a test of being a saint [5].

Conversely, fear can hinder faithful decision-making. The "fear of man" is specifically identified as something that can prevent one from confessing Christ [5]. This unholy fear is distinct from the "fear of God," which is a positive aspect of Christian conduct [2]. The fear of God is presented as a component of a quiet mind and self-control, as seen in 2 Peter 1:6 and 1 Peter 3:2, where believers are exhorted to live with "chaste conversation with fear" [8, 9, 10]. This reverence for God is a guiding principle for Christian living, influencing how believers relate to one another, as Ephesians 5:21 states, "Letting yourselves be ruled by one another in the fear of Christ" [6].

The contrast between faith and unholy fear is particularly evident in the face of adversity. Persecution, for instance, should not deter believers from confessing Christ, implying that faith should overcome the fear of negative consequences [5]. The fear of death is another significant unholy fear that Christ is understood to have delivered believers from, removing its formidable power by addressing the curse of sin [13]. This liberation from the fear of death allows believers to live not as "subjects of bondage" but with the liberty of those who choose to live as they desire in Christ [13].

Decision-making in the Christian life, therefore, involves cultivating a heart that is prepared for God, given to Him, and perfect with Him [7]. This preparation includes understanding that the issues of life flow from the heart, and God tries, knows, and searches the heart [7]. The influence of faith means believing God and Christ, loving God and Christ, following God and Christ, and obeying God and Christ [2]. This comprehensive trust and obedience are meant to guide decisions, rather than the overwhelming and consuming fears that characterize the wicked [4]. The wicked are described as being filled with fear, which can be a fear of idols, man, or future punishment, and this fear can lead to a guilty conscience [4]. In contrast, the righteous are called to live soberly, righteously, and godly, walking honestly [2]. The work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance forever [12].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Faith — Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests. Faith is the result of teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Unholy — A characteristic of the wicked -- Re 21:8. Is described as A fear of idols. -- 2Ki 17:38. A fear of man. -- 1Sa 15:24; Joh 9:22. A fear of judgments. -- Isa 2:19; Lu 21:26; Re 6:16,17. A fear of future punishment. -- Heb 10:27. Overwhelming. -- Ex 15:16; Job 15:21,24. Consuming. -- Ps 73:19. A guilty conscience leads to -- Ge 3:8,10; Ps 53:5; Pr 28:1. Seizes the wicked -- Job 15:24; 18:11. Surprises the hypocrite -- Isa 33:14,18. The wicked judicially filled with -- Le 26:16,17; De 28:65-67; Jer 49:5. Shall be realised -- Pr 1:27; 10:24. God mocks -- P”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
  6. Ephesians “Ephesians 5:21 (BBE) — Letting yourselves be ruled by one another in the fear of Christ.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, The — Issues of life are out of -- Pr 4:23. God Tries. -- 1Ch 29:17; Jer 12:3. Knows. -- Ps 44:21; Jer 20:12. Searched. -- 1Ch 28:9; Jer 17:10. Understands the thoughts of. -- 1Ch 28:9; Ps 139:2. Ponders. -- Pr 21:2; 24:12. Influences. -- 1Sa 10:26; Ezr 6:22; 7:27; Pr 21:1; Jer 20:9. Creates a new. -- Ps 51:10; Eze 36:26. Prepares. -- 1Ch 29:18; Pr 16:1. Opens. -- Ac 16:14. Enlightens. -- 2Co 4:6; Eph 1:18. Strengthens. -- Ps 27:14. Establishes. -- Ps 112:8; 1Th 3:13. Should be Prepared to God. -- 1Sa 7:3. Given to God. -- Pr 23:26. Perfect with God. -- 1Ki 8:”
  8. II Peter “II Peter 1:6 (BBE) — And self-control to knowledge, and a quiet mind to self-control, and fear of God to a quiet mind,”
  9. I Peter “I Peter 3:2 (DRC) — Considering your chaste conversation with fear.”
  10. 1 Peter “considerantes in timore castam conversationem vestram. -- 1 Peter 3:2”
  11. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
  12. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 32:17: work--the effect (Pro 14:34; Jam 3:18). peace--internal and external.”
  13. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 2:15: fear of death--even before they had experienced its actual power. all their lifetime--Such a life can hardly be called life. subject to bondage--literally, "subjects of bondage"; not merely liable to it, but enthralled in it (compare Rom 8:15; Gal 5:1). Contrast with this bondage, the glory of the "sons" (Heb 2:10). "Bondage" is defined by Aristotle, "The living not as one chooses"; "liberty," "the living as one chooses." Christ by delivering us from the curse of God against our sin, has taken from death all that made it formidable. Death, viewed ”
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