Fear!

by LittleToe 114 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  BrendaCloutier

  In AA one of the favorite sayings is "Fear and Faith cannot be present at the same time". Well, as I got more and more time clean under my belt I used to refute these untruths, especially as I experienced them.

  I found that Fear and Faith can live together. Faith is what gets us through Fear.

  Faith does not require one's believing in god, or Jesus, or a higher power. Faith is the belief that one can transcend the difficulties one is fearful of.

  My take on the Serenity Prayer

  100 Can I do anything about it
  105 If Yes, then go to 200
  110 If No, then go to 400

  200 Do I want to do anything about it
  205 If Yes, then go to 300
  210 If No, then go to 400

  300 Do something about it

  400 Forget about it

  Understanding what we have power or control over (very little) and what we don't is power unto itself and reduces fear.

  Hugs

  Brenda
• 

  Sunnygal41

  Xena, a PISCES!!! Ha ha!!! I shoulda guessed.............I have Pisces Rising and Moon in Cancer, but, my Sun is in Leo..........what threw me is how forthright you are.............but, yes, the yin/yang fishies can sure be confusing.........I'll not say anymore, cuz I don't want to hijack the thread.............even tho its killing me~~~
• 

  LittleToe

  Xena:

  sometimes we are just too afraid to dig deep enough to find out what that is.

  And perhaps that kind of fear is the most debilitating of the lot. It stymies progress.

  If our fear of something isn't necessarily crippling is it necessary to root it out? I wonder sometimes if the cure isn't worse than the disease.

  That would also be a judgement call. Either way you live with the consequences.
  Personally I'd rather walk a mile a free man (and bear the scars to prove it)
• 

  Deputy Dog

  LT

  I wonder, if, the amount we percieve that we are loved, could have a greater effect?

  Doesn't this then take things into the realm of the subjective and potentially irrational?

  It sure can. That's why it's so important to base your faith on scripture rather than feeling.

  In the case of fear of physical reprisals from parents (in the example that Xena suggested), we might remain in that hold-state without truly "knowing" anything.

  Sure!

  I would posit that perhaps fear of God, especially (but not exclusively) in connection with the schoolmaster of "the law", can lead us to God. However, once we have embraced that "love", fear subsides being replaced with familial affection.

  Agreed. In connection with that, did you see the Luther movie yet? There is a great seen where Luther gets caught in a thunder storm and fears God is shooting lightning bolts at him. This scares him into becoming a monk.

  D Dog
• 

  frankiespeakin

  DD,

  There is a great seen where Luther gets caught in a thunder storm and fears God is shooting lightning bolts at him. This scares him into becoming a monk.

  Which would make me think twice about anything Luther had to say about God. Fear is a great motivater,,to leave ration think behind.
• 

  Deputy Dog

  Well frankie, maybe you should watch the movie to see how he deals with that fear. Because the next scene is about how he deals with his irrational fear of God. He learns that God is not angry with him, he is angry with God.

  Could this be your case as well?

  D Dog
• 

  Deputy Dog

  frankie

  Becoming a monk did nothing to help Luthers fear, in fact it made it worse. Justification by the Catholic religion, or any other religion (including the Watchtower) can not help. It is only by faith in the work of Christ on the cross. It isn't in the org. of Christ.

  D Dog
• 

  LittleToe

  DDog:

  That's why it's so important to base your faith on scripture rather than feeling.

  So would you put that above a personal relationship?
• 

  LittleToe

  Also, are you remembering your audience here?
  Many have left a cult and are questioning the very foundation of belief. Just telling folks to believe in a book, which they have largely discounted/discredited, is unlikely to address indoctrinated fears. Many turn their back on it because of it's past associations.

  Then we have the "power encounters", such as some are experiencing especially in the Muslim world, where the Divine breaks in on them in a profound way. I had such an experience myself, and there are many times it has sustained me when "faith in a book" has not. As a Christian the book isn't the focus of our faith as the one whom is "the Word", surely?

  Another attitude might be: With Him in your corner, why fear? Hovever that surely doesn't mean that He's always in the ring with you (a misconception and unrealistic expectation that some perhaps seem to have)?
• 

  Deputy Dog

  LT

  So would you put that above a personal relationship?

  Without the scriptures, what Jesus are you going to have a relationship with, the Jesus of the Mormons?

  D Dog