Fear vs Faith (from The Meaning of Faith)

Fear does not reveal its disastrous consequences to the full until it colors one’s thoughts about the source and destiny of life. Folk work joyfully at a picture-puzzle so long as they believe that the puzzle can be put together, that it was meant, completed, to compose a picture, and that their labor is an effort made in reasonable hope.

Fear hides its damaging consequences until it negatively convinces one’s thoughts about life’s power and purpose. As long as I believe all parts to a puzzle are in the box, I will work with all reasonable hope and joy to completely assemble the puzzle’s picture.

But if they begin to fear that they are being fooled, that the puzzle is a hoax and never can be pieced together anywhere by anyone, how swiftly that suspicion will benumb their work! So joyful living depends on man’s conviction that this life is not a hapless accident, that a good purpose binds it all together, and that our labor for righteousness is not expended on a futile task without a worthy outcome.

But once I fear pieces are missing I feel fooled, like the puzzle is a hoax, so I may swiftly give up all hope and lose interest in completing the puzzle. The joy of being active in life requires a sense one’s purpose in their activity will bring about a worthy outcome. That a good purpose binds conviction to our activities with joyful living. We must not feel our righteous activities in life are worthless or futile tasks that lead nowhere.

But fear blights all such hope; it whispers what one pessimist said aloud: “Life is not a tragedy but a farcical melodrama, which is the worst kind of play.” That fear benumbs worthy living, kills hope, makes cynical disgust with life a reasonable attitude, and with its frost withers all man’s finest aspirations. Only faith in God can save men from such fear.

Fear obstructs all hope; it numbs worthy living, kills hope, implants cynical and disgusted thoughts into one’s life attitude, rotting away man’s noble aspirations. Only God can save men from such fear.

Fear or faith – there is no dilemma so full of consequence. Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable – and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.

Fear or faith – there is no choice so significant to one’s life. Fear imprisons, paralyzes, disheartens, sickens and makes useless. Faith liberates, empowers, encourages, heals and makes serviceable. Most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.

The Meaning of Faith - Paths and Moods

By Harry Emerson Fosdick

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