“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Prov. 29:25
“Overcoming the Fear of Man” by Craig Cabaniss at the WorshipGod09 Conference
A. The language of “fear”
“‘Fear’ in the biblical sense is a much broader word. It includes being afraid of someone, but it extends to holding someone in awe, being controlled or mastered by people, worshipping other people, putting your trust in people, or needing people…However you put it, the fear of man can be summarized this way: We replace God with people. Instead of a biblically guided fear of the Lord, we fear others.” (Ed Welch, When People are Big and God is Small, p.14) “Such fear becomes a snare when it gets to the point of letting others control your life- their opinions and attitudes put subtle pressure on you, even hindering you from speaking the truth or doing what is right.” (Tremper Longman, EBC- Proverbs, p. 232, quoting Whybray)
B. Fear of man is idolatry
1. Prov. 29:25 contrasts trusting God with fearing man.
2. At a basic level, the “fear of man” is replacing God with people. It is a worship problem.
C. People-pleasing is another way of understanding the fear of man.
1. Desire for approval (see also Matthew 6:1-6, 16-17) “They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.” Matthew 23:5-7
2. Fear of rejection “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:42-43 (NIV: “they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”)
Overcoming the Fear of Man – Craig Cabaniss
WorshipGod09 Conference: From Generation to Generation
© 2009 Sovereign Grace Ministries
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