Two Basic Fears

Psychologists are at pains to point out that fear is different from anxiety. Fear has a specific object, whereas anxiety is a vague and unspecified apprehension.

What, I wonder, is your biggest fear? Benjamin Rank, a social scientist, says that there are basically two forms of fear: the fear of life and the fear of death. The fear of life is the fear of having to live as an isolated individual. The fear of death is the fear of losing individuality. He says: “Between these two fear possibilities, these poles of fear, the individual is thrown back and forth all his life.”

The first fear—the fear of life—is vividly illustrated by a small boy’s comment: “I suppose the reason for twins is because little children don’t like to come into the world alone.” The fear of life makes many retreat into illness. It is a refuge from responsibility. Freud found the cause of neurosis in the past—in childhood; Jung, a disciple of Freud, found it in the present. He said: “I ask, what is the necessary task which the patient will not accomplish?” Backing out of life’s responsibilities through fear of life is a major cause of problems.

But with many, it is the fear of death that paralyzes them. Our verse today reads, in speaking of Jesus, that He is able to “free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death” (Heb 2:15). Is it necessary to live under such servitude? Of course not. When Christ has all of you, then fear can have no part of you. It is as simple as that!

Further Study

1Co 15; 2Co 5:1; Jn 11:25-26

What is the hope of every believer?

Is this your hope?