From the Archives: Battling the Fear of Man

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is  seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. -Colossians 3:1-4

From the October 27th, 2025 Word From the Pastor:

Beloved Kinney,

Last week, I provided 30(!) possible manifestations of the fear of man. If you weren’t convicted, then you might need to grow in greater self-awareness OR think of other ways your fear of man manifests!

In this blog, I want to provide one vital way of battling the craving to be approved of by others; namely, root your worth in Christ. Colossians 3:1-4 helps us in this endeavor.

Rooting your worth in Christ happens when, by faith, you are reminded you’ve been accepted by a holy God on the basis of the finished work of Christ so that you are freed to forget yourself and find joy in the glory of who God is in Jesus.

Paul calls us to seek and set our minds on what’s above. When we care too much about what others think of us, we are seeking what is below rather than what is above. We are setting our minds and hearts on the worth we find from their approval, rather than the worth we HAVE in Christ.

Stop believing the lies that set your affections on things NOT above:

• “I NEED this person to think well of me.”
• “If only I got a little respect, then I would be happy.”  
• “If they just made me feel a little bit loved and valued, then I wouldn’t be so bitter.”
• “If I could just get a compliment every once in a while, I wouldn’t be depressed.”
• “For all that I do, I deserve a little bit of recognition.”
• “It’s just better not to share my struggles because I would be burdening people with them anyway.”

We need to stop believing lies that invade our minds which simply feed our craving to be thought well of in the eyes of people.  Replace those lies with the truth of who you are and what you have in Jesus. “Lord Jesus, I’m fully loved and valued and accepted and approved of by God because of you! What more do I need?? If I have you, I don’t NEED the approval of others. Let me know be ruled by it so that I can actually be freed up to love others and not use them for my selfish benefit.” Amen!

Love,
Pastor Josh