Fear God, Not Man
Pursue a life of Godliness through a Christian education at GCU.
Written By
Kate Webber
Professional Writing Student
Pursue a life of Godliness through a Christian education at GCU.
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Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator of Spiritual Life on Dec. 11, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
We get afraid all the time. Everyday. Fear is recognized as a basic human emotion and one of the eight core emotions. Some of which are: happiness, sadness and anger. There are various translations of the Bible that say the phrase “Do not be afraid” or “fear not” over 100 times. Why does this matter? Why so much emphasis? Why would God allow such a fearful world? Scripture guides the answers to these questions, providing us with the origins of fear and the way to overcome it.
The root of the word “fear” comes from the Greek word φόβος (phobos), which translates most accurately to the traditional understanding of panic, terror or dread.(See disclaimer 1) Interestingly, there is also a popular Greek word for “fear,” which is δέος (deos), translating to fear, dread, as well as awe and reverence.(See disclaimer 1) Both mean “fear”.
From a Christian point of view, these two Greek words accurately define fear. Humans can have unhealthy fear in the form of anxiety, but are also commanded to have the healthy fear of God. When we have sinful fear, we feel panicked because we are putting our awe into something that isn’t God.
Humans are biologically wired to experience fear in response to a potential threat. Whether the threat is imaginary or real, we feel it emotionally and physically. Certain fears are learned. For example, being afraid of a particular animal. However, there are fears that humans have that keep us alive, like the fear of heights or drowning.
The only thing the scriptures say that we should be afraid of is God. This is a hard concept for unbelievers to understand. Why would God want us to be afraid of Him? There is an illustration that makes this easier to comprehend. If a parent is attempting to discipline their child, but the child does not listen because they are not at least the slightest bit afraid of the parents, the child will never obey and never learn. It is the same with our relationship with God. He is our father, and He wants us to obey His commands. People choose not to follow God because they do not believe in Him or His power.
The fear of God is a healthy fear because when we fear Him, we obey Him, and in doing so, we fulfill His plan for our lives. Why should we not fear the almighty God, the one who spoke the whole universe into existence in seven days? We, His creation, should be fearful of the eternal consequences of not following our creator.
Because Jesus was human, He did experience every emotion that humans feel, including fear. While there are no direct scriptures describing Jesus’ fear, we can infer that even though He felt every emotion, He never sinned. So, when Jesus was fearful, He chose to surrender it to the Lord and not allow the fear to turn into anxiety. Jesus knew He would be crucified and had many chances to run leading up to His arrest out of fear. Instead, Jesus chose to trust God and ultimately fulfilled His purpose: to be an atonement sacrifice for humanity’s sin.
Most of the time, “do not be afraid” is much easier said than done. Christians should not fear because Christ has already conquered evil, and if we are saved, we have eternity with God to look forward to. No matter what evil we encounter in this world, Christ is more powerful.
Another reminder when feeling afraid is that the Lord is sovereign above all things here on earth. Even the things that are more powerful than us and are out of our control are not more omnipotent than our God.
The best way to avoid sinning out of fear is to grow closer to God, for He is the opposite of evil and desires to see you develop the fruits of the Spirit, living your earthly life in reflection of Him. There are certain tricks that can pull you out of a state of fear when you feel trapped.
Here are a few:
Fear is a weapon that the enemy uses to distract you from God and make you doubt His sovereignty. This emotion can lead you toward God or away, depending on how you choose to respond to it. God tells us in scripture that He wants us to fear His discipline because a life on earth that follows the Lord’s commands is a life that will carry on into eternity with Him.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Have you ever wondered why the bible says “Do not be afraid” so many times? It’s because the Lord wants His people to take comfort in Him and His divine power in a world of fear and uncertainty.
