Religious Fear Tactics

• Fear stands in opposition to FAITH.

• Fear stands in opposition to LOVE.

• The Christian aim in life is unadulterated agape LOVE (1st John 4)

2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1st John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

• The ways and means of keeping believers in fear can be lengthy:

GOD

God is angry.

Jesus is conditional.

Holy Spirit will abandon you.

BIBLE                       

Must read it.

It is our manual and guide.

It must be lived exactly.

Must memorize.

We use it to beat each other.

CHURCH

Better join us

Better attend

Better serve

Better support with money and time

Better behave.

BELIEFS

Better believe exactly right or you’re in trouble

Better believe as “we” or “I” believe or you are in trouble.

Better concur with how the majority believe or you aren’t saved

SIN

If you do this you are in trouble.

If you do this you’re not a Christian.

This sin is permissible but these sins are not.

AUTHORITY

Don’t respect his (or my) authority you’re fighting God.

Don’t do what I say, you’re fighting God.

Fear if you find yourself fighting God.

I speak for God on earth.

HELL

Hell is forever and there is no getting out.

Don’t believe as we do, you’re going to hell.

Don’t live as we live, you’re going to hell.                                        

Don’t attend our type of church, you’re going to hell.

Commit this sin, you’re going to hell.

All of these can and are typically used to invoke and produce fear, which is antithetical to love.  And if antithetical to love, then a stumbling block to being a true Christian.