Fear of Offending Others
Definition of FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real)
- An unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger and accompanied by increased autonomic activity.
Definition of Ashamed
- Embarrassed or guilty because of one’s actions, characteristics, or associations.
- Reluctant to do something through fear of embarrassment or humiliation.
16. Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
22. And you will be hated by ALL on account of My name (Yahshua – YAHWEH is Salvation), but the one enduring to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 10:16 and Matthew 10:22 (HRB)
In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.
Many believers struggle with the fear of offending others with their faith in YAHWEH and Yahshua and being hated for it. This fear causes numerous believers to constantly worry or be overly concerned with how others perceive them. Fear leads to anxiety, and anxiety produces more fear. Unfortunately, for most, this combination is lethal and paralyzing. This combination can prevent you from expressing your faith and cause you to feel isolated from others who do not share your beliefs.
Being trapped in this fear hinders believers’ ability to embrace and live out their faith and beliefs. YAHWEH has charged each believer to live a set-apart life (1 Peter 1:15-16) and to spread the good news of salvation to the world (Mark 16:15). Therefore, as believers, this type of FEAR is incompatible with our faith. It is important to remember that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions, and sharing your faith respectfully and without fear is perfectly acceptable. By embracing and practicing your faith openly and being true to yourself, you can find comfort and strength in your faith and may even inspire others to join you as a BBB (Bible Believing Believer). Remember, it was Yahshua who sent us out among wolves, so we need to be wise in our movements around them.
Speaking Your Faith
7. For YAHWEH did not give a spirit of cowardice (fear) to us, but of power and of love and of good discipline.
8. Then do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Master, nor of me, His prisoner. But suffer hardship with the good news, according to the power of Elohim,
In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.
When YAHWEH places it upon your heart to share your faith or testimony with another person, it’s essential to have faith that YAHWEH will provide you with the strength, love, and fortitude you need to do so effectively. Sometimes, feelings of cowardice or nervousness may arise, and you might become ashamed, but it’s crucial to recognize that these emotions are coming from yourself or Ha-Satan, rather than from YAHWEH. So instead, trust in His guidance and believe in the power, love, and good discipline YAHWEH placed in you to spread His message confidently. Remember that YAHWEH is always with you, supporting and empowering you every step of the way.
In 2 Timothy 1:8, Paul emphasizes to Timothy that he must not allow himself to feel ashamed of the testimony of Yahshua. Paul knew that the plan of YAHWEH for salvation through Yahshua seemed foolish and unconventional to many and that following a crucified Master and proclaiming Him as savior was not popular. Despite this knowledge and the challenges and persecutions that would come with it, Paul understood that this was the only way for lives to be transformed and souls redeemed. So, Paul never wavered in living out his faith and urged Timothy, and now us through the living word of YAHWEH, to do the same. It is imperative that we rid ourselves of any feelings of shame or embarrassment towards Yahshua so that we can openly and freely share the good news with others. When we feel ashamed of something, we tend to conceal it, distance ourselves from it, or even try to mask it to avoid negative attention or criticism. In order to truly embody the teachings of Yahshua, we must let go of any shame or fear and embrace our faith with confidence, conviction, and certainty.
My wife and I recently purchased a flip phone for our teenage daughter to use in case of emergencies and for us to reach her. However, to our surprise, she acted like it was the worst thing ever. My daughter felt ashamed and embarrassed to have it with her and petrified of the social woes she would face if she used it in public. She would turn the ringer down or off and hide far away from her friends when talking on it, fearing that someone would see her using it. Unfortunately, my daughter’s embarrassment never faded but grew into disobedience. She started intentionally leaving the phone at home and pretending not to know its whereabouts. As with my daughter, being ashamed will increase if not dealt with and will override your sense of obedience to YAHWEH. You don’t want to get to the point where you are so ashamed of the good news of Yahshua that you fall into disobedience.
We mustn’t allow shame to fester and hinder us from sharing the good news. As faithful followers, it’s our obligation to spread the message of salvation with pride and openness to all who are willing to receive it. It’s a responsibility we must fulfill without any hesitation. It’s essential to keep in mind that we all deserve the love and redemption that comes with accepting the good news.
Living Out Your Faith
32. Then everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in Heaven.
33. But whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny him before My Father in Heaven.
In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.
We become somewhat useless and powerless when we don’t let go of the fear, ashamedness, and anxiety of living out our faith. How are people to know who you are and what you stand for if you are not living or willing to live by the scriptures, hiding who you are, scared to be a witness, scared to tell your testimony, and afraid to live in obedience to the word of YAHWEH for the risks or fear of offending others. We’re not supposed to blend in, fade into the background, or be indistinguishable from the world. We are 1 Peter 2:9 – “an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy people…that you should proclaim the praises of Him (YAHWEH) who called you out of darkness to His precious light.” Believers are set apart and meant to be different from others. We are to be a light to the world, illuminating the message and the ways of YAHWEH and the Messiah Yahshua through our lives for all to see. (Matthew 5:14).
Every BBBs (Bible Believing Believer’s) life should present indisputable evidence to the world – that they are undoubtedly a Believer in YAHWEH and His son Yahshua Ha-Mashiach.
Matthew 10:32-33 tells us that if we confess Yahshua before men, he will confess us to YAHWEH the Father in heaven. However, if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before YAHWEH the Father in heaven. This means that those who dissociate themselves from YAHWEH and Yahshua for the sake of family, relationships, friendships, wealth, popularity, or freedom(s) will be rejected by the Father. In other words, you refused association with Yahshua on earth through disobedience, therefore you will not be able to or be allowed to claim association with Him in eternity.
The World Lives Out it’s Faith
The world surely lives out its faith in self and the devil and flaunts it proudly with no shame for all to see. A smoker/vaper will blow smoke in your presence, the drunkard will drink and get drunk in your presence, the LGBTQ+ will take over a whole community and have a parade in your presence, and people will use foul language and tell nasty jokes in your presence, etc… But in the meantime, you are scared/ashamed to open your Bible in public, you close your Bible app when someone gets close, you feel awkward about sharing the good news of salvation, you rush through blessing your food, and you are afraid to use the personal name of our Father, “YAHWEH” etc. To add insult to injury, you sometimes join the world (James 4:4) by calling yourself a casual smoker, social or stress drinker, part-time cusser, little white liar, etc. But you never invite them to do or observe the things of YAHWEH.
I encourage everyone to live out their faith in YAHWEH. May YAHWEH bless you.
Scripture of encouragement to live out your faith.
1 Peter 3 13-18 with a focus on (15-16).
Acts 10:42
Matthew 5:16
Acts 1:8
1 Peter 3:15
Acts 22:15
Isaiah 43:10
Matthew 28:19
2 Timothy 2:1-3
Proverbs 14:25
By David Edwards