Can you remember the first movie you ever saw?  I can, it was The Absent-Minded Professor starring Fred MacMurray released in 1961.  It was on Turner Classic Movies over the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a movie with some memorable quotes. One of my favorites being near the end of the movie.

I know you must be asking yourself what does the Absent Minded Professor have to do conservatism, Keith? However, if you watch towards the end, Professor Brainard is in court and and on the stand. He delivers a very good speech on fear. The Professor says basically he doesn’t understand how we had become a nation of people consumed with all kinds of fear.  I find this interesting since it was released in 1961.

Today we live in a dangerous and troubled world.  We hear of terror attacks, wars, and natural disasters almost every time we turn on our TV or computer.  We have leaders telling us the economy will recover while at the same time using America’s financial difficulties  as an opportunity to take over  auto makers and banks.

What are the dangers of becoming a nation of people consumed by fear?  One need only to look to the rise of the fascist movement and Adolph Hitler to power in post World War I Germany.  When people are afraid they look for someone to ease their fear even if at times they have to give up some of their freedom from government intrusion.

This is where a lot of people are in America today. They will gladly give up some of their freedom in exchange for a promise of security.  It is in this way that a nation is brought low and may even fail.

The Old Testament contains the story of Moses sending spies into the promised land to scout out the people and the lay of the land. Of the twelve spies that were sent out, ten came back with an attitude of fear.  Only two come back with a positive report.  As a result, the people of Israel become filled with fear and end up wondering in the wilderness for forty years. This is a prime example of what happens when a people or nation become consumed with fear.

America is on the verge of this same type of destructive fear.  I know there are plenty of reasons to become consumed with fear.  However, if we are to survive as a nation, we must overcome our fears and protect our freedom no matter what the cost may be.

Deut. 20:3-4 says:

“Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

In these time of turmoil and uncertainties in America, I find great comfort in this passage.  We must not let fear, alarm, or terror consume us as individuals or as a people.  Instead we need to rest in the thought that our Lord is along side us ready to fight for us and to bring us victory over our enemies.

Once we put aside fear and stop being fainthearted we can become effective in the fight to restore our freedoms. This is the only way we will stop this nation from being destroyed by fear.  We must each of us discover a new boldness in facing our challenges. It is a time to stop letting our fears hold us back from speaking out and taking a stand. I don’t know what you will choose to do, but as for me I am going to continue to engage in the battle for our nation without fear.