False Fears, False Cures

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Ignorance, being darkness, is full of false fears. In the night time men think every bush a thief. Our forefathers in time of ignorance were frighted with everything; therefore it is the policy of popish tyrants, taught them from the prince of darkness, to keep the people in darkness, that so they might make them fearful, and then abuse that fearfulness to superstition; that they might the better rule in their consciences for their own ends; and that so having entangled them with false fears, they might heal them again with false cures.

~ Richard Sibbes, The Soul’s Conflict With Itself, and Victory Over Itself By Faith.

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Do we know those around us who have been “healed” with false cures? Do we know of lies told to our families and friends that have held them in fearful ignorance? Perhaps you, yourself, are holding on to some false cure? Perhaps this was from some genuine threat, or perhaps a false one?

In his day, Richard Sibbes saw the power that tyrants had through ignorance. The power of fear was used to great effect in his day. Fear, which can make grown men walk swiftly, or dart their eyes from side to side, and in large doses make them go mad.

This force has always been used by evil people. They manipulate this fear best through ignorance. They gain power over poor souls as a horror story gains sway in a child’s mind. They can run their subjects like race horses with blinkers. They can make men drudge on through their existence, always giving the platitude “It could be worse.” They can make a child turn against his father and mother, and a neighbor report neighbor.

Through fear, kingdoms have crumbled.

Through fear, souls are kept enslaved.

So, what do we do with these false fears and cures? How does their sway over us break?

The devil kept humanity enslaved through the fear of death. Jesus broke their bonds by destroying death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Destroy the fear, genuine or fake. Expose the lie. Expose poor souls driven in darkness for decades to the light of truth. Help them see Him who died for them – even in the smallest of ways.

One of the best things we can say: “Could an alternative possibly be true…?” Walk with them down their minds’ street, and shine a light on each bush they’ve been so fearful of. See what is there. If nothing, you have exposed the lie they were enslaved to. If something, show how Jesus meets that challenge.

You can read the works of Richard Sibbes here for free: https://standingbeforegodblog.wordpress.com/the-works-of-richard-sibbes-vol-1-7/