Be Not Afraid

As we approach the anniversary of September 11th, I keep reading

Republican speeches that are expressly designed to make people afraid.
As a Christian, I can’t help but remember the following verse in the
New Testament:
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. – I
John 4:18

As we approach the anniversary of September 11th, I keep reading
Republican speeches that are expressly designed to make people afraid.
As a Christian, I can’t help but remember the following verse in the
New Testament:
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. – I
John 4:18

In Greek text, the word torment translates into Modern day English as
“Worry” and the word “perfect” translates as “Complete”.
So a more up-to-date translation of I John 4:18 verse would be: “There
is no fear in God’s love, because complete love removes fear since fear
signifies worry. He that worries is not complete in God’s love.
With this understanding, I have to question the motives of any
politician, who uses fear as a tool as a means to get reelected. In the
gospel of John, Christ tells us the following:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.—John 10:10
Regardless of anyone’s interpretation of who the thief is, Christ makes
it very clear that he is about a more than abundant life, NOT killing
and destruction.
Therefore, I also have to question the motives of any politician that
who supports war, killing and destruction, especially if they call
themselves a Christian.

Christ also testified to the following in
Matthew 7.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good
tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits
ye shall know them. – Matthew 7:15-20
Christ tells us that we are to know a man by his fruits. In Galations
and Ephesians, we are told what these fruits are.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,–Galatians 5:22
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth; — Ephesians 5:9
It does not take a rocket scientist to comprehend these teachings.

So
how can we, as good stewards of Christ, justify voting for any
politician who advocates violence, destruction and poverty?
How can we be good Christians and continue to elect politicians who
call themselves “men of God” and then continually enact legislation
that give to the rich and take from the poor. How can we stand on God’s
word and turn a blind eye to the reality of what is happening in our
world today?
We can’t. We must act. We must follow the words our Lord spoke unto his
apostle Paul……
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid,
but speak, and hold not thy peace: — Acts 18:9