Fear Mongering?
It has been a frustrating week. School has been in session for the 2024-25 school year for less than a month. Already, on Tuesday and Wednesday we were on “soft lockdown” because someone had threatened violence against several school districts in the area. I’m a mother and a grandmother, and believe me, I get it. It’s a terrifying world out there, and too many young lives have been lost or altered by shooters, attackers, and intimidators, bullies, and fakes. I use that last word carefully, because when it all goes down, we hope the threat comes from a fake instead of a serious perpetrator. As adults, our reactions to the messages are important. How do we respond to fear mongering?
Why Are We Afraid?
First of all, let me quote a few frightening statistics (USA TODAY):
- 23 schools (as of this moment) across the nation have been impacted by gun violence since the start of 2024.
- The 23 school shootings in 2024 have resulted in 11 deaths and 38 injuries,
- A total of 488 people were either killed or injured in a school shooting in the last six years.
In light of all this, it is no wonder why parents and guardians and even school personnel cower at the threats that come by mail, phone, or social media.
Hitting Close to Home
This week, my community was plagued by a fear monger–not a terrorist or a shooter–just someone who wanted to cause panic to achieve a personal goal. The instagram message the person sent went like this:
“Nobody knows me but we’re shooting up the [name of the school] . We aren’t lying this time and we’re gonna hurt everyone. We have main targets on the 6th, 7th, 8th grade. We’re going to the elementary next. This is not a drill. We’re coming some day this week.”
A second message followed that named several students specifically. Then messages were posted for a couple more school districts. The farther it went, the more it sounded like a hoax.
Nevertheless, folks on social media immediately began posting the message and people began responding and forwarding. It turned into online hysteria. Parents from unthreatened school districts vowed to keep their children home until the culprit was caught. Others blamed the schools, the police, and the FBI for “not doing anything.” Still others used it to point a finger at Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
The result of most of the social media conversation was escalating fear. People were reacting in a way that caused the sender of the message–the fear monger–to achieve greater success. Unthreatened schools were locked down; threatened schools were canceled.
What We Don’t Know
Additionally, the social media accusation that nothing was being done was entirely untrue. It must be understood that it is not the job nor the responsibility of the police or the FBI to contact parents with every update. They were doing their jobs. Because they did, the ringleader has been caught and charged–a 16-year-old student either with a vendetta, or just the desire to get some time off school. That is not public knowledge right now. It doesn’t need to be.
How much of the general population understands that schools spend days and days training for active shooter events? Our faculty receives lectures, tests, and simulations so they are not trying to think things through in the heat of the moment. Appropriate equipment is provided by the school.
Law enforcement officers do not take things lightly either. Nor do our government agencies. Nor should parents and guardians. However, reacting in a spirit of fear and panic only teaches your children those same emotions. Criticizing the very individuals to whom you send your children on a day-to-day basis generates that same criticism from them. Fear breeds fear, and that is what the fear-monger feeds on.
What Do the Scriptures Say?
Are you a Christian? Live the scriptures, especially in front of your children:
1. Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
2. I will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4)
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
3. Of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1)
The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life-
of whom shall I be afraid?
4. He delivered me from my fears (Psalm 34:4-8)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
5. God is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46:1-3)
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
6. When I’m afraid, I trust in You (Psalm 56:3-4)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise-
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7. Under his wings, you will find refuge (Psalm 91:4-5)
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day.
8. They cried out to the Lord in their trouble (Psalm 107:28-30)
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
9. The righteous will never be shaken (Psalm 112:6-8)
Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
10. Do not fear; I am with you (Isaiah 41:8-10)
But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11. Worrying won’t add a moment to your life (Matthew 6:26-27)
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
12. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:33-34)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
13. You of little faith, why are you afraid? (Matthew 8:23-27)
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
14. Do not be afraid, Zechariah (Luke 1:12-14)
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.”
15. Do not be afraid, Mary (Luke 1:29-31)
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
16. Do not let your hearts be troubled (John 14:25-27)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
17. Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
18. Do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6-7)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
19. The Spirit of God does not make us timid (2 Timothy 1:7)
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
20. There is no fear in love (1 John 4:16-18)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Living in a Wicked World
Here is a last piece of practical advice from this scenario:
Sheriff Fred Abdalla, Jr. said that parents should be “vigilant” in monitoring their children’s social media activity, particularly Snapchat. Parents should tell their children that if they receive or view any type of threat on Snapchat or another platform, they should report it to their parents immediately and contact the [sheriff’s department]. Parents should also advise their children to refrain from sharing or reposting screenshots or threats they may have viewed, Abdalla said. They should make their parents aware of it immediately and contact the sheriff’s department.
“We, as parents, better wake up and be more vigilant about the type of social media platforms our kids are utilizing, the type of content that they’re viewing as well as sending via social media,” Abdalla said. “And the first time you look at your child’s phone shouldn’t be the day the sheriff’s department shows up at your door.”
Hard Words
(but I’m saying them anyway)
Yes, we love our children. We want to trust them. But children are only children. Sometimes they use poor judgment. Sometimes they make bad decisions. Sometimes they allow themselves to be pushed into things. As parents, grandparents, and guardians, we need to be willing to love them by doing the hard stuff, by crossing the privacy line once in a while to learn what they are up to–conversing with any new “friends,” visiting sites that may be harmful, sending or receiving suspicious messages, viewing inappropriate or violent material. Get the mindset: YOU ARE NOT THEIR BUDDY! They have buddies. They need a responsible, loving adult. Love your child enough to actively find out what s/he is doing. The result of not doing that could be criminal and/or dangerous. And do not promote fear-mongering on any level. “Perfect love drives out fear.” That is the correct response to fear-mongering. Give them Jesus instead of fear.
God bless you and keep you and your family safe.
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