Is it a sin to be afraid? This was a question recently asked of me by a young woman in jail awaiting trial. She has been told that she may be facing several years in federal prison. She is only 28, she has young children, and the father is also facing charges. And so for many reasons she is afraid. Afraid of the sentence, afraid of not seeing her children grow and of their future, afraid of what the future holds. Another inmate told her her fear was sinful and showed a lack of faith. Is it a sin to be afraid?
What sayest thou?
The New Testament does sometimes speak of "the fearful" in the same breath as "murderers" and other persons whose behavior is unquestionably sinful. These fearful persons, it would seem, are "cowards". However, "the fear of God" can inspire us to avoid sin. In the case of this young lady, it sounds like her fear is pretty normal. It is sad that she and her husband were unable to think through their behavior prior to acting in such as a way so as to make them liable to these consequences. There also seems to be a fear which is related to concupiscence - not sinful in and of itself, but tending toward sin.
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