Over the past week this quote/interview has come to mind multiple times so I thought today I’d offer it up for discussion…

Göring: Why, of course, the people don’t want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.

Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy, the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.

Göring: Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.

It’s from Gustave Gilbert’s Nuremberg Diary (1947). Here Gilbert interviews Goring before he is executed for his part in Nazi atrocities.

Fear is powerful and sadly we keep falling for it over and over and over again. We study history to learn to not repeat mistakes. Somewhere there is obviously a disconnect.

(The video was causing me some problems so I moved it.  Here is a link to it.)

Here's yet another video that someone has sent me dealing with the election.  At first I thought it was kind of cute but the more I've sat here and thought about it, the more it bothers me.  What bothers me is the level of fear that we walk around with and how easy it seems for people to be manipulated.

Where does it come from?
What are we watching that drives it?
Are scenarios and stories fed to us daily to keep us listening or watching? (living in a state of fear)
Does the news media use fear and the hook of the unknown to keep us coming back for more?
How does this affect our worldview?
How does it affect the way that we interact with our neighbors?
Are we closed off to each other because we have just learned to be suspicious and afraid?
Do we purchase out of fear?

I came across this quote in a book I read recently:

And I guess there are all kinds of fear.

Fear of being different, Fear of being harmed, Fear of not being able to have what we want, Fear of change, Fear of life becoming tougher, Fear of being hurt emotionally, Fear of having to put others first, etc.

So…what are some other kinds of fear being perpetuated in our society?

Who or what is driving them?

What does it mean to be a Christian and live without fear?

Should fear of a changing world or nation change our worldview when we are called to do what Jesus would do before any allegiance to another group, organization or nation?

I have caught myself saying over and over again that, "The beauty of the kingdom of God is that it doesn't matter who is in charge.  We are called to do the same things no matter when or where we live."

So what are you afraid of?  How does it effect your decision making?

Peace ~

William