Fear and the Garden

I heard Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro talk on Ben's new show on The Daily Wire, and frankly, much of it was far too heady for me. 

I don't know what to make out of Jordan Peterson anymore. I was initially excited about him, and saw the possibility of him becoming a strong Christian voice like CS Lewis. But instead of becoming another "most reluctant convert" I often see only reluctance. But that's another story for another blog post. 

But he is interesting and certainly has a lot of very interesting and critical observations. 

For instance, he pointed out that none of us can really not be afraid of things that frighten us, nor can we learn to eliminate fear. If fear is a helpful, and even vital response in many cases, it would then make no sense to eliminate fear. What Peterson says he does as a therapist (what therapy is about in many cases) is about confronting your fear so you can learn how to overcome it. That is, so you can learn to live your life and do the things you want and have to do, in spite of your fear. 

It made me think of one particular scene in the Bible, where after the Passover meal, Jesus retreats to the Garden of Gethesmane and prays. If you don't recall the story, Jesus is overwhelmed with fear, fear about what is about to come next--humiliation, alienation, torture, and death. 

He even says so: my soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.  

He is so afraid that he actually sweats blood (which by the way, can actually happen to people who are severely afraid).  What's worse, all of his friends-- friends who saw his miracles, who left their families to follow him, who loved him--can't even stay awake during the night to keep him company. 

Now, in modern secular culture, people with only a superficial understanding of Christianity, often see Jesus as some kind of caricature superhero who will swoop in at the last moment and save the day, in this passage Jesus, who is grieved, and calling out his father for help while sweating blood, seems to fall short of that superhero image. 

So, what is actually going on here, then? 

I think it falls in line with what Jordan Peterson is saying about how to address your fears and live with them, and not let them control you. Jesus is giving us all the example how to do that. He is suffering, truly suffering, and saying essentially, if your will is for me to drink from this cup of judgment, then I trust your will, and your will be done. 

Isn't that how we should live our lives then? 

We can't avoid fear. Jesus didn't, and neither will we. But we need to face our fear, and with God's help, we need to walk towards our fear. 

It does seem like an impossible task at times. Totally impossible. 

Often there is humiliation, alienation ahead, and in darker times, there has also been torture and death, and with the human heart being what it is, there may be torture and death ahead again. 

But afterward, there is always a resurrection. 

Afterward there is a Kingdom, and true power, and glory. 

After all, Jesus did say to fear not for he has overcome the world. 

Maybe that is what we need to focus on to deal with fear in our world. 

Overcoming. 

Perseverance and trust help too. 

Hope, which is another way of saying it as well, as those with hope trust and persevere and eventually, overcome.