Day 25 – Freedom From the Fear of Man

The Call to Faithfulness

Today we come to a powerful truth that every follower of Christ must learn:

We cannot faithfully follow God while living for the approval of people.

The fear of man can be very powerful.

We can become afraid of:

what people will think.

what our family will say.

what our community will say.

what religious leaders will say.

what our friends will say.

what society will say.

And because of that fear, we can remain silent when faithfulness requires us to speak.

We can compromise when we should stand.

We can accept things we know are wrong simply because we do not want to cause trouble.

We can remain attached to traditions simply because challenging them feels uncomfortable.

We can even begin changing our understanding of the Gospel because we are afraid of how people will respond.

Paul asks:

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”

That question goes straight to the heart.

The Christian life requires us to decide whose approval will ultimately determine our obedience.

Whose Approval Do You Want?

Everyone wants to be accepted.

There is nothing strange about that.

We want our families to love us.

We want our friends to respect us.

We want our communities to accept us.

We want people to understand us.

Human relationships matter.

But there is a danger when human approval becomes more important than God’s approval.

Then we begin making decisions based on:

“What will they think?”

instead of:

“What does God say?”

The Christian life requires us to make a choice.

Will I live for the approval of people, or for the approval of God?

Paul Was Not Trying to Please People

Paul’s words are remarkably direct:

“If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Paul understood something important.

A servant of Christ cannot make human approval his highest authority.

If people love what we say, we are grateful.

If people disagree with us, we remain faithful.

If people praise us, we remain humble.

If people criticise us for faithfully following Scripture, we continue to stand.

Why?

Because our Master is Christ.

Paul was not called to change the Gospel according to the preferences of his audience.

He was called to proclaim the message God had entrusted to him.

That is the calling of every Christian witness.

Our responsibility is not to make the Gospel popular.

Our responsibility is to proclaim it faithfully.

The Gospel Cannot Be Changed to Please People

Paul’s statement comes in the context of the Gospel.

He had warned the Galatians about accepting a different gospel.

He wrote:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s judgement!” — Galatians 1:8

The message is clear:

The Gospel is God’s message.

We do not have permission to redesign it.

We cannot remove the parts people dislike.

We cannot add human requirements to make ourselves appear more religious.

We cannot change the truth simply because people reject it.

We cannot make the Gospel more acceptable by removing the call to repentance.

And we cannot make ourselves more religious by adding requirements that God has not given.

The Gospel must remain the Gospel.

Yesterday we considered the command not to add to or subtract from God’s Word.

Today we see another reason why that matters.

If we fear people more than we fear God, we may be tempted to change the message God has entrusted to us.

Jesus Warned About Human Approval

Jesus said:

“How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” — John 5:44

Human approval can become so powerful that it begins affecting our faith.

We begin asking:

“Will people accept me?”

rather than:

“Will God be pleased with me?”

We begin adjusting our convictions according to the people around us.

We become silent when we should speak.

We become uncertain when Scripture is clear.

We become willing to compromise because rejection feels too painful.

Jesus was warning about something deeper than popularity.

He was warning about a heart that becomes more concerned with human glory than God’s glory.

The Fear of Man Can Become a Prison

Imagine living every day controlled by other people’s opinions.

You cannot speak freely.

You cannot make decisions freely.

You cannot obey God freely.

You are constantly asking:

“What will they say?”

“What will they think?”

That is a prison.

The Gospel brings freedom.

The Gospel does not make us free to ignore people.

It makes us free from making their approval the master of our obedience.

We do not have to live controlled by human approval.

We can stand before God and say:

“Lord, I want to please You.”

A Message for the People of the East

This is especially relevant when faith is deeply connected with:

family.

culture.

community.

national identity.

religious tradition.

For many people, questioning inherited beliefs can feel almost like rejecting their family.

But there is an important distinction:

Following Christ is not the same as rejecting your family.

We can love our parents.

We can respect our grandparents.

We can honour our heritage.

We can appreciate our culture.

We can remember where we came from.

And at the same time, we can examine everything according to Scripture.

Our loyalty to Christ must come first.

Jesus Must Come First

Jesus said:

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” — Matthew 10:37

This is not a command to hate our families.

It is a statement about priority.

Jesus calls us to love our families, but our love for Him must come first.

If our family encourages us to follow Christ, we can rejoice.

If our family encourages biblical faith, we can be thankful.

But if family pressure asks us to deny Christ or reject His Word, we must choose Christ.

This is not rebellion.

It is faithfulness.

Christ is Lord.

His authority is greater than every human relationship.

What If People Reject You?

Following Christ may sometimes cost us relationships.

Some people may misunderstand you.

Some may accuse you of being:

extreme.

judgemental.

disrespectful.

old-fashioned.

rebellious.

divisive.

We must examine ourselves carefully.

If we are being criticised because we are arrogant, harsh, proud, or unloving, we should repent.

If our words have been careless, we should apologise.

If our attitude has been wrong, we should change.

But if we are being rejected because we are faithfully following Christ and Scripture, we should not abandon the truth simply to be accepted.

Faithfulness does not mean everyone will appreciate our words.

Jesus Himself was rejected when He spoke truth.

Paul experienced opposition when he proclaimed the Gospel.

The goal is therefore not to become people who enjoy opposition.

The goal is to become people who remain faithful when opposition comes.

Truth Must Be Spoken With Love

Freedom from the fear of man does not give us permission to become aggressive.

Paul tells us to:

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” — Ephesians 4:15

We can stand firmly without becoming cruel.

We can disagree without insulting.

We can correct without humiliating.

We can defend Scripture without attacking people.

We can proclaim the Gospel without treating those who disagree with us as enemies.

The goal is not:

“I will prove that I am right.”

The goal is:

“I want to remain faithful to Christ and help people see the truth of the Gospel.”

Courage must be joined with love.

Truth must be spoken with humility.

Courage Is Not the Absence of Fear

Sometimes we think courageous Christians never feel afraid.

That is not true.

Courage means doing what is right despite fear.

You may feel nervous.

You may feel uncomfortable.

You may worry about rejection.

You may not know how people will respond.

But you still say:

“I will follow Christ.”

Joshua was told:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

God does not promise that obedience will always be easy.

But He calls His people to trust Him and remain faithful.

Our courage does not come from believing that nothing bad can happen.

Our courage comes from knowing that God remains faithful even when obedience is costly.

Peter and John: We Cannot Help Speaking

After healing a man, Peter and John were confronted by religious authorities.

They were commanded not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name.

Their response was:

“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” — Acts 4:20

They were not trying to create unnecessary conflict.

They were not seeking attention.

They were not trying to insult the authorities.

They simply could not remain silent about Christ.

Their loyalty to God was greater than their fear of people.

Their example reminds us that there are moments when faithfulness requires courage.

Daniel Refused to Compromise

Daniel also provides a powerful example.

When a law was created that prevented him from praying to God, Daniel did not change his devotion.

Scripture tells us:

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed.” — Daniel 6:10

Daniel knew the consequences.

But he chose faithfulness over safety.

He did not become reckless.

He simply continued doing what he had faithfully done before.

Daniel teaches us:

God is worth obeying even when obedience carries a cost.

The Three Hebrew Men

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a similar choice.

They were commanded to bow before an image.

They refused.

They did not know exactly how God would deliver them.

Their response was:

“But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” — Daniel 3:18

But they knew one thing:

They would not worship the idol.

Their faithfulness was greater than their fear.

This is an important lesson.

Courage does not mean knowing exactly how God will respond.

It means trusting Him enough to obey.

The Idol of Human Approval

This connects directly with yesterday’s message.

Yesterday we spoke about idols of the heart.

Human approval can become one.

If we need people’s approval more than we need God’s approval, their opinion has begun to occupy a place in our hearts that belongs to God alone.

That is why we must ask:

Who am I worshipping?

If my life is controlled by people’s opinions, I may have allowed their approval to become an idol.

The answer is not simply to stop caring what people think.

The answer is to love Christ more.

When Christ becomes our greatest treasure, human approval loses its controlling power.

What About Religious Authority?

This is especially important in our journey through The Open Gospel.

We should respect godly leaders.

But no human leader is above Scripture.

A priest, pastor, bishop, teacher, preacher, or theologian can be wrong.

This does not mean that every leader is untrustworthy.

It means that every human teacher remains accountable to God’s Word.

Paul even warned that a message contrary to the true Gospel must be rejected, regardless of who delivers it.

Our ultimate authority is not:

“What did the leader say?”

It is:

“What does God’s Word say?”

The Berean Example

Remember the Bereans.

Paul preached to them.

They did not simply say:

“Paul is an apostle, so we must accept everything without examination.”

They searched the Scriptures.

Luke tells us:

“They examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” — Acts 17:11

This is not disrespect.

It is biblical maturity.

We should respect people.

But we must test teaching.

The Bereans teach us that genuine faith is not afraid of examination.

Truth does not fear the light.

We Do Not Need Everyone’s Approval

This can be liberating.

You do not need everyone to understand you.

You do not need everyone to agree with you.

You do not need everyone to like you.

You need to remain faithful to Christ.

If you know that you have spoken truthfully, lovingly, and according to Scripture, you can leave the results with God.

But Examine Your Heart

There is another danger.

Sometimes we say:

“I don’t care what anyone thinks.”

That can sound courageous.

But it can also be pride.

Christian courage is not arrogance.

We should still care about people.

We should still listen.

We should still accept correction.

We should still examine ourselves.

The difference is this:

People’s opinions do not control our obedience to God.

We are free from the fear of man, but we are not free from the command to love our neighbour.

What Does God Want From You?

At the end of the day, this is the question.

Not:

“Did everyone approve?”

Not:

“Was everyone happy?”

Not:

“Did I avoid criticism?”

But:

“Was I faithful to Christ?”

That is the question that matters.

We want to please people when doing so is consistent with faithfulness to God.

But when human approval and obedience to God come into conflict, Christ must come first.

Freedom to Speak the Gospel

If we are free from the fear of man, we can share the Gospel more courageously.

We can tell people:

We are sinners.

We need a Saviour.

Jesus died for our sins.

Jesus rose again.

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Christ is the only way to the Father.

We must repent and believe.

Jesus is Lord.

These truths may not always be popular.

But they are the Gospel.

And the Gospel is worth proclaiming.

We do not need to make the Gospel more acceptable by changing its message.

We need to proclaim it faithfully and lovingly.

Do Not Be Ashamed of Christ

Paul wrote:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” — Romans 1:16

The Gospel is not something we should hide.

We do not need to be ashamed of Christ.

And we do not need to dilute the Gospel to make it acceptable.

The Gospel is God’s power for salvation.

Therefore, let us proclaim it with humility and courage.

Let us love people enough to tell them the truth.

Let us trust God with the response.

The Invitation

Perhaps you have been controlled by the fear of people.

Or you are afraid of what your family will think.

Maybe you are afraid of what your community will say.

Perhaps you are afraid to question a tradition because you fear being misunderstood.

Or you have been silent about Christ because you fear rejection.

Maybe you have compromised something you know Scripture teaches because you wanted to remain accepted.

Or perhaps you have reacted in the opposite direction and become harsh, defensive, or argumentative in the name of defending truth.

Today, bring that struggle before the Shepherd.

Ask God to examine your heart.

Ask Him to remove fear.

Ask Him to remove pride.

Ask Him to remove the desire to win.

Ask Him to give you courage where you have been afraid to speak.

Ask Him to give you gentleness where you have been too harsh.

Ask Him to give you wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.

Ask Him to give you grace to love your family while remaining faithful to Christ.

Ask Him to help you respect people without allowing their approval to become your master.

And when you do speak, remember that the goal is not to defeat another person.

The goal is to remain faithful to Christ and, wherever possible, help people see the truth of the Gospel.