Actually the above title should read “claustrophobia.” Slight spelling error, but not one without purpose. Claus is German; Klaas is English. We all know what claustrophobia means. To be claustrophobic means to be afraid of being closed in without any means of escape. Perhaps everyone more or less to some degree suffers from claustrophobia. Some of us start to sweat and develop breathing difficulties. Rapid, irregular heartbeat occurs. We may have to leave suddenly for wide-open places. It is not uncommon, I was once told, to develop claustrophobia in the pew during a worship service. Or on the pulpit ... I thought. Who knew?

In a clinical sense the word phobia means deep psychological fear. It is not a matter of just being a little afraid but of having excessive and irrational angst. It has been said that everyone has some kind of phobia. We are all deeply afraid of something. Some even suffer from multiple phobias.

In a different, non-psychological sense the word “phobia” is also found in the Bible. It is said, for example, of the shepherds in Ephrata’s fields that when they saw the herald angel in a brilliant light they were very afraid. I can understand that. Who can stand in God’s glory and survive? The original uses the words mega phobia. Great fear. But the angel says to the shepherds: do not be afraid. It is the liberating word of the gospel, “Do not be afraid.” No phobia.

Later these liberating words are also spoken at Easter, by another angel. The women who visit the Lord’s grave are told not to be alarmed or afraid (Matt 28:5). Apparently angels come to soothe us and remove from us our fears. Klaas likes this.

Do you have a Phobia?⤒🔗

I do not think that many are afflicted with Klaastrophobia. Not everyone equally appreciates the man and some may outrightly detest him, and perhaps deservedly so, but he is not really the object of any phobia, unless perhaps to himself.

There is a difference between worries and phobias. We must distinguish between the two. A “worry” is a common concern about things of daily life. Will the bus be on time? Or, if you never take the bus, do you have enough gas in the tank? We might be worried about things, sometimes, but the Lord warns us not to be anxious. The word that is used means always to be focused on something, to the point that it dominates your thinking and actions. The part of Scripture that tells us not to be anxious is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:25-24). It is a good piece to read together every week.

In recent times, however, the use of the word phobia has changed and its meaning has mutated. That is something which concerns me deeply. We need to be aware of this change so that we do not fall prey to a modern way of thinking. What used to be an irrational personal fear has now become a dangerous discriminating against others.

Islamophobe?←⤒🔗

More than once I come across the term Islamophobe in articles in newspapers or magazines. Here the word phobia has undergone a significant change. It means having an unnecessary fear of Islam or Muslims that leads to discrimination and perhaps persecution.

Whenever someone radically expresses concern about Islam or Muslims he is immediately branded as a phobe. Critics of Islam are simply Islamophobes, mostly misguided and sometimes sick. They are fanatics who may need to be eliminated by clerical fatwa or political death-sentence. They need to be treated as people who have an illness. It’s enough to make you back off: exit, stage right.

We must be made to understand that not all Muslims are zealous terrorists and that many are good and noble citizens. There is no reason to subject Islam to harsh criticism and see a bomb behind every mosque. Watch out for Islamophobic tendencies.

Okay. I hear you. But there are some points that need to be raised and hopefully understood. Islam is not innocent. Wherever Islam comes to dominance, Christians and others are persecuted. Discrimination may be wrong, but discretion is not. The Bible tells us to have proper discretion. It’s a keen insight into things and knowledge of how to deal with them. We need to know about all who would come to live with us that they accept and promote religious freedom.

Homophobe?←⤒🔗

As soon as someone speaks or writes against the practice of homosexuality, he is branded a “homophobe.” In this case it means that someone has an unreasonable fear of homosexuality and discriminates against gay people.

I’ll give you a true and concrete example to illustrate what I mean. A teacher was hired by a Christian school (board) and commenced his work at the school. By all accounts he was a very good teacher. However, in the course of time this person entered into a relationship with another man and they moved in together. The teacher was not shy about stating his view and defending his lifestyle.

The school board went into a discussion with the man, but he refused to amend his life. These refusals finally prompted the board to fire or dismiss the teacher, stating that this lifestyle did not show forth the “character of the school” as a Christian school.

To come to the point, a court case ensued with the gay teacher claiming that his rights had been violated. The judge agreed. The school board was severely reprimanded and fined. “Homophobia” is not allowed in any form. The teacher had to be rehired.

Xenophobe?←⤒🔗

Xenophobia is an irrational fear of strangers. You are afraid of someone simply because he looks and dresses differently. Now I am sure that every parent warns his/her child to be aware of strangers and not to go along with someone you do not know well. But xenophobia takes it one step farther: all strangers are to be mistrusted and avoided.

When I was still a child, my brothers and I were travelling home one day by bus from shopping with my mother. A stately Sikh gentleman, suitably attired with an impressive turban, offered each of us a nicely wrapped sweet. Quality Street. The look on my mother’s face already discouraged me from unwrapping the candy. At the next bus stop after the Sikh man had exited the bus, my mom told us to immediately throw the candy out of the bus. Since candy was not common immigrant fare, I sadly saw the sweets sail out into the street. Ever since, I’ve had this phobia about colorfully wrapped bonbons. That’s probably the exact time when my personal Klaastrophobia started.

It is important to note that in God’s law the “alien” (stranger) has the same basic rights (and public duties?) as any other member of the community. “You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD” (Num 15:14). There is only one law for all citizens. Now, the book of Numbers speaks about the theocratic state that Israel shall realize in Canaan. Even then the minority must be respected. There is to be no abuse of power. This is more important today because Christ has come into his royal glory. Tell this to the grand Mullah.

From his side, the stranger also had to respect the existing law. Today this is very important. There is one law for all citizens. There is not one law for certain religions (let’s say Sharia law) and another law for other religions (let’s say, common law). Many groups in society may have their own rules and traditions, but there is one law for all. This is the best antidote against xenophobia.

The True Fear←⤒🔗

I reserve the right to be against Islam, without being called an Islamophobe. I reserve the right to be against homosexuality, without being branded as a homophobe. I also reserve the right to be wary of strangers without being considered a xenophobe.

When it comes to “fear” in the right sense and proper context of the word, I am reminded of what is written in 1 Peter 2:17, “Show proper respect to everyone: love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, and honour the king.” Here a biblical balance is presented. The only person I need to fear is God himself.

Notice that the Apostle first sets his scope wide. Show proper respect to everyone. People around us should be respected, according to their position and calling. A judge is called “your honour.” All rise.

(Actually people have to rise when the jury enters the courtroom; the jury is the highest authority.) But we need not slavishly bow to anyone: show proper respect.

The “brotherhood of believers” is the community of Christians, heirs with you of the grace of God. Paul here speaks about church fellowship, the communion of saints. Now the word is “love.” This is a step farther. We are to respect everyone, but love the believers.

Then we read: fear God, honour the king. It’s never the other way around: honour God, fear the king. Some people are more afraid of the government than having a sincere fear of God. But God alone is to be feared. Here the word “phobia” is used.

In this context it means that we deeply love God, acknowledge him as sovereign Lord and Creator, and also understand that he is greatly to be feared. In Hebrews 10:31 we find this warning, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” This God, we also know, has laid all our sins on the shoulders of Christ, our Saviour. He is a loving God. But do not underestimate his righteous wrath and judgment. We are to fear God!

And then we must remember to honour the king. No more. We render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar. For Christ’s sake we must honour the king. Rulers must be given every honour that comes with their office, even when the government is plain-out nasty and persecutes Christians. God will avenge, says the Bible. Actually, to evil kings applies the word that it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. It is first a word to the oppressors and then to the believers.

All we need to do is fear the Lord. No phobia in the modern sense of the word, but a deep and healthy respect. This fear is the beginning of wisdom. We take God at his word.

Sometimes I read that the expression “the fear of God” does not mean being afraid of God. Okay, fine. But true fear includes the understanding that God is mighty in judgment. He will by no means clear the guilty. He did not spare his only-begotten Son. We need to go to God in the Name of his Son and be found in him. We need to break with our stubborn sins and begin a new life. Only then does “the fear of God” not include phobia.