Caleb Harrelson
[Originally published as “Your belief is just fear-based”]
A lot of New Age people and skeptics like to say some of these fallacious claims:
“Oh, you just have that belief because of fear.”
If we view God as punishing the wicked and rewarding only those that have trusted in Christ, it’s because we have a toxic view of God. (Rohr and Bell argue this way)
“I see no reason to believe there is a God since this belief only came from our desires to stop worrying.”
Many unbelievers (especially New Age) are taught to actively avoid people they view as toxic. Should we avoid abusive people? Yes. Physical, emotional, and mental abuse are wrong. Scripture affirms this. However, disconnected from a consistent biblical worldview that determines what is good, many have redefined the word “toxic” to mean anything that may be perceived as negative or “negative energy,” any talk of sin, shortcoming, failures, God’s judgment, heaven or hell, or just feeling frustrated. To a New Age believer and many progressives, these things are all defined as “toxic.” Thus, this view ends up sheltering this person from people who may have different views because these “toxic” views or “energy” are considered dangerous.
However, these claims cause a person to continue avoiding the issue. Simply claiming that a person’s position can’t be true because of it’s origin or motivation is called the “genetic fallacy.”
The Fallacy Detective puts it this way:
The genetic fallacy is another personal attack fallacy. It is called “genetic” because it addresses the genesis, or beginning, of something. The genetic fallacy is different from ad hominem because it does not attack the person making the argument. It attacks the place where the argument came from. The genetic fallacy is condemning an argument because of where it began, how it began, or who began it. (The Fallacy Detective, pg. 49.)
Furthermore, a god of all love and no wrath and justice is not a good god. It’s toxic to worship a god that does not punish evil and is ultimately indifferent to injustice. Something that induces fear isn’t therefore false. I’m afraid to run off the side of the Grand Canyon, but that doesn’t mean it’s a valid response to say, “Oh, your belief of the dangers of falling off the Grand Canyon are simply fear-based, therefore you should reject it.” That’s nonsensical.
I believe that Jesus has risen from the dead for good historical reasons and not simply out of my fear of heaven and hell. Jesus spoke a lot about heaven and hell and since there are excellent reasons to believe that He is God, so I’m going to trust him. My feelings about it don’t matter. The truth is what matters. For more on the historical evidence, I encourage my readers to watch my video about the resurrection of Jesus.
I urge New Age believers and skeptics not to avoid the issue of the resurrected Savior, Jesus. Don’t be afraid to fully investigate the historical claims about Jesus. Jesus has truly risen and if you look at the evidence, I think you will see just that! If Jesus has risen from the dead, it is actually toxic (not good for you) to avoid your core issue: apart from repenting of your sin and trusting in Christ alone, you are at war with God (Romans 8).
BUT God, who is rich in mercy, sent Christ to pay for your wicked rebellion against him and offers grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all those who will trust in Him (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Instead of trying to fix yourself with a never-ending burden of trying to be positive enough or improve yourself enough, you need a new heart (Ezekiel 36). You need the perfect righteousness of Jesus credited to you. You are NOT enough and that’s ok. Jesus IS enough.
For all those who trust in Jesus alone, He will take away your guilt before God forever! He will reject any who truly come to him in humble trust (John 6:37).
For those that are in Christ, there is “therefore NO CONDMENATION.” (Romans 8:1). Thus, you can continually dwell on the goodness of Jesus’ imputed righteousness, rest in Him and stop striving to manifest goodness on your own.
Jesus said “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Trust Him!
