Fear is not a sin

Fear Is Not a Sin: It is a Call to Action, Edward T. Welch (New Growth Press, 2025) 

This new offering by Edward Welch might be better thought of as a one-to-one mentoring workshop rather than a book. It’s very short (easily read in an hour), but if the prompts at the end of each chapter are done with consideration and time, it becomes an in-depth bible study and personal reflection.

Welch addresses the misconception that to have fear (or anxiety) is sinful. So, he writes for those who have concerns that somehow, for Christians, it is wrong to worry. He states from the outset that “fear and anxiety are not sinful. Left unattended, however, they can be dangerous.” (p3). And that’s the point. As believers, it’s what we do with fear and anxiety that matters: 

“When you hear the “commands” about fear and anxiety
Scripture, at least do this: Stop and listen. Jesus cares deeply about your fears, and he is going to say something important to you.” (p6)

The reality is that God knows that we have fears and concerns: 

“Scripture assumes that we live with fear and anxiety. We are weak people who can control very little. Our reputation, finances, loved ones, and even our lives are at risk every day. The Psalms are filled with human fears and anxieties—and these are words that the Lord asks us to speak to him. He actually wants to hear about our fears.”

God meets our fears with compassion and invites us to grow in faith, which will include having the courage to step forward in faith, confidence to trust that Jesus cares, and resting in him.

At the same time, periods of worry are also times to be alert. We can ask ourselves, in this situation, did I turn to the Lord or not? Turning away may look like disobedience, complaining or silence. Are these worries a sign that my desires have become too big? Are they turning into idols?

The book presents a mini-theology of worry and how to think about it. As it is so short, it stays at a general level and there aren’t many practical examples of what it actually means to live this way. I found it hard to grasp onto at points. Therefore, the real benefit would be the time spent in the exercises at the end of each chapter, which lead you to reflect on scripture and write responses to it.


I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review