Public Speaking Is Dangerous

By Andrew Ready

There are many things that we can be afraid of. According to Laurie Panlik-Kienten (web site, 2007), the nine most common fears are:

1. Bugs, mice, snakes, bats and spiders;
2. Heights;
3. Water/drowning;
4. Public transport;
5. Storms;
6. Closed spaces;
7. Tunnels and bridges;
8. Crowds; and
9. Public speaking.

The Bible speaks about our fear. It says that Jesus came and died so that He could ‘release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage’ (Heb 2:15). In our list of most common fears, death is not listed as a specific fear. Is public speaking inherently dangerous that it is such a common fear? Do we fear being on public transport, or hit by it? It begs the question then, what is this ‘death’ that we fear?

With any form of ‘death’ comes loss, whether loss of something loved, or loss of something of ourselves. Fear of public speaking, for example, is related to fear of losing credibility, image, self-esteem, or control. We all fear loss of control, either of our situation, possessions, or body/mind. Because such fears are related to the loss of some part of our lives they can be included in the overall fear that the Bible calls the ‘fear of death.’ For instance, if my credibility is diminished I will feel that a significant part of my life has been lost.

1 John 4:18 says ‘there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.’ What is this perfect love? ‘God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.’ (1 John 4:16). Another passage in the Bible says, ‘you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ (Rom 8:15).

God has come to free us from the fear of death that holds us in bondage. Love frees us from fear, and this love is God Himself. Only the very life of God can free us from the fear of death. When God’s life and love ‘abides’ in us and we ‘abide’ in God, then we are freed from the fear of death. We are no longer in bondage but we are sons of God – this is what the scripture means when it says we have the Spirit of adoption and cry out ‘Abba Father.’

In relation to our nine top fears, the Bible has this to say: ‘For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us’. (Rom 8:18) Spiders may still cause us to shriek, and public transport may not be our preferred option, but we no longer need to live in bondage to fear.

(Verses for further study 2 Tim 1:7; 1 John 4:9-10)