To Fear Death vs Fear Dying

I have posted this to both of my blogs this time.

As a Christian, I have the faith in God, that there is a promise of life not death upon the physical death.  This is a belief I find hope and comfort in.  The idea of death is not anxious creating but freeing, as a Christian. This relief extends not only to my own loss but to the loss of people around me.  Loss of someone you know can create a hole inyour existence.  A familiarity of presence is lost when someone dies. However, the trust in the promise that death has been defeated is greater.

I hear people talk about death anxiety but this is not what I feel.  It is not the death but the process of dying that can cause anxiety for me.  There are several ways that I absolutely do NOT want to die, given a choice.  For me, fire, beheading and drowning are my top three.  However, anyone of those three while dying for my beliefs as a Christian, I can take some comfort in.  Knowing that I would die for being a Christian is an honorable way to go, but the impact on those left can be extreme.

So what if I amwrong?  What if my beliefs and faith is flawed?  What then?  Do I need to fear and become anxious overdeath?  What is it is about death that some fear?  Prior to becoming Christian, I did fear death and dying.  I did not want to die and loose out what I could live out in life.  To die before I could get the most done was an anxious feeling to have.  I will loose out of getting and doing of all the things I could get done.  For others to die, it was a great loss to see someone not have a chance to do more and be more and be with me and do for me and me for them.

Do I have doubts?  Sure, from time to time I doubt.  My doubts allow me to question my beliefs and my faith.  To prove why I do believe what I do and to strengthen my faith.  If I am wrong, I have not lost anything.  I have done as much as I can in the name of Christ, in my faith.  This in turns allows much to be done for all and thus I did not loose out at all.  If I am right, then I have no fear of death and receive life.

“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.” 
― Paul Tillich

2 Comments

  1. Barb

    I would agree that I don't fear death, because of my belief in a life after death. But the idea of dying in a painful way is scary to me.It became more real to me after the death of my father. I tell myself that God will be with me to comfort me as I am dying, but sometimes the fear is stronger than the faith. That fear probably represents my doubts.

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