The Driving Force Behind Our Actions

The Driving Force Behind Our Actions

A sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Randy K. Hammer – July 28, 2019

1 John 4:16b-21 GNT

We humans are funny creatures, aren’t we?  As much as we would like to think that we have evolved or progressed to enlightenment and rational ways of thinking and doing, much of what we do is dictated by baser, primitive, or irrational forces or motives.  We may sometimes point the finger at people in the news who have acted foolishly in one way or another and say, “How could he or she have been so stupid!”  While at the same time we may hold beliefs and opinions, which influence our own actions that are just as irrational and questionable.

I believe that behind all our actions in life, there is some driving force that leads us to choose one option over another, live our lives this way instead of that way, and react the way we do to current issues, and so on.  What is the driving force that dictates the way we invest – or don’t invest – in the stock market?  What is the driving force that causes us to look upon various ethnic groups the way we do?  What is the driving force that causes us to vote for one political party or candidate over another?

Again, as much as we might want to think that all of our decisions are based upon rational, calculated, mature reasoning, if we take a good look at ourselves won’t we have to admit that often they are not? 

How wonderful it would be, I have sometimes thought to myself, if we could always have a clear understanding of why we make the decisions that we make.  Reaching such a state where you are always and totally aware of why you say what you say and why you do what you do is an aspect of mindfulness and enlightenment that few of us ever attain.  And being able to have a clear understanding of the moment and why others may do and say what they do and say is a precious gift that I have coveted. 

In my years of ministry, there have been occasions when in the midst of conversations, committee or board meetings, or annual congregational meetings when others have said or done things that seemed to come from left field and left me completely bewildered about what in the world was going on.  I could name a couple of times right off the bat when someone exploded with rage in a very inappropriate manner at some insignificant issue.  At the time I was left in a state of shock and disbelief.  How I wish I had had the wisdom and the insight at the time to understand that the driving force behind those explosions was not the minor issue at hand, and it was not me personally, but rather, something else going on at the time in that person’s personal life or something from their past that resurrected itself, and that was the instigator of their action or reaction.

But as we think about all that is going on in our country and world today, we realize that there are also driving forces behind why people and parties and nations act the way they do.  When we study the reasons why different groups of people back different political candidates, parties, or platforms, we realize that there are driving forces behind the choices that may not always be rational.

Well, what got me to thinking about all of this was a recent article in TIME Magazine in which the author contends that the driving force behind much of the politics in America today is in one word fear.¹  The author states that a certain segment of Christianity is in support of much of what is taking place in America today, even though the character, habits, and actions of the candidates and party they support are totally opposite of what their faith teaches, because they are afraid to do otherwise.  Consider these current fears:

Fear of a woman being elected as president;

Fear of Hispanics taking over our country;

Fear that certain political candidates will take all our guns away;

Fear that our religious freedoms are in jeopardy -

These irrational fears and more have been played upon by politicians in order to sway our thinking and votes.  And we are in danger of allowing such fear to become the driving force behind both our beliefs and our actions.

Fear as such has long been used by those in power or those seeking power in order to influence and control people and their actions.  Some of you are old enough to remember the McCarthy era when people were made to fear that communists were everywhere, ready to take over our country.  In the period 1950–54, many of those accused by Senator Joseph McCarthy as being communists were blacklisted or lost their jobs, although most did not in fact belong to or having any ties to the Communist Party.  Thus, McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence. Of course, such would never happen in America today, would it?

And about the time that I began preaching, there was the campaign of atheist Madilynn O’Hara regarding the separation of church and state.  Fears were stoked that she was going to totally destroy religion in America and replace it with Atheism.  In the days prior to the Internet, people would send letters through the mail calling upon their friends to fight for their faith by opposing Mrs. O’Hara.  And even after the appearance of the Internet, and long after Madilynn O’Hara had died, I would still get emails about her saying she must be stopped. 

In past elections, the fear has been stoked that if certain candidates were elected, homes would be invaded, guns would be confiscated, and Americans would lose their right to bear arms (something we all know will never happen in America).  But out of fear, some people listened and voted accordingly.

All of this is to say that whether we realize it or not, at least some of our beliefs, convictions, and actions are based upon nothing more than fear.  We act the way we do because we fear that some dark or evil alternative will destroy us if we don’t.

But surely there is a better way to live our lives other than on the basis of fear.  The author of the TIME Magazine article noted earlier suggests that it is time for people of faith to step up to the plate and instead of acting and voting out of fear to do so “from a position of confidence – and faith.”  “The faithful should reject fear” as a basis for action, he contends.  We must let our faith, and long-held, tried-and-true convictions of our faith, lead us in the positions we adopt and the actions that we take.

The Apostle John also exposes the weakness of letting fear control our lives and suggests that the motivating force in our lives should be love.  “Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage. . . There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear” (1 John 4:17, 18).  If we can work toward letting love become the guiding, controlling force in our lives, then many of the fears that have bound us may lose their hold on us.

As an aside, Les Brown said, “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”  Fear as a controlling force in our lives can cloud and distort our thinking.  Fear can rob us of joy and blessings.  Fear can alienate and separate us from others.

Love as a controlling force, on the other hand, can lead to clarity, joy, harmonious relationships, and new friendships with those we may have in fact feared previously.

So, when we find ourselves in a conversation or a heated exchange over some hot-button topic; or when we think about politics and current issues; when we find ourselves getting worked up over those disturbing reports in the news; maybe we can stop and think and ask ourselves, “What is the driving force behind my beliefs, actions and reactions?  Am I responding out of fear?  Is fear – perhaps an irrational fear- the driving force behind my position or response?  Or am I acting out of love, confidence, and faith?”  May it be so.  Amen.

¹David French, “Evangelicals Are Supporting Trump Out of Fear, Not Faith,” TIME Magazine, June 27, 2019.