Fear has paralyzed leadership. The rapid change in the world over the last seventy-five years has caught the religious completely unprepared. Let's put this statement in a little bit more light; Over six hundred years passed between the invention of the plow and the invention of the automobile. Yet, only sixty years have passed between the invention of the automobile and the space age. It is during this period of rapid change and growth that the whole model of religion was challenged by a culture (or counter-culture) that completely re-oriented the hearts and minds of humanity.

Before this period of change, many people were humbled by the lack of education and accepted the authority, teachings, and leadership of the religious leaders based on faith. By the mid1960s, the impact of enlightenment thinking was beginning to have its effect on the everyday people. From that point on every man, woman, and child of modern western civilization have been taught to question absolutely everything.

It is this "questioning" that as caught the "religious right" and their leadership unprepared and put not just religion, but spirituality in a defensive position. This world wide defensive posture had begun to sieze the the entire concept of a belief system. Religion in all forms, are simply unable to adapt to these changes fast enough. A part of society has been forced to either "water down," or homogenize itself. Because it is unwilling, or unable to retool and refocus fast enough to respond to the new demands of the modern intellect. The leadership is unable to "reeducate" their masses in such a way that they could respond to the changing criteria of the modern mind. As a result, they find themselves continuously on the "back foot," in a constant defensive position, struggling to find a way out.

Stifled by this fear, over the past fifty odd years, too many of these leaders have hidden behind inaction, using discretion, and prudence has their excuses. There IS a difference between fear and discretion. There IS a difference between fear and prudence. Fear IS NOT a virtue!

Look, even in the New Testament, the most common phrase in it is, "Do not be affraid." The most common phrase in the Old Testament is "Be not afraid." You don't believe me? Count it for yourself. Together in the Old and New Testament, this one phrase appears over 1,000 times. Do you think someone is trying to get a message across?