08/10/2024
Is Worrying a Sin?
Worry.
It’s a difficult emotional response to many situations in life that cause us to fear. I face this tyrant every day as I help people address the awful consequences of the dreaded, possible outcomes about which they ruminate.
Worry is a response to anxiety and fear. And while there’s no doubt that we should not surrender to its grip, it is certainly not a sinful act.
Lets look at scripture to see this…
““Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
Matthew 6:25, 27 NKJV
We see Jesus Himself appealing to His listeners - reasoning with them - entreating them to acknowledge that nothing is gained by worrying. Life is much more than these temporal elements that demand our concerns…
““So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
Matthew 6:28-30 NKJV
Jesus further teaches us of the Providence of God, our Provider. He also indicates that the nature of worry is not that it is sinful, but rather, a weak faith!
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:34 NKJV
After hearing this brief instruction about worry, what does He tell us to do? Repent? Ask forgiveness?
No. He simply says “Don’t worry.”
I’m bringing this to light for a reason. I recently came across a post from a well-known pastor whom I admire respect very much, John MacArthur. You may read it for yourself.*
This pastor teaches about how sinful it is to worry, and that when we do, it is an affront to God. Please allow me to share an excerpt here…
“In Luke 12, verse 22 He says, "Don't be anxious for your life," and by that He means what you eat, and your body, what you wear. Stop worrying about that, the basics of life. And then down in verse 32, "Don't be afraid on the spiritual level for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom." You're left with nothing to worry about, nothing to be anxious about, nothing to be stressed about, nothing to panic over. So we conclude that if you do worry as a Christian, worry is a sin. But it's a sin that rises from a failure to understand God, a failure to understand His sovereign love, a failure to understand His sovereign care, a failure to understand His sovereign resources.”
John MacArthur, 2004, https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/42-172/anxietyfree-living-part-1
The article has some good things to say about anxiety for certain. But I would suggest two truths worthy of consideration. First, that it not a sin, but rather, an emotional response to circumstances, the solution of which is to grow in our faith toward our Heavenly Father.
Second, the truth of managing anxiety and worry. Anxiety and worry can be appropriately managed and greatly reduced as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. MacArthur suggests that it can be altogether eliminated…
“People live with anxiety. They live with worry. They live with stress. But it's so common that we don't even talk about eliminating it. The term is "to manage it." You take a course, go to a seminar, listen to a lecture, buy a tape on stress management like it was a baseball team, needed a manager, or a production line. Then Jesus comes along and says, "I'm not going to teach you how to manage your stress, I'll eliminate it."
In his article he seems to be mildly suspect and doubtful of the clinical professions that addresses mental health disorders connected with anxiety. I am part of this community of practitioners who see this on a daily basis. It’s virtually impossible to “eliminate” the repertoire of negative emotional responses and states we experience as human beings.
We can, however, manage the way we respond to such emotions! By the power of the Holy Spirit, by exercising life-giving and edifying practices of prayer, worship, bible reading, and connecting with other Christians, our faith grows and our minds are renewed. By implementing practical approaches of watching what we think about, what we believe, and guarding our hearts, we can overcome negative and dreaded emotions that plague our lives. I also would add to this list in some cases, appropriate medications, counseling and other psychological interventions that greatly empower us to reduce stress, worry and anxiety.
But make no mistake: stress will happen because we have responsibilities, jobs, families, careers. Stress happens within a spectrum. Stress is not evil. But in an unmanaged life where stress is ignored, it can grow into a dangerous representation in our lives of negative ruminations, catastrophizing, overthinking and even somatic illness.
Think about this : If it’s a sin to worry and be anxious, what about sadness? How about fear? Shame? Embarrassment? Shall we be convicted and repent when we feel certain emotions? Or should we rather be vigilant to recognize and acknowledge such emotions, and learn to respond with faith, maturity and self-awareness? Jesus teaches us how to respond to such emotions.
No, worry is not a sin. It is never once mentioned in any list of sins in the Bible.
