A Few Thoughts About Worry

Sorry for the long post. It seemed best to have it in one article instead of 2 parts.

I heard an online sermon the other day where it was stated, “If you worry, it means you are not trusting God. It means you are proud...”

Is worry pride? Is worrying being prideful?

Definitions:

B1 Pride:

C1 Definition 1 (Source)

D1 Definition of worry (Entry 2 of 2)

1a: mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated : ANXIETY

b: an instance or occurrence of such distress or agitation

2: a cause of worry : TROUBLE, DIFFICULTY

D2 Synonyms: Noun

CARE, CONCERN, SOLICITUDE, ANXIETY, WORRY mean a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this. CARE implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. a face worn by years of care CONCERN implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. crimes caused concern in the neighborhood SOLICITUDE implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. acted with typical maternal solicitude ANXIETY stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. plagued by anxiety and self-doubt WORRY suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. financial worries

C2 Definition 2: to think about problems or unpleasant things that make you anxious, or to make someone feel anxious (Source)

Quotes

B1 Evidently believing that worry is a sin is quite common

B2 Consider those who teach that worry is a sin. One quote is enough; there are more online. In its purest and most honest form, we are to take worry for what it really is - a deadly sin. Why is worry a sin? At the deep core of worry is really a sinful mistrust towards the things of God and an idolatry of the self. When we worry, what we are really saying is "God's taking too long to deliver" or "He's apparently not good enough to meet my demands." This leads us to the thinking that because God can't, we need to look for other ways to get things done either on our own or through a functional savior or idol who replaces Jesus as our way to promises fulfilled. (Source)

B3 I’m not quite sure what he means by deadly. Loss of salvation? God’s wrath?

B4 Instead, worry is not a sin but can be harmful. We need to get help, not criticize. The words above are, in my opinion, abusive.

C1 Quote 1: (Source) A Billy Graham answer:

Even though it's not a sin to live in chronic worry and fear, it's not what God wants for people, says world renowned evangelist the Rev. Billy Graham.

On Thursday, Graham gave biblical advice to a self-identified perpetual worrier who asked: "Is it a sin to worry about the future and all the bad things that might happen to me and my family (as well as the world)? I admit I'm a worrier, but what's really wrong with that?"

Graham responded that while it's "not necessarily wrong" to have concerns about the future, excessive worrying is unhealthy both spiritually and physically.

C2 Is worry identified as sin?

D1 Where in the Old Testament is worry, anxiety, fretting, etc. listed as a sin? Here is one list of the 613 Old Testament laws. Worry is not listed.

Bible worriers

B1 Consider King David, Job, Elijah, Naomi, and Solomon. All had depression, worries, etc. They are not condemned for worrying. One article on this topic.

B2 Paul: 2 Corinthians 11:28 NET Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches.

B3 Hebrews 11, are there any worriers in the hall of faith? I’m sure there was. Abraham worried about having a son, etc. Go through the list. Our fellow believers had problems, worries, concerns, difficulties, afflictions, torture just like believers today.

B4 The Lord Jesus, God the Son: John 12:27 NLT Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, 'Father, save me from this hour'? But this is the very reason I came!

C1 Deeply troubled is the Greek word ταράσσω tarássō.

C2 It means (to quote Thayer):

ταράσσω; imperfect ἐτάρασσόν; 1 aorist ἐταραξα; passive, present imperative 3 person singular ταρασσέσθω; imperfect ἐταρασσομην; perfect τεταραγμαι; 1 aorist ἐταράχθην; from Homer down; to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro);

a. properly: τό ὕδωρ, John 5:4 (R L),7 (Ezekiel 32:2; τόν Πόντον, Homer, Odyssey 5, 291; τό πέλαγος, Euripides, Tro. 88; τόν ποταμόν, Aesop fab. 87 (25)).

b. tropically, "to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity; to disquiet, make restless" (the Sept. for בִּהֵל, etc.; passive, ταράσσομαι for רָגַז, to be stirred up, irritated);

α. to stir up: τόν ὄχλον, Acts 17:8; (τούς ὄχλους, Acts 17:13 L T Tr WH).

β. to trouble: τινα, to strike one's spirit with fear or dread, passive, Matthew 2:3; Matthew 14:26; Mark 6:50; Luke 1:12; (Luke 24:38); 1 Peter 3:14; παράσσεται ἡ καρδία, John 14:1, 27; to affect with great pain or sorrow: ἑαυτόν (cf. our to trouble oneself), John 11:33 (A. V. was troubled (some understand the word here of bodily agitation)) (σεαυτόν μή ταρασσε, Antoninus 4, 26); τετάρακται ἡ ψυχή, John 12:27 (Psalm 6:4); ἐταράχθη τῷ πνεύματι, John 13:21.

γ. to render anxious or distressed, to perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts (Xenophon, mem. 2, 6, 17): Galatians 1:7; Galatians 5:10; τιναλόγοις, Acts 15:24. (Compare: διαπαράσσω, ἐκπαράσσω.)

C3 This Greek word is also used in these verses:

D1 John 13:21 NLT Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!"

D2 John 14:1, 27 NLT "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ... 27 "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

B5 You might to read Matthew 26 and Mark 14

Bible words for worry and anxiety

B1 Hebrew

C1 דְּאָגָה dᵉʼâgâh is the Hebrew word for anxious care.

D1 Proverbs 12:25 NIV Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

D2 There is no indication that this is a sin but rather an unpleasant condition. A kind word can cheer a person. Blasting them with accusatory words announcing they are evil sinners only abuses them.

C2 שַׂרְעַף sarʻaph is another word and is used 2 times in the Old Testament.

D1 Psalm 94:19 NIV When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

D2 Psalm 139:23 NIV Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. The Psalmist is extolling God for His omnipresence. The Psalmist thanks God for that. Then the Psalmist mentions how he hates those who do evil. After writing about this, he is worried that he might be like them himself and so asks God to reveal any secret sins. Worry is not the sin.

D3 There is no condemnation of worry. Comfort and concern are offered.

B2 Greek

C1 The Greek word μεριμνάω merimnáō means

D1 a. to be anxious; to be troubled with cares: absolutely, Matthew 6:27, 31; Luke 12:25; μηδέν μεριμνᾶτε, be anxious about nothing, Philippians 4:6; with the dative of the thing for the interests of which one is solicitous (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 31, 1 b.): τῇ ψυχή, about sustaining life, τῷ σώματι, Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:22; περί τίνος, about a thing, Matthew 6:28; Luke 12:26; εἰς τήν αὔριον, for the morrow, i. e. about what may be on the morrow, Matthew 6:34; followed by an indirect question πῶς ἤ τί, Matthew 10:19; Luke 12:11 (here Tr marginal reading omits; Tr text WH brackets ἤ τί); joined with τυρβάζεσθαι (θορυβάζεσθαι) followed by περί πολλά, Luke 10:41 (WH marginal reading omits)

D2 In none of these passages is sin implied. It does state that it is unhealthy and potentially harmful but not sinful.

D3 It appears from the message of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:27, Matthew 6:31, and Luke 12:25 that He is concerned about them and encouraging them and helping them. The same attitude is present when the Lord Jesus speaks in Matthew 10:17-20. We also we read about Martha: Luke 10:41-42 CSB The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 "but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her." There is no implication that He is accusing them of sinning. He is concerned for her distress.

D4 The same can be mentioned of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6-7.

C2 The Greek word μέριμνα mérimna which mean much the same as above.

D1 The Apostle Peter offers comforting and encouraging words, not harsh and judgmental statements to indicate that they are sinning. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

D2 With sorrow, the Lord Jesus mentions in the Parable of the Sower that worries can distract a person from the important concerns of salvation, sin, and eternity. Luke 8:14 CSB As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.

D3 The Apostle Paul expressed worry concern about the churches. This is the same word. It is NEVER indicated that this is sin. 2 Corinthians 11:28 NET Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches.

Legitimate worries

B1 Conviction by God of our sin. This worry is intended to lead us to repentance, forgiveness, and placing faith into Jesus as Messiah. In this sense, worry is good.

B2 Protection.

C1 Here is a summary of one man. It is written in my words. A man was painting houses in the summers between college classes. He was often painting on the second story of the building. It was a high wind area. More than once the ladder was blown away from the house. He confesses that worry kept him alert to the possibility of falling. Thus, it was protective.

C2 Another example I heard: A man was the head of the maintainence department. One day he was supervising a crew repairing a building’s roof. He did not pay attention as he backed up to visually assess what work need to be accomplished that day, fell down a few stories, landed wrong, and died. Worry would have helped him to be alert. He had so many years in maintainence that he became overconfident.

B3 Protective: any dangerous situation a person/s face. It keeps one alert to danger.

B4 Protective: a victim of abuse and/or molestation might have worry if certain situations triggering worry/anxiety. This would tend to make them more alert and prevent being taken advantage of again.

Medical conditions causing anxiety

B1 Note that the medical diagnosis of anxiety is somewhat different to worry, but uncontrollable worry is one sign.

B2 7 Underlying Health Problems that Could Be Causing Your Anxiety by Amy Myers MD

B3 Abuse can cause worrying and anxiety. It is medical not sin. The Link Between Verbal Abuse and Anxiety That No One Talks about

B4 How PTSD and Emotions Like Worry Are Connected

A good quote:

Sin requires an immoral action, sufficient knowledge, and sufficient consent. To the extent that it keeps us legitimately concerned about the welfare of ourselves or others, it is not an immoral action to worry. Even in cases of needless worry, most worriers do not purposely worry despite knowledge that they should not. Indeed, in some cases, excessive, compulsive worry may be a symptom of a legitimate illness, and therefore not a sin.(Source)

Some goals for us

B1 Telling people they are sinning because they are worrying or anxious is abusive. They are told, “If you worry, you are not trusting God. You are proud. Repent.” This is abusive. It makes them worry even more. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus that what standard we use to judge will be used on us.

Matthew 7:1-5 NLT "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

B2 People need to stop being abusive.

B3 We need to help each other.

B4 We all worry.

B5 Listen instead of criticize.

B6 Believe them. To not believe them is to increase their worry and anxiety.

B7 If a crime has been committed, then law enforcement MUST be contacted.

B8 Offer empathy and help. If we offer help, we better be serious about helping.

B9 Pray

B10 Direct them to professional counseling.

B11 Help them find a Christian support group.

Haven’t we all felt this way sometime or the other?

Psalm 13:1-6 NLT For the choir director: A psalm of David. O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? 3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. 4 Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!" Don't let them rejoice at my downfall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. 6 I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.