Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us

by Michael Scott Horton, Russell D. Moore (Foreword)

How cultivating a healthy fear of God liberates us from our fear of others, our fear of the future, and even our fear of death itself. At times the world feels like it's losing its mind. From politics to the pandemic, we live with an ever-increasing uncertainty, and many of us have grown to fear the rapid disintegration of our society and our own lives. Recovering Our Sanity is not another self-help book about how to beat your daily fears for a better life. It's a book that will show you the gravity and glory of a God who's worthy of our fear. It’s a book that will reveal how these two biblical phrases— Fear God and Do Not Be Afraid —are not contradictory but actually one coherent message. Michael Horton—Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary—shows us that we cannot fight our fears by seeking the absence of fear altogether, but by living with a fear of God that drives out the fear of everything else . Horton will walk you through the case for the fear of God by: Humbling, thought-provoking, and hope-igniting, Recovering Our Sanity delivers a timely message that will help you shift your focus from a human-centered obsession with self-preservation to a fixation on Christ and his salvation. Rather than clinging to false securities and promises of immediate gratification, you can gain the lasting joy of knowing the One who has given himself to save us and who says to us, "Do not be afraid."

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian Non Fiction, Politics

320 pages, Hardcover

Published February 15, 2022

About the author

Dr. Horton has taught apologetics and theology at Westminster Seminary California since 1998. In addition to his work at the Seminary, he is the president of White Horse Inn, for which he co-hosts the White Horse Inn, a nationally syndicated, weekly radio talk-show exploring issues of Reformation theology in American Christianity. He is also the editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine. Before coming to WSC, Dr. Horton completed a research fellowship at Yale University Divinity School. Dr. Horton is the author/editor of more than twenty books, including a series of studies in Reformed dogmatics published by Westminster John Knox.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard-hitting medicine for an anxious age.

[Mike Fendrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on how our misplaced fear in the things of this world and man instead of God wreck us. Oh what division, hurt and hatred has been displayed in the church because we will not unite around the Gospel and the fear of God which leads to wisdom.

There are not many people I would say that have legitimate access to a microphone actually speak for me. Dr. Horton would be one! I have really appreciated his ministry over the years that has constantly pointed this poor sinner to Christ, the Redeemer of my soul.

Highly recommend.

[Jon Merkling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good theology, good content, but not sure what his thesis was. Also some of the references were immediately outdated since the pandemic ended

[Lee Irons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is Horton’s pastoral response to our current cultural moment in the US. I think he has in view all the craziness that has erupted over the last five years – Donald Trump, political polarization, social media, immigration, the controversy over masks during the pandemic, Christian Nationalism, Critical Race Theory, the politics of climate change, and hotly contested LGBT issues. It is reasonable to wonder if there is a single underlying issue or lens through which to understand these things, and particularly to shape the church’s response. Horton’s theory is that the issue underlying all of these issues is “fear.” The subtitle of the book is: “How the Fear of God Conquers Fears That Divide Us.” He relies on the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity, caused by fear and idolatry, and how he was healed when he turned his eyes toward heaven, that is, to fear God. Quoted prominently in the front matter of the book are these words from the book of Daniel: “At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me” (Dan 4:34).

The book is divided into two parts. Part I is titled “The Fear to End All Fears.” In this section, Horton lays out the basic theological case that our problem is misplaced fear, and that we can have our fears relieved by the gospel, which reorients us to the proper fear, the fear of God. Horton writes: “My thesis is that the fear of God drives out the fear of everything else” (p. 17). I found Horton’s analysis of the biblical theme of the fear of God helpful.

Part II is titled “Facing Our Fears with Eyes Raised Toward God.” In this section, Horton applies the general theological thesis of Part I in order to help us confront some of the specific fears that we face in this current cultural moment. He groups these contemporary fears into three categories with chapters devoted to specific examples: (1) our fear of death and suffering; (2) our fear of not having our daily needs met; and (3) our fear of each other. Horton provides helpful wisdom with regard to the first two categories of fears. For example, the Christian hope of the bodily resurrection is the antitode to our fear of death.

But the third category is where things get interesting. Here he deals with some hot button topics, such as Christian Nationalism (ch. 11), religious liberty (ch. 12), LGBT+ issues (ch. 13), and racial fears (ch. 14). He says that he wants to help us face our fears and recover our sanity so that we can have reasoned discussion on these hot topics. Often he briefly throws out comments to the effect that both “Republicans and Democrats” or both “CNN and FOX” represent extremes that he rejects. Yet in reality it is hard for him not to reveal some of his assumptions and leanings. In one case (Christian Nationalism) he clearly does take sides and flat-out calls it heretical (p. 205). He spends a lot of energy critiquing evangelicals and conservative Protestants for what he perceives to be a grasping for political power based on irrational fear of “the Other.”

In my opinion, Horton’s thesis begins to unravel in this section. He tries to maintain the theme of “fear” as his analytical grid, but it just doesn’t quite work and in fact shows that he has bought into some progressive assumptions and points of view. Christian Nationalism, for example, should rightly be critiqued from a biblical theological framework (which Horton does well), but to regard its exponents as driven by fear does not do justice to their position. Advocates of Christian Nationalism would claim that they hold their view out of commitment to Scripture as they understand it, not because they “feel that the American empire is being invaded by strange, foreign Visigoths … people of color” (p. 202).

The psychoanalysis of political conservatives using the language of irrational fear of “the Other” raises the question of whether Horton has actually bought into some of the assumptions of the reigning progressive orthodoxy. Recall Hillary Clinton’s declaration in the 2016 presidential election that Trump’s supporters can be lumped into “a basket of deplorables” characterized by the standard progressive list of phobias or irrational fears (homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, etc). From the progressive standpoint, conservative critics of progressive policies do not have legitimate, rational concerns. No, they are simply gripped by irrational fear of minorities, women, gays, etc. It is worrisome that Horton trades in the same rhetoric as the progressive left.

In the LGBT+ chapter (ch. 13), Horton is more circumspect and does not accuse conservative Christians of being homophobic, but even here he says some things that are worrisome. The full title of this chapter is “LGBT+ Fears: People over Positions,” which signals the direction of his thinking. While we must uphold biblical sexual morality, Horton thinks we as the church need to take care that we treat those among us who struggle with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria with greater pastoral care. We should elevate people over positions, he argues. Horton’s fear is that pastors who preach sermons against the Queer ideology as a political movement could lead some to leave the church or even to commit suicide, thus becoming “casualties of the culture wars.” He writes: “I plead with pastors and elders today to focus on the sheep under their care and not on the Queer movement as such” (pp. 239-40).

Horton tells the story of a young person in a church who struggled with gender dysphoria – a teenage girl who was sure that she was a male. The elders of the church “immediately treated it as a discipline issue,” telling her to “banish” her feelings as if they were “entirely self-chosen,” without acknowledging that there may be a physical and medical dimension to gender dysphoria (p. 242). In Horton’s mind, this is a case of the sheep being a casualty of the church’s ungodly embrace of the culture wars. I suppose the elders could have been more patient, but it’s not clear how Horton’s fear analysis applies in this particular case. Were these elders acting out of an irrational fear of the Other? Perhaps this church simply had the policy that members of their church are not permitted to adopt a transgender identity.

A person can struggle with gender dysphoria and yet fight against it and refrain from adopting a transgender identity. Horton seems to conflate the two things when he speaks of “struggling with a transgender identity” (p. 241). That is not correct. A Christian can struggle with gender dysphoria but taking that to the next level of actually adopting a transgender identity is a bridge too far. It is an inherently political and ideological act. It is a decision to adopt an identification with the LGBTQ+ community and to seek public affirmation of a set of unbiblical beliefs about gender. Churches are well within their rights to enact policies prohibiting members from adopting a transgender identity and seeking the church’s affirmation of that identity. To do so is not an irrational fear of the Other (in this case, transphobia) but simply being faithful to Scripture, as hard and as painful as that may be. This can be done with pastoral sensitivity and patience, and without denying that for some gender dysphoria is a real psychological and spiritual struggle. Horton doesn’t give enough details to determine what this particular girl was disciplined for – simply for struggling with gender dysphoria, or for adopting a trans identity? But in any event, it is worrisome that Horton doesn’t make that important distinction and instead indicts the elders with being gripped by cultural fears.

The chapter on racial fears (ch. 14) is by far the most troubling. Horton doesn’t say it explicitly, but all the statistics he quotes (mainly Pew studies) point to the conclusion that he thinks the church is guilty of racism. And so he calls on the church to deliberately undo “ingrained patterns of exclusion” (p. 278). How far would we be willing to go to make our churches more diverse and inclusive? He suggests that we should change our styles of worship with the goal of overcoming our racist legacy and enhancing inclusion (p. 279). But the real question Horton is asking is, Why are we afraid to change our styles of worship to be more inclusive of people of color? Horton implies that it has nothing to do with anything noble like theology (e.g., Reformed convictions about the regulative principle of worship) but is simply because we are gripped by “powerful fear of full social equality” (p. 257). I agree that we need to work on racial unity and harmony in the church, but I don’t think Horton’s “fear” analysis of this issue is fair.

I found it disturbing that Horton also defends the concept of structural, systemic, and implicit racism. He writes: “Once majorities have institutionalized collective narcissism, future generations are conditioned to perpetuate them as a normal rather than malignant state of affairs. Consequently, a fully biblical view of original sin does not allow us to reduce the sin of racism to particular acts of some individuals” (p. 267). That sounds a lot like Critical Race Theory.

I do not want to give the impression that I disagreed with everything in this book. There is much in it that I did agree with. Horton’s biblical critique of Christian Nationalism was well done. I agree that conservative Protestants need to beware of wedding themselves too much to the Republican party or any politician, which can so easily distort the gospel. I agree that preachers should be careful when teaching on moral issues like gender and sexuality, that there may be tender souls in their own flock who are struggling with these issues.

I have tremendous respect for Horton as a theologian, but I am concerned that this book gives those of us who hold to Two Kingdom theology a bad name. Although he claims that his goal is not to take sides on any of these cultural and political debates (p. 17), and although he starts off with a more neutral pastoral approach seeking to help us deal with our fears, as the book progresses, and certainly by the time you get to the latter chapters that deal with race, he reveals that he himself holds to some pretty progressive political ideas and engages in quite unfair criticism of Protestants who are politically conservative or even populist. I would like it to be known that not at all of us who identify with Two Kingdom theology go along with him in these views.

[Tyler Panko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will forever impact me. So many issues that divide us are not easy to approach, but Michael approaches it beautifully with eyes always fixed on God and the true guiding Gospel principles for how we should live and love one.

[Michael Newhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The intersection of politics and religion is and has been of great interest to me. The toxic nature of political discourse in our nation makes it easy to overlook the beauty that we have in the Gospel. Rather than retreating to our political trenches and letting those political camps inform how we read Scripture we can instead let Scripture inform our politics. This book offers a balanced examination of issues facing our time, it provides a thorough history of these while outlining a gracious way forward that begins by admitting our own fears that have replaced the gracious fear of God.

[Bruce Jones Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very insightful book. Be prepared to have your assumptions pummeled by scripturally sound doctrines, regardless of what side of the spectrum you find yourself camping in.

This book is a must for Christians in today’s world. If it does not change the way you approach people, it should at the very least challenge you to think about where your trust is.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about the fear of the Lord. And how the fear of the Lord is the thing we all need to bring our lives into the correct focus that they all need. The book lays the foundation and then follows with examples of how this works for believers. It was clear and cogent. The only thing is the length, I wish it were a little shorter so that more people will read it. Good book

[Nathan Bozeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book is excellent in turning our eyes to that which matters, instead of focusing on the mind-numbing discussions going on in the culture. Horton reminds us to have an appropriate fear of God, which will give us an appropriate fear of everything else, and return to us our sanity.

[Coralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A thorough exploration of the gospel, with frequent applications to the culture wars of today.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horton thinks through a lot of the issues that divide Christians in light of Christ and the Gospel.

This book is needed, and I will be returning to it many times. I also expect many will find this a challenging book.

Would recommend.

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Even in more conservative contexts today, the reading of a “fear of God” passage is often quickly followed up with an explanation, dying the death of a thousand qualifications. The upshot is that fear doesn’t really mean “fear.” In such widespread dismissals we are not only failing to give God his due but are depriving ourselves and each other of the only antidote to the crippling fears that haunt us.

...The fear of God leads to trust, and trust bears the fruit of the Spirit, producing a harvest of blessings for ourselves and for others. Fear really is worship— we fear what we believe is ultimate, what we think has the last word over our lives.

WHAT'S RECOVERING OUR SANITY ABOUT?
In Part 1, "The Fear to End All Fears," the goal is to remind readers about the Biblical virtue of the Fear of God—what it means, how it contrasts to other fears, and how when our focus is on the Fear of God, other fears lose significance and power.

In Part 2, "Facing Our Fears with Eyes Raised to God," Horton puts shoe leather to this understanding of Fear of God vs. other fears. He looks at our fears of death, suffering, disease, the future—and, perhaps most importantly, other human beings.

CONFRONTING OUR FEAR OF EACH OTHER

Once we regain the fear of God— indeed, of Christ as well (he’s not just the friend of sinners but the judge of all)—and face up to who we are before him, coming with empty hands to receive his Son, we’ll begin to lose this fear of the world. We will not be embarrassed when the unkempt widow sings off-key with the gusto of heartfelt conviction or when the building is drab or if we have never had a brush with greatness and our pastor has never been photographed with anybody in the news. The faithful preaching of the Word, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper; the gracious care, encouragement, and warnings of elders and the wider body; the extension of Christ’s love for temporal needs through the deacons; common prayers, singing, confession of our faith and of our sins, Christ’s declaration of forgiveness, and even God’s greeting at the beginning and his benediction at the end— all these will seem so marvelously familiar and new to us at the same time. And then we will begin to not need the world’s affection any longer.

Roughly the last third of the book is taken up by the third part of Part 2, "Confronts Our Far of Each Other." In this Horton talks about the fear we have of other Christians and other people outside the Church—there's a focus on social and political issues and how American Christians ought to react to them instead of how we tend to. Horton avoids a "Left Wing" or "Republican" response—finding positive things on both sides of an issue (many of which shouldn't find binary responses, but it seems impossible for Americans to do anything else), as well as things to critique on both sides.

Horton goes out of his way not to demonize those who disagree, but reminds his readers that there are those on each side who are fellow image-bearers, and all need Christ more than they need to be corrected or encouraged about their stances on any issue. The Church's calling is to set aside the focus on the temporal and point others to the eternal and the world to come, while showing our gratitude for Christ's work by serving those around us.

This sub-section is worth the price of the book (not that the rest was a waste).

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT RECOVERING OUR SANITY?

My goal in this book is not to take sides in cultural and political debates. Instead, it is to raise our eyes to heaven so that our sanity can be restored, as Nebuchadnezzar experienced in Daniel 4.

There were more than a few times where I wondered if Horton had lost track of the thesis of the book—I found each chapter, each topic that he covered very valuable and was impressed by the wisdom that Horton offered.

But I was wrong about that—and by the end, it was easier to see where he was going all along. Horton's been one of those writers that have been helpful to me for a couple of decades now and it's good to see that hasn't changed.

There's a lot to chew on here, and as I said, a lot of wisdom to be gleaned. I can't imagine every reader is going to agree with everything he has to say (and I can't believe that Horton expects that, either)—but his major points are sound, Biblical, and needed by the American Church so that we remember what our priorities are supposed to be.

[Rob Mongeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed feelings

It is a good book, (3 1/2 stars would be my real rate, but can’t select half a start) especially the first part on fear, which ends up being the ground work for the second part where he analyzes three current issues :christian nationalism (his understanding of it) lgbt relations with the church and racism/injustice. The reason for these according to Horton is fear. That’s the first big flaw of the book, it assume a single factor as the cause of the problem. Voddie Baucham has shown very clearly and convincingly that’s it’s far from being the case in his book Fault Line. Though I would agree that fear is a contributing factor, there is however multiple factors that contribute to any problem. Chapter 11 on Christian Nationalism, beside the fact that I believe he misunderstood and misrepresented it. The second big flaw is rampant here, that is, the either or fallacy. I think he took the worse possible end and put it into a ‘if this … then that’ grid. I believe there is a big misunderstanding of Christian Nationalism/Theonomy and also of Calvin’s two kingdoms and Augustine’s concept of cities.
Chapters 10-13 made me think that that he was flirting with wokeism. I felt the heads were tilted and the lips are dangerously close. But the last chapter showed that the eyes are closed the lips are touching the tongues are out and turning. In the previous chapters he said some troubling things,but there was always a sentence following that made me say ‘ok maybe I didn’t get it, because this is a sound reform orthodox conservative statement’, but there’s none of that in the last chapter, the doubts are dispelled, Micheal Horton has ascribed to the philosophy of the woke. I definitely believe we must address the issues brought up by wokeism,but it’s a totally other thing to put on Christian clothes on it.
In Chapter 14 under the Recovering Biblical Coordinates section he points us to several passages that shows that God cares for the poor the oppressed the weak … and that He will vindicate them and so we should too. We have that fallacy again where only one factor is considered. Poverty for example, one is poor, God is automatically on his side and we better work at alleviating or eliminating it. But what about the poor that is poor by his own fault? The lazy one or the one who is poor due to immoral behaviours. Is God on their side? What about the poor who abuse the poor (pr28:3) which poor side is God on? His view of justice is the same as the Marx’s wokist of this age.
I still recommend the book, but I would be cautious to whom. We need to think over those matter, and this book will definitely trigger thinking.
Also I think that the first part, setting the fear of the Lord over the fear of men, can stand alone, and would be of great help to anyone who struggle with anxiety for example. So in the end, I loved the Biblical theory, but dislike it’s applications.

[Larry White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strong Ending

Michael Horton’s book, “Recovering Our Sanity”, is a good read but not a great read. In it, Horton examines the present state of what often seems cultural insanity, and that’s why it interested me. While I sensed a conservative leaning, he was appropriately critical of many aspects of far-right conservatism, and he gave fair consideration of the moderately progressive viewpoint, if generally critical of the far-left. For everyone Horton believes an inadequate interest and understanding of God is at the core of the insanity and our fear of the “others”. He correctly sees that parochialism lies at that core as well. Much of the book deals with what we fear conceptually and spiritually versus where our fears are most sane. The final chapters, which are the strength of the book, deal with confronting the specific cultural fears that evidence our cultural insanity. Throughout, God is Horton’s solution. I shared with a men’s fellowship group a brief excerpt from the book about the response of a former slave after the Civil War to a plea from his former master for help with a troubled business. We were discussing the nature of forgiveness, and the illustration was timely and excellent. I don’t see this as a must read book, but it has some very interesting observations and wouldn’t be a waste of time for someone concerned about our cultural insanity and how we should respond individually.

[Zab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fear of the unknown drives many people to worship science and government, experts and authority figures.

Modern culture's emphasis on fear of man—seeking approval, avoiding criticism, and conforming to societal norms—can erode genuine faith and personal integrity. Horton argues that a proper understanding of the fear of God, rather than fear of man, is crucial for mental and spiritual health.

He discusses how contemporary culture fosters a fear of man through social pressures, media influences, and the desire for approval. This fear can lead to anxiety, compromised values, and a loss of personal authenticity.

He critiques modern culture’s obsession with self-image, approval, and the pursuit of happiness as defined by societal standards. He argues that these cultural values often undermine spiritual and mental health by shifting focus away from enduring truths and values.

By recovering a true sense of the fear of God, individuals can regain their mental and spiritual health. He emphasizes that this shift helps individuals live authentically and courageously, aligning their lives with divine principles rather than societal expectations.

[Jesse Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you fear most? Check out "Recovering Our Sanity" by Michael Horton. It cuts through our cultural anxieties and future uncertainties that often drive our fear and urges us to lift our eyes to the ultimate object of fear, God himself. In other words, "we do not displace fear with the absence of fear, but with the presence of a different kind of fear" (p. xiii). Sanity comes from something "qualitatively distinct from creation" (p. 26). "The fear of God drives out the fear of everything else" (p. 17). How does this fear liberate in our uber-flat, smartphone world—where our sanity leans upon the ebbs and flows of tech firms, pharma companies, and political parties? "Horton shows you how to identify the fight against fear—supplanting the quivering of a limbic system with a heart set free" (Russel Moore). It's worth the read👌

[Terry Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through no fault of the author I struggled through this book. However, in the end, it was worthwhile. The subject matter is of great importance as we seek our way as Christians in what has been termed a post-Christian world. Dr. Horton examines several topics that split the church and drag down the beautiful bride of Christ, then examines how unity can and should be achieved. If you are ready to think about the difficulties of navigating the current world, as a Christian, then dig into this thought inducing work.

[Adam Kareus · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world filled with fear humanity needs to rediscover the fear of God. Michael Horton lays out not only what the fear of God is and why it is important to rediscover but also how it changes and impacts the various parts of ourselves, culture, and church. It is only when we have a right understanding of the universe, with God as Lord, that we can be "sane" and order our lives correctly.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has plenty of material useful for spiritual reflection and while it begins with a manifesto that appears judgmental and critical of present society, it slowly explains its way towards a scriptural rationale. Unfortunately, while it does well in presenting the problems that ail us, it does not quite deliver on providing practical “recovery” techniques to battle or address these ills.

[Danny Lamonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the definition of “biblically-centered” and a “balanced” examination of the issues facing our divided times. Horton provides a thorough history of issues and psychology while outlining a gracious way forward that begins by admitting our own fears that have replaced the gracious fear of God.

[Paul Kurtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Horton does a superb job of explaining how our many of our fears, while legitmate, are misplaced. We really ought to fear God and when we do have an adequate fear of God, our other fears will wane.

[Kyle Tomlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Horton has once again given us a gem of a book! And it is so needed right now. Not only does he accurately diagnosis our culture, but he also gives us the hope of the Gospel in the midst of these troubling times we live in. This book should be read by all who profess the Christian faith.

[David Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I liked the book. It took me several months to complete as it didn’t hold my attention. Most information was delivered in an urgent or ground breaking manner. I underlined several passages, so I believe it was worth the time.

[Carilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more focused on American issues, both political and racial. As a Canadian, there was a lot that was not relevant to me and my culture. Overall, I found his message helpful and interesting, but not what I was expecting at all.

[Rod Innis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sometimes wish that we could give a book half stars. I, then, would have given this book four and a half stars. It is a great book and speaks to many of the challenges facing the church in our day.
I recommend it.

[Brian Tubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Fantastic!

I wish every Christian in the United States of America would read this book!

Dr. Horton shows that the key to overcoming our fears (in this life), loving our neighbor, and enjoying true unity in the church is… the fear of God.

Highly recommended!

[Mark Lickliter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. It got super repetitive and lacked tangible applications. The title draws you into the subject, but Horton just spends most of the time saying the exact same things that he's written elsewhere.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Joshua Chatman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6. Excellent book. Challenging, biblical and hopeful.

[Rich Cromwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding and uplifting.