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Fear God, not man, says Tony Perkins

Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins, a 1992 alumnus of Liberty University, told his alma mater in Monday’s Convocation to fear nothing except God, their creator.

President Jerry Falwell welcomed Perkins back to Liberty, noting that even before joining the FRC, Perkins had “established himself as an innovative pro-life and pro-family activist.” Perkins is also an ordained minister, radio host, and author. Before going on to become the fourth and longest-serving president in FRC history, Perkins served two terms in the Louisiana Legislature. Perkins is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a former law enforcement officer.

Falwell explained that Perkins has personally been affected by recent flooding in Louisiana (he is still living in a temporary trailer home) and thanked students who volunteered to aid in the relief efforts through LU Send Now.

“We are so grateful for the role that so many of you played to go down and help Tony and his church,” Falwell said.

Liberty University students from the LU Send Now disaster relief trip to Louisiana stand together in Convocation.

The students stood wearing matching red “Liberty Loves Louisiana” T-shirts while their peers applauded.

Perkins, also wearing one of the red shirts, then took the stage to share a challenge for Christians to be bold in society.

“Fear paralyzes us, while faith propels us,” Perkins said. “God wants you to be a person of faith, a person of courage.”

Citing Matthew 10, Perkins said there are no excuses to fear anything of this earth — including physical violence — as they cannot affect our eternal destiny; only God can. While some Christians do face threats to their physical well-being, Perkins said, rejection and resentment are some of the most powerful forces that tempt Jesus’ followers to conceal their faith.

“The physical threats are not the greatest; it is the attacks on our reputation, the ridicule that we face,” he said. “Laying down our reputation to serve Jesus Christ is one of the things that creates the greatest fear.”

But Christians are to overcome their fears, Perkins said, because the consequences are too great.

“The deliverance and freedom for others is lost when you and I shrink back from living and proclaiming the truth of God,” Perkins said. “Jesus has called us to act for the benefit of others, not in fear, not to shrink back in silence, not to hide in the shadows, but to stand with a resolve, a resolve that would even have us lay down our very lives, if necessary, in service of the One who saved us. We have been called to live with no fear.”

Perkins challenged the students to yield to a greater force than fear: faith in their Heavenly father.

“Live unapologetically for Him without fear of man, but rather gripped by reverence and fear of God,” he said.

During Monday’s Convocation, students also got to hear a brief speech from John Bona, who gave away 7,000 copies of his book, “The Liberty Book: How Freedom Can & Will be Won.”

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