Should you ?

[Boaz]

Should you have a fear of GOD ?

[GhostHawk]

Should a child fear a parent? Especialy a good, loving and merciful one?

IMO the answer is "Only if you have been doing wrong"

The Lord God Almighty knows my heart and soul inside out and backwards. He knows me better than I know myself.
Why should I fear him unless I have been doing things that I know make him angry?

Respect yes, in spades. Awe and a little trepidation at times. Not much fear here.
Maybe I should be.

[xbeeman412]

No, only love and respect

[T_McD]

Fear is an undeniable part of any salvation based religion.

[Don Purcell]

That never made sense to me at all, to fear a so called loving God. But agree with T McD.

[Markopolo]

fear or respect? to the maker of the universe? yes on both... but then again, I know him... so there is both, and love, and friendship.

[Char-Gar]

I believe the word "fear" in various English translations does not convey intent of the orginal languages, at least in the NT. The original intent was great respect and even awe. I for one am not afraid of God in any way. I love Him dearly, as he loves me dearly. "Perfect love casts out all fear."

The religious of the ancient Jews was indeed quite fear based. However Christianity is love based. The turning point was Jesus upon the cross. "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten son".

Bottom line: God is not going to "gitcha", but you may get yourself. But if you do that to yourself by Godless decisions, it is in no way God's desire.

[Rizzo]

Should you have a fear of GOD ?

No fear here.
How about you?

[buckwheatpaul]

Should a child fear a parent? Especialy a good, loving and merciful one?

IMO the answer is "Only if you have been doing wrong"

The Lord God Almighty knows my heart and soul inside out and backwards. He knows me better than I know myself.
Why should I fear him unless I have been doing things that I know make him angry?

Respect yes, in spades. Awe and a little trepidation at times. Not much fear here.
Maybe I should be.

GhostHawk said it better that I could! Thank you sir!

[Hogtamer]

Hebrews 10 I believe is the appropriate response.

[Wayne Smith]

I was the deacon representative at the Session meeting this past week. There was a long discussion about how we should respond to a member getting a divorce.

After the meeting I mentioned to the pastor what I would have said in the discussion: I read in Jeremiah where God states "I divorce thee, I divorce thee, I divorce thee O Israel". We do not know who those people are today - God does, but we don't. Divorce scares me to death!

[Thundarstick]

I'd better, and you should to!

Rev 14:6-7

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

I have a godly father and you better bet I feared him, but it's grown into loving respect. We grew up farming, did I fear the bulls? You bet! They where powerful beyond any man, and couldn't be reasoned with. We are are told not to fear one who can destroy the body, but the one who can destroy body and soul.

My answer is YES, fear is a good place to start!

[Blackwater]

To fear God's wrath is a given. However, we have another option as well. If we believe in, trust and have faith in Him, He is our friend, our comforter, and our salvation. So there's a place for fearing Him in all our lives. But it's not the largest place for Him. That should be reserved for respect, love and cherishing Him, and all He has done for us. He created the entire universe, just for us, it appears, and a wonderful world, filled with things to sustain us, and allow us to build better things for living our lives. He even gave us science, that we might come to know Him better and more intimately. Einstein said he studied science so intently because he wanted to know God more intimately. He has given us many, many very wholesome models in others, for us to follow and emulate, as best as we can. He has given us everything reasonably possible to allow us to know and understand much about Him. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever, for He has given us everything we are, have, and ever will have, and for that, don't we owe Him our gratitude and worship? We are the chattel, He is our King. He deserves all the praise we can give Him for all that He's done for us, doesn't He? Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth forever. Amen.

[redhawk0]

I believe the word "fear" in various English translations does not convey intent of the orginal languages, at least in the NT. The original intent was great respect and even awe. I for one am not afraid of God in any way. I love Him dearly, as he loves me dearly. "Perfect love casts out all fear."

The religious of the ancient Jews was indeed quite fear based. However Christianity is love based. The turning point was Jesus upon the cross. "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten son".

Bottom line: God is not going to "gitcha", but you may get yourself. But if you do that to yourself by Godless decisions, it is in no way God's desire.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The word translated to "Fear" would have been better translated as "Holy reverence".

redhawk

[dverna]

I do not fear God. Reverence is what I feel.

A relationship based on fear is a negative one. Love is a positive emotion and allows growth.

[UKShootist]

I believe the word "fear" in various English translations does not convey intent of the orginal languages, at least in the NT. The original intent was great respect and even awe.

So very true. Words can cage with time and distance. Look what America has done to English :bigsmyl2:

When the rather magnificent St Paul's Cathedral was completed in London several commentators of nobility used the word 'Awful' (among others) to describe it. Then it meant 'full of awe', 'awe inspiring'. I am of the opinion that the use of the word 'fear' in it's modern context was a convenient power play for clergy of the time, becoming adopted into the various churches.

[buckwheatpaul]

Should you have a fear of GOD ?

The answer is yes.....after reflecting on this thought ... there are three times in the BIBLE when God was going to write off "His chosen ones!" Either Moses or Aron had to remind God that He picked them and not the other way.....

God flooded the earth due to wickedness!

People who turn the backs on God, twice dead, should fear judgement!

People that dont believe, i.e., Buddhist, Islam, and other groups that dont believe and have been exposed to God yet reject Him should fear God and judgement.

The Old Testimony is full of examples of God's wrath.....so wrong doers be warned.....

[Hickory]

Should you have a fear of GOD ?

Most definitely.
My God is a loving and jealous God that is not to be scorned or dismissed if we chose to be his child.

[Boaz]

Well I'll throw in my two cents worth .
When we discover our Lord either as a child or adult fear of him is a good thing in our lives . Understanding he is all powerful and all knowing , understanding he has expectations of us . But at the same time he gives us ...choice . This is not the last time I'll use the word choice here .

GOD makes his expectations known to us , he is honest and straight forward . He loves us so much that he sent his only son here to suffer and die for us to give us instruction by words and the life he lived . GOD wants us to succeed , we hold that in our hand through our own choice . We have no excuse if we fail by our own choice .

In the beginning of our relationship with him realizing GOD is real and exists in our lives it's a good thing to understand he is all powerful . That we are created by him , that we ourselves influence our salvation or damnation . Yes , a fear of GOD is good in the beginning of our walk with him guiding our lives .

But growing individually in our relationship with him we lose that fear . No longer needing only milk of the Gospel we gain strength in discipleship through him . Through trial , his word and seeking him we are brought to understand him , we embrace him in our lives and the fear is gone .

[Boaz]

I see that some of those that struggle against GOD their father have come even to this place where we give praise , prayer to our Lord . Where we give each other encouragement and confirm our faith in our father . This thread has arouse their comfort in themselves . The Chapel is a place to seek..not to defame and ridicule GOD . All non believers are welcome to seek GOD here .

Up to this point I am proud of those that have commented and not argued with them . I leave you with ;

Proverbs 25;19-23

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.
20
Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And like vinegar on soda,
Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
23
The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

Matthew 10;14

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

[Markopolo]

hmmmm.. interestng responses on how folks are thinking.

like was mentioned earlier, fear doesn't live in somebody that is not doing wrong. unfortunatly, i do wrong still, and will never be without wrong until the end I am sure. So till the end of my journey, i will maintain a bit of Fear of the Lord. i never did look foreward to a "good" spanking when I was doing wrong when I was a kid. i do fear the "Refiners Fire" even though I know I need refining from time to time. do I fear disipline? probably a bit.. always have. do I fear loosing my friendship with God? no. did Biblical people like David fear the lord? You betcha. it was the beginning of wisdom. the beginning of wisdom does not make you a wise man, but you are on the road to becomming wise. a due process...

In the Bible, the word translated “fear” can mean several things. It can refer to the terror one feels in a scary situation. It can mean “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully, not wanting to disapoint him.... Fear cn also represent the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness. The fear of the Lord is a combnation of all of these.

Fear of the Lord can be defined as “the continual awareness that our loving heavenly Father is watching and evaluating everything we think, say, and do”... As Jesus told each of the seven churches in Revelation 1 an d 2, “I know your works.” Nothing escapes His attention.

If nothing escapes his attention, and I am far from perfect, I will fear The Lord!

but the path that we are on is a personal one. different for all... personal journeys a never the same, experiences and so on shape us, as reflected in this thread. The word is true and consistant though.

marko

PS. Nothing is impossible for God. someone that does not know him may say this is impossible, or that is impossible, but I have seen it. again I say, Nothing is impossible for God!!!!!

[Hickory]

Love and jealousy do not go together. It's not possible to be both at the same time. Neither did anyone choose to be his child. No child ever chose to be born and the responsibility for the offspring's welfare is the responsibility of the parent until the child is of age.

It is obvious that you do not know God nor understand his love toward us.
If you are a child of God and truly love Him as He loves us you will not "have no other gods before Him." Which could be Sunday football or fishing when you should be in church. Just as if your wife truly loves you, she will not spend all her time and love on other men.

[Blackwater]

Love and jealousy do not go together. It's not possible to be both at the same time. Neither did anyone choose to be his child. No child ever chose to be born and the responsibility for the offspring's welfare is the responsibility of the parent until the child is of age.

That's just baloney, UK! It can. I've seen it. I think you probably have too. Imagine someone who has an unrequited love. He could love the object of his affections, and at the same time, be jealous of her new beau. Very simple. Please don't get so into "having to be right" that you flail out with some thought that is not fully developed. It brings any man to error.

[Blackwater]

Ah! So you don't think a Christian has any right to display righteous indignation at your consistent negativism toward any concept that supports our Christian faith? Now isn't that just what would be expected from one who is attempting to appear as something he is not? You've earned my disgust, UK. Like it or not. And you are slipping into worse and worse and sillier and sillier "interpretations" of things that we who believe hold dear.

No matter what folks post here, you always complain and whine and dance a snooty dance when we let you have your way. OK. That's how you've chosen to be. But there's a limit to the infernal and intentional and attemptedly veiled commentary you offer here. If you were truly seeking Truth and understanding, you'd have found it long before now, with your lengthy years of service and your travels. But you've simply been seeking satisfaction of a very different kind - the kind that comes from within you, and is colored by what you WANT to find. Your choice, your penalties if you're wrong, and you're not dumb enough to toss that off as "just another little matter." God help you.