Do you fear God?

[DannyM]

When I say “fear God” I mean his existence; his existence means there *is* something to fear — the alternative to God. So I say fear doing evil; fear being cast out for doing evil.

I love God; I do not fear him as in I fear his nature; I fear not being a part of his eternity; I want to be with him in his glory. So fear God but love life. But fear his *existence* and thus the *alternative* to eternity with him.

God is Love. God will not hurt you; you don't fear God because he will hurt you; you fear God so as to be aware that he really is there, and the *alternative* to the love of God is what is to be feared. So you fear "God's existence" because to do evil is the antithesis of God's Love. So it's a fear of the *reality* of a higher realm, a judge, and thus a punishment for evil done.

If the mass murderers of the past feared God then they wouldn't be in the place they are now and millions upon millions of innocent lives would have been spared. But they rejected God's existence and feared nothing; and man's evil was done. They will reap what they sowed. But if only they were aware of God's existence and feared the alternative then things might have been different.

The irreligious who supposedly killed in "God's name" were deluded fools who never *really feared* God.

God is love and God seeks your love.

But the alternative to God's love is something to be feared.

Danny

[touchingcloth]

Which one?

[DannyM]

Which one?

Now there's a question I haven't had levelled at me for about 10 years... Touchingcloth, this is straight out of the Dawkins handbook for atheists; has atheism really become this stagnant?

[touchingcloth]

Which one?

Now there's a question I haven't had levelled at me for about 10 years... Touchingcloth, this is straight out of the Dawkins handbook for atheists; has atheism really become this stagnant?

It's a valid question though; I'm an atheist and I'm agnostic about every god I've ever had described to me. I no more or less fear god than I fear buddha or unicorns, or angels, or devils or spaghetti monsters.

[DannyM]

Which one?

Now there's a question I haven't had levelled at me for about 10 years... Touchingcloth, this is straight out of the Dawkins handbook for atheists; has atheism really become this stagnant?

It's a valid question though; I'm an atheist and I'm agnostic about every god I've ever had described to me. I no more or less fear god than I fear buddha or unicorns, or angels, or devils or spaghetti monsters.

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetic ... cwxrTDGm0K

This link will put it better than I can.

The fact that there are different people/religions who believe in a “different” God in no way negates the One God. Are all the rest confused? Yes, is the answer I would give you. If you believe in the Unicorn of Islam, I believe in the Unicorn of Christianity, and John believes in the Unicorn of Hinduism, the fact that there are three of us who have three different ideas on who Unicorn is and what is his nature in no way means that Phil, looking on, must come to the “logical” conclusion that there cannot be a Unicorn. There is no logic in making that jump. Now, if you're really involved in a personal search, then I'd (rather obviously) suggest that you look into Christianity and the pray that your search is fruitful.

Dan

[touchingcloth]

The fact that there are different people/religions who believe in a “different” God in no way negates the One God. Are all the rest confused? Yes, is the answer I would give you. If you believe in the Unicorn of Islam, I believe in the Unicorn of Christianity, and John believes in the Unicorn of Hinduism, the fact that there are three of us who have three different ideas on who Unicorn is and what is his nature in no way means that Phil, looking on, must come to the “logical” conclusion that there cannot be a Unicorn. There is no logic in making that jump.

I did not make that jump.

[B. W.]

The fact that there are different people/religions who believe in a “different” God in no way negates the One God. Are all the rest confused? Yes, is the answer I would give you. If you believe in the Unicorn of Islam, I believe in the Unicorn of Christianity, and John believes in the Unicorn of Hinduism, the fact that there are three of us who have three different ideas on who Unicorn is and what is his nature in no way means that Phil, looking on, must come to the “logical” conclusion that there cannot be a Unicorn. There is no logic in making that jump.

I did not make that jump.

One day you will...

Try this secular link out on A J Ayers... touchingcloth

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/atheists01.html

One day you will...
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[Gman]

I love God; I do not fear him as in I fear his nature; I fear not being a part of his eternity; I want to be with him in his glory. So fear God but love life. But fear his *existence* and thus the *alternative* to eternity with him.

Fear in the Bible is more of a reverence.. Not a crippling fear, but a respectful type of fear. Fear comes in many forms. Some are good and some are bad...

[Gman]

One day you will...
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Too true. I always find it interesting that some would gamble with their very lives. Some would rather jump off a cliff just for the mere thrill of it..

Very bazaar... But I guess it must look cool or something. I have no clue why anyone would reject the Gospel..

[B. W.]

One day you will...
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Too true. I always find it interesting that some would gamble with their very lives. Some would rather jump off a cliff just for the mere thrill of it..

Very bazaar... But I guess it must look cool or something. I have no clue why anyone would reject the Gospel..

Pride of life...???
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[jlay]

Fear in the Bible is more of a reverence..

it is reverence, but is that all.

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrew 10: 26-31

Did the Hebrews have a 'reverence' when they shook in their sandals in front of Mt. Sinai?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28)
Here is the reverence part. "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." (Psalm 130:3-4)

Understanding the quality and character of God is essential. Perhaps this is why so many treat the salvation of God with such flippancy. They never knew from what they were being saved. They never saw their sin for utter sinful thing it was. And thus they never saw the sacrifice of Christ for what it was. How can someone trust in Christ if they do not know what they are really trusting Him for?
If one rightly sees their own sin in light of the holiness of God, they will FEAR. Fear can be good and bad. Fear can be healthy or unhealthy. I remember going white water rafting. The first thing the guide did was instill in us a healthy fear of the rapidly moving water. In response we made sure our life vest were tightly secured and obeyed his commands. Healthy fear.

Sorry to keep bringing up parachutes. Much of the church today is trying to hand out parachutes without warning the passengers that they are going to have to jump for their life. 10 out of 10 die. It is a fact. Everyone will take the jump from the plane. Imagine trying to get a passenger to put on a parachute because it will enhance their flight experience. They don't embrace the parachute for what it is. If we don't warn the passengers of the jump to come, they will see the parachute as foolishness. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18

I have no clue why anyone would reject the Gospel

Really?
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3: 19-20

[DannyM]

I love God; I do not fear him as in I fear his nature; I fear not being a part of his eternity; I want to be with him in his glory. So fear God but love life. But fear his *existence* and thus the *alternative* to eternity with him.

Fear in the Bible is more of a reverence.. Not a crippling fear, but a respectful type of fear. Fear comes in many forms. Some are good and some are bad...

I'm speaking of a philosophical view of 'fear'. I'm holding that a fear of God's existence, and thus a fear of the antithesis to God's Love, will make man hold fast to God. It is an awareness of God's existence, and thus a knowledge of the alternative choice to the love of God, which would *really* makes us hold fast to love, adherence and decency.

Perace

[Gman]

Did the Hebrews have a 'reverence' when they shook in their sandals in front of Mt. Sinai?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28)
Here is the reverence part. "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." (Psalm 130:3-4)

Understanding the quality and character of God is essential. Perhaps this is why so many treat the salvation of God with such flippancy. They never knew from what they were being saved. They never saw their sin for utter sinful thing it was. And thus they never saw the sacrifice of Christ for what it was. How can someone trust in Christ if they do not know what they are really trusting Him for?
If one rightly sees their own sin in light of the holiness of God, they will FEAR. Fear can be good and bad. Fear can be healthy or unhealthy. I remember going white water rafting. The first thing the guide did was instill in us a healthy fear of the rapidly moving water. In response we made sure our life vest were tightly secured and obeyed his commands. Healthy fear.

Sorry to keep bringing up parachutes. Much of the church today is trying to hand out parachutes without warning the passengers that they are going to have to jump for their life. 10 out of 10 die. It is a fact. Everyone will take the jump from the plane. Imagine trying to get a passenger to put on a parachute because it will enhance their flight experience. They don't embrace the parachute for what it is. If we don't warn the passengers of the jump to come, they will see the parachute as foolishness. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18

I tend to take these verses into consideration also..

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Really?
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3: 19-20

Yes, but I believe it can be out of ignorance also. Or possibly they haven't heard enough to believe...

[B. W.]

I love God; I do not fear him as in I fear his nature; I fear not being a part of his eternity; I want to be with him in his glory. So fear God but love life. But fear his *existence* and thus the *alternative* to eternity with him.

Fear in the Bible is more of a reverence.. Not a crippling fear, but a respectful type of fear. Fear comes in many forms. Some are good and some are bad...

I'm speaking of a philosophical view of 'fear'. I'm holding that a fear of God's existence, and thus a fear of the antithesis to God's Love, will make man hold fast to God. It is an awareness of God's existence, and thus a knowledge of the alternative choice to the love of God, which would *really* makes us hold fast to love, adherence and decency.

Perace

Since you are speaking of a philosophical view of 'fear' then philosophically you need to consider what the word means from the biblical perspective to be true to the precepts of philosophical inquiry instead of injecting presupposed view of fear into the bible.

Easton Bible Dictionary Defines Fear of the Lord this way

Fear of the Lord

Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety -- Pro 1:7; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:9 -- It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. -- Compare Deu 32:6; Hos 11:1; Isa 1:2; Isa 63:16; Isa 64:8. -- God is called “the Fear of Isaac” --Gen 31:42, Gen 31:53 --, i.e., the God whom Isaac feared.

Easton as well as other biblical dictionaries point out that the fear of the Lord is more of a filial reverence… an awesomeness wonderment more than a stark fear for those that know God and stark fear for those that do not.

Those that belong to God have that filial quality of viewing God as Our Father — not as der tyrannical father…

Much like how a child fears loving parents — they know their place as well as the Lord will not abandon them.
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[DannyM]

Since you are speaking of a philosophical view of 'fear' then philosophically you need to consider what the word means from the biblical perspective to be true to the precepts of philosophical inquiry instead of injecting presupposed view of fear into the bible.

Thanks for that.

Easton as well as other biblical dictionaries point out that the fear of the Lord is more of a filial reverence… an awesomeness wonderment more than a stark fear for those that know God and stark fear for those that do not.

Those that belong to God have that filial quality of viewing God as Our Father — not as der tyrannical father…

Much like how a child fears loving parents — they know their place as well as the Lord will not abandon them.
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I do have a sense of wonderment at the Lord. I'm in absolute awe of him; but I don't fear him in any way. Why would I fear him? The metaphor of the fear of a parent doesn't do it for me. The Lord is full of love and glory and there is nothing that I fear.

I fear the alternative; I fear life *without* the Lord. Man should fear Hell and oblivion and therefore reject option number 2. Man's spirit needs to be rekindled and the soul pumping with the knowledge of God's existence.

Spread the word.

Peace