Fearing God..?

Question

I just wanted to make a statement. I seen in another post that someone told someelse that they feared God to much and needed to lighten up. I just disaggree with that statement so much. Maybe I just read it the wrong way. But the fear of God is the beginning of all knowlege. Its when we dont fear God that we get to relaxed and not respectful towards Him. I dont love God out of fear, but yet I have enough reverance for Him that I do fear Him. He is the Alfa and Omega. The beginning and the End. He spoke us into existence yet His love for us is so kind and gentle. He turned lot's wife into a piller of salt, Killed Pharohs army, killed the rich man that lied to the apostels, yet loves me and takes care of my needs. He chastisthes (mispell) me. He lets me know when I'm wrong, Yet He always forgives me. He is so good. And should be feared for He is God.

Answer 1

I was the one who posted that post
and the post is :
"first of all you fear God too much.(im not saying dont fear him but its just too much) He's made of eternal love remember? Be friends with him. Dont love him because you are scared of him, love him because have faith in him. You've regret that you lied and promised you wont do it again that is a good thing. now try to be more friends with him and maybe then you'll feel relieved."

(im not saying dont fear him but its just too much...)

ofcourse i know he's alfa and omega and stuff like that but think about it, he's up there all alone all of these people are terrified of him. now i said he's the Eternal love. and we all know that love sometimes can be tough. and besides i got a lot more feedback from my best friend up there after i stopped thinking him as this terrifying God who can burn you in hell... my goal for after life isnt just about going to heaven. my goal is to be closer to my best friend, to my loving spiritual father, to work for him and to help him with organizing the balance of the universe. my goal is to help him because he helped me through my troubled time. so correct me if im wrong: is it better to just love our God because he is a great being that always been there for us?
or is it better to love him because we are afraid of him? (because lots of people love because they want to go to heaven or they are too afraid of God)

this is my point of view as an angelic. you may think differently i respect that. but just hear my side of the story...

Answer 2

Fear is the Beginning of Wisdom as it is written in the OT. Yet like you, I do not think I have to love God out of fear too. Since it was just a translation from original text to English, maybe the word fear is the only nearest word that can be used during the translation. But yes, with my belief and knowing what can happen to me when I do what is displeasing to Him is what I fear could happen.

Answer 3

When you fear your "god" it is not the base of all knowledge. In fact I don't fear your pretend deity and yet I study religion and probably know more aobut your religion than you do.
Knowledge comes from the deep desire and will to learn and experiance, not the close mindedness your god offers.
By the way, its "the Alpha and Omega" not Alfa. He should not be feared for he does not exist and even if he did then he would be the worst kind of god that does not deserve to be worshipped or even respected.

Answer 4

You go girl....that's the spirit!! I definitly share your revereial fear of God. King David was inspired to write our same feeling that's why God had him record it at Psm 118:10. Proverbs 8:13 is yet another wonderful reminder that it is wisdom on our part to have fear. I can best illustrate a wholesome fear....like that of a young child,when he/she is being in a loving love corrected. We understand that our parents can physically correct us, but deep inside our fear is our having to displease them that usually hurts. So it is when we displease God we know that he has that ability to disciplne us, but our fear should be because of our doing God wrong. Most persons don't understand that God has feelings. Besides where did we get our triats..well from God Himself. Love, Power, Wisdom,Justice....these are those wonderful traits.
Hebrews 12:6 is probably the scripture I appreicate has well.So u keep up the good work I leave u with this wonderful scripture for u to read on how God feels about u.....Proverbs 31:30

Peace!!

Answer 5

Another person who doesn't understand the word fear, it means reverence.
To reverence God is the beginning of wisdom.
If you fear you run away.
I don't want to know any more about something I fear..
If I fear; and you pursue, I turn and attack you.
If I fear you I stay away from you.
I might even hate you. I don't love that which I fear.

OLAY!

Perhaps the translators of the King James version, needed a little fear to make them use the correct word.

Answer 6

When someone is telling another person to lighten up because they say they fear God too much. That is the devil speaking. We are to fear God and as your said in your post, to fear God is the beginning of knowledge. God will enlighten those who humble themselves before Him and respect and honor Him, and that includes to fear His wrath. Not to cross the line with God as so many people appear to be doing every day.

Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Answer 7

I think you are right, I am a new Christian and the concept of fearing God is still confusing because why should we fear something we love so much?? I think its more like an intense respect and honour? But I do understand what you mean.

Answer 8

I think fearing God means Knowing that He is a Holy God, and we should respect that. Having reverence and humility in His presence. Honoring His commandments, and having a sincere appreciation for what He loves and what he hates. Standing in awe before Him! I think fear of the judgment, and Gods wrath lies with the non-believer. But His arms are opened for them also.

Answer 9

Sister Ali the Heir and student of Prophet Mohammad addressed this issue raised by a man who claimed he feared God very much. Ali clarified, that true I fear God too, but my fear is not based on knowing the God is going to harm me unjustly or because he God forbid is unreasonable. I fear the Lord because he is JUST!! He is JUST and people are sinful. When you commit sin and another does not, it would be wrong for the Lord Most HIGH to treat both the same way.

THUS we fear his Justice. He would never wrong anyone. So in reality those who fear the Lord are really afraid of their own actions that may become worthy of punishment.

Hope and love for the MIGHTY ONE can keep our fear in check.

One more saying from Imam Ali is also beautiful. He said there are three types of people in this World among the Muslims. Those who do good out of the fear of hell fire. These people have a slave mentality and they do good only due to fear. THEN there are the merchants who do good to gain paradise or get blessings from the Most High. BUT, the best people are those who seek to good to please the Lord who made them. They feel a deep gratitude for their Creator who gave them so many blessings that they can not count them. WITH that sense of gratitude they do good, only to please Him Almighty, although they also understand that our actions can neither benefit nor harm God. Such people who do good only out of gratitude and to please the Lord are indeed closest to the MIGHTYONE in spirit and action. They have truly succeeded!!!

Answer 10

Many biblical verses, such as Eph 5:21, seem to support what you say. But 1 John 4:18 seems to say that love and fear cannot coexist. A paradox. I guess you Christians have it tough.