Shouldn't people love their God rather than fear Him/Her/It?
"Fear" may be a misnomer, as I have heard it was originally intended to mean people should obey and respect God, not literally fear Him/Her/It. But can't you obey and respect out of love rather than fear? And wouldn't respect from love be more genuine than respect from fear?
[Forgive the pronouns, please, I don't know which is best as they all apply to things here and you really can't describe a deity with our own limitations... "it" makes the most sense, but may be considered disrespectful... oi.]
2007-03-08 16:02:56 · 18 answers · asked by Allo 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I agree with you. I think FEAR is not the right word. I like LOVE and RESPECT much better, and I would venture a guess that God likes those words better also.
2007-03-08 16:11:44 · answer #1 · answered by Katykins 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
True... Obedience & Respect to God out of Love would be the most wonderful thing. Unfortunately, most people who claim they love God do not obey or follow his teachings. They also tend to forget God's presence in their lives until a tragedy or an illness happens in their lives only then they would pray to God to forgive their sins. Face it, most people take God for granted. They ask for help that they may have a better life & so on but
how many actually pray to God daily to give thanks & to worship him. Just like a small child, he would
be more obedient to the stricter parent out of fear
rather than to the parent who show love & mercy
all the time. As St Paul says, work out your salvation with fear & trembling. He knows too well
that people can be complacent when they are not at the edge.
2007-03-08 16:53:05 · answer #2 · answered by shannondelaney 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Proverbs :1 says this: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" This was said by the most wise men of all time, Solomon, son of David.
Fear here does not refer to the negative meaning of the word, but rather that one has to revere and honour God for who He is, the Great I am. God is God and in no way can I interpret this to soothe my own conscience or to fit into my own ligestyle. He is a Holy God and should be honoured, revered and I am in awe of HIm at all times.
This is not a negative feeling or experience - it is beautiful, for Perfect love drives out all fear. It enables me to have a intimate and living, personal relationship with God. I do not regard myself as a religious person - no, I am not religious at all. I have a relationship with my Creator through HIs Son Jesus Christ and to me it is a way of life, not a religion, for God surpasses religion.
This means that you do not obey and respect God beacause you are afraid of Him, but because you LOVE him!!!
Secondly, PLEASE NOTE: God is not a She. God is Spirit ,and if you truly believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, then you would never call HIm she, as the Bible refers to Him as He. I am a she and Him being a He, does not offend or scare me at all, for He is so much more then man's petty thoughts about he or she. Get to know Him and this [irrelevant] issue will cease to occupy and corrupt your thoughts.
He is awesome, He is personal. Just get to know HIM!
Let us know if you do!
2007-03-08 16:15:09 · answer #3 · answered by godshandmaiden 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Our fear of Jehovah should be respect because we realize our limitations when compared with his unlimited love, power, wisdom, justice, etc. Yes, it should be based on love and knowledge of him rather than "fear" as in shirking away and trembling. God is awesome and we are insignificant, yet his love and attention elevates us to become his children and the heirs of his promises.
2007-03-08 17:50:36 · answer #4 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one should fear God even though I am Hindu I am sure bible would not have said to fear God, instead you should respect God.
No one in the world fears God, if they fear god there would not be rape, murder, terrorism and all the bad things in this world.
A man who fears God will be an Ideal Man who would not lie, hurt others and hurt himself. He will be well disciplined person.
2007-03-08 16:15:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there there is such a thing as a healthy fear. You know that fear that keeps you from touching a hot stove or jumping off of a cliff. Those are healthy fears. You fear pain and death so you do not do things that would cause them. The same goes for God. If you love God then you fear his wrath and the sentence of burning in eternal hell fire, so you live you life in such a manner that you will not anger him and go to hell.
2007-03-08 16:09:57 · answer #6 · answered by Jaimee's Mommy 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Bible says, we should fear God, from the Book of Genesis to Revelations.
2007-03-08 16:17:51 · answer #7 · answered by Tinkerbelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that people have to start somewhere and if it is fear, so be it. I started in fear in a way I guess, but God has taught me to love him and shown me his endless love for me.
2007-03-08 16:08:10 · answer #8 · answered by t2ensie 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I love my dad, i respected him. but if i did something wrong............call it fear or a butt whoopin'. I believe God is the same, do as you told or face the consequences. Try this: did the people of new orleans not listen to God(they didnt hear about the evacuations) and as a result he got their attention?
2007-03-08 16:10:25 · answer #9 · answered by tbone608 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Obey,respect,love.
He shouldn't be called her or it.
Romans (10)
Rev 18-22
Matt 25
John 3
Isaiah 9
2007-03-08 16:10:26 · answer #10 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋