Psalms 111:10, "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of all wisdom". Nevertheless, I do not fear God. The Bible, particularly the old testament, is filled with examples of why God should be feared like a tyrranical Middle-Eastern potentate, but all my experience in real life makes the relationship between God and Man (and God and myself) seem entirely different from that described in the Bible.
2007-03-09 11:07:01 · 16 answers · asked by Ruel The Midianite 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How can one become God-fearing?
The bible actually gives a plain answer to this question. Jehovah explicitly tells humans to "develop this heart of theirs" to fear God.
(Deuteronomy 5:28-29) Jehovah went on to say...‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people... They have done well in all they have spoken. If only they would develop this heart of theirs to fear me
The next logical question is "how does one develop one's heart"? Jehovah goes on to note that a human should obey God's commands strictly and in time the human will begin to recognize the wisdom and love inherent in each command.
(Deuteronomy 5:29-6:3) If only they would develop this heart of theirs to fear me and to keep all my commandments always... And you people must take care to do just as Jehovah your God has commanded you. You must not turn to the right or to the left. In all the way that Jehovah your God has commanded you, you should walk, in order that you may live and it may be well with you and you may indeed lengthen your days
Eventually, a person who strictly obeys God will have 'developed his heart' so that he loves God. He must speak of his love to others, to keep reminding himself of his godly devotion.
(Deuteronomy 6:5-7) . . .And you must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your vital force. 6 And these words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; 7 and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.
(Hebrews 13:15) Let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.
2007-03-10 07:35:00 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Hebrew word being translated here for fear actually means something closer to awe.
There can be no fear in love. How can one love God while at the same time fearing God? It's not possible.
Many Christians today advocate this fear of God, to be afraid of God's eternal judgement for the rest of your life here on earth. But is that really the truth? A servant can fear his master, and do his masters will - but that does not mean that the servant loves his master. The same with God and followers. How can a relationshipi exist - a true intimate relationship - when fear exists?
Fear and love cannot inhabit the same space.
2007-03-09 19:25:21 · answer #2 · answered by noncrazed 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The fear of Jehovah is not a morbid fear. It is a deep respect and a reverential awe. It can be compared to a child who fears to displease his parents. This kind of "fear" comes from knowledge, love and respect. The reason you do not fear Jehovah is because you do not know him. When a person comes to know Jehovah and his many qualities, and begins to love him and desires to please him, the life choices that person makes, based on that knowledge and love is what reflects the wisdom that is mentioned in that Bible verse. To illustrate, It is like consulting a investment specialist before getting involved with the stock market. A person who "fears Jehovah" looks to the Bible for guidance and because of this makes good "investments" in their future. Until you come to really know Jehovah, you will never see the need to fear him. However, there is a very good reason to gain this wisdom now. http://www.watchtower.org/library/dg/article_09.htm
2007-03-10 01:56:55 · answer #3 · answered by izofblue37 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually the words translated to fear could just as appropriately be translated awe. Funny, I often see the examples in the Old Testament as proving God is awe inspiring. Much of what He says and does are for the benefit of people who have seen magic and illusion by priest of other groups. He needed to show them there was reason for awe beyond the illusions of those false gods.
2007-03-09 19:14:14 · answer #4 · answered by kaehya2003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you believe in him he must have killed thousands in the time it took me to write this. Look at all the disease and suffering and death and destruction in the world. Certainly if you believe in an active god who intervenes in this world then he is still slaughtering away and you would be right to fear him. If you don't, who knows? Maybe a tornado will rip you off the face of the Earth or maybe you'll end up rotting with avian flu. You need a healthy fear of crazy people and an even healthier fear of crazy gods.
Either that or dump the nonsense entirely.
2007-03-09 19:10:23 · answer #5 · answered by Dave P 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The word "fear" in these texts doesn't mean fear in the traditional sense of being scared of God.
The word "fear" in these texts means to humble yourself before God.
2007-03-09 19:16:14 · answer #6 · answered by Luv&Rockets 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Attend one of those evangelist television programs, that shoudl scare you enough. Though, scare of god, or the fact people actually pay good money to see that crud is a different matter.
2007-03-09 19:13:28 · answer #7 · answered by Lief Tanner 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read the book of Revelation.
2007-03-09 20:03:31 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just go by your own feelings. Everybody on this Earth has a different and unique "path", with or without "god". So do what you feel is best for you.
2007-03-09 19:11:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
LOSE SOME BRAIN CELLS. Superior intelligence would dictate that all religion is man-made and there are no gods other than in gullible peoples' imaginations.
2007-03-09 19:11:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋