Why do some Christians say "you have to fear god" when supposedly their god is nice and merciful?

Question

Older folks tend to always tell me "you don't fear god," but it sounds stupid if your god is merciful. Is there some "hebrew" meaning to the word fear they're using? (usually when things sound bad to christians; like god saying he takes pleasure in seeing you suffer when you don't obey his law; the words magically turn to some hebrew meaning that is the complete opposite).

Answer 1

Fear of God....

fear
n 1: an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain
or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or
fight) [syn: fearfulness, fright] [ant: fearlessness]
2: an anxious feeling; "care had aged him"; "they hushed it up
out of fear of public reaction" [syn: concern, care]
v 1: be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible
or probable situation or event; "I fear she might get
aggressive"
2: be afraid or scared of; be frightened of; "I fear the
winters in Moscow"; "We should not fear the Communists!"
[syn: dread]
3: be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement: "I fear
I won't make it to your wedding party"
4: be uneasy or apprehensive about; "I fear the results of the
final exams"
5: be in awe of; "Fear God as your father" [syn: reverence, revere,
venerate]

Fere \Fere\, n. [OE. fere companion, AS. gef[=e]ra, from
f[=e]ran to go, travel, faran to travel. [root]78. See
Fare.]
A mate or companion; -- often used of a wife. [Obs.] [Written
also fear and feere.] --Chaucer.

And Cambel took Cambrina to his fere. --Spenser.

In fere, together; in company. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Fear \Fear\, n.
A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Fear \Fear\, n. [OE. fer, feer, fere, AS. f?r a coming suddenly
upon, fear, danger; akin to D. vaar, OHG. f[=a]ra danger, G.
gefahr, Icel. f[=a]r harm, mischief, plague, and to E. fare,
peril. See Fare.]
1. A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of
evil, or the apprehension of impending danger;
apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm; dread.

Note: The degrees of this passion, beginning with the most
moderate, may be thus expressed, -- apprehension, fear,
dread, fright, terror.

Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the
thought of future evil likely to befall us.
--Locke.

Where no hope is left, is left no fear. --Milton.

2. (Script.)
(a) Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid,
God's wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt
toward the Supreme Belng.
(b) Respectful reverence for men of authority or worth.

I will put my fear in their hearts. --Jer.
xxxii. 40.

I will teach you the fear of the Lord. --Ps.
xxxiv. 11.

render therefore to all their dues; tribute to
whom tribute is due . . . fear to whom fear.
--Rom. xiii.
7.

3. That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension
or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger;
dreadfulness.

There were they in great fear, where no fear was.
--Ps. liii. 5.

The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a
more equal enterprise. --Shak.

For fear, in apprehension lest. ``For fear you ne'er see
chain nor money more.'' --Shak.
Fear \Fear\, v. i.
To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety
on account of some expected evil.

I exceedingly fear and quake. --Heb. xii.
21.
Fear \Fear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feared; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fearing.] [OE. feren, faeren, to frighten, to be afraid,
AS. f?ran to terrify. See Fear, n.]
1. To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to
consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. --Ps.
xxiii. 4.

Note: With subordinate clause.

I greatly fear my money is not safe. --Shak.

I almost fear to quit your hand. --D. Jerrold.

2. To have a reverential awe of; to solicitous to avoid the
displeasure of.

Leave them to God above; him serve and fear.
--Milton.

3. To be anxious or solicitous for. [R.]

The sins of the father are to be laid upon the
children, therefore . . . I fear you. --Shak.

4. To suspect; to doubt. [Obs.]

Ay what else, fear you not her courage? --Shak.

5. To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach
of by fear. [Obs.]

fear their people from doing evil. --Robynsin
(More's
utopia).

Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. --Shak.

Syn: To apprehend; dread; reverence; venerate.

Answer 2

Fear is a power word used to control people.

It's marketing hype.

It's political; not religious. Real Christians don't know it; neither do Muslims or Buddhists; but politicians bank on it. Right now, I'm gonna swap out all my evil incandescent lights in favor of Chinese-made mercury-laden CFLs because of it. Without any choice. (Now that should arouse fear.)

Answer 3

The basis of the monotheistic Christianity is the principal of a monarchy. The more you fear the king, the more you follow the king. Since strong ties of Christianity rested in the Catholic Church back in the earlier centuries of the religion over in Europe...the more you fear the king of the church, the more you follow the king of the church. The only way to follow the king of the church is to follow the people appointed by the king of the church, such as the priests and even the pope, which gave more power to the Catholic Church. Just one of the many ways religion had to implement power and rule.

Answer 4

Please know I'm no religious expert, but answering from my own interperatation of all the sermons I've heard growing up.

When it's said to "fear God", it can mean you should fear Gods judgement of your actions, because you will be held accountable on the day of Judgement.
That being said, I always took it to mean that we should have a fear of eternal damnation. Literally being in fear of going to hell.
And it's not that God takes any pleasure in suffering, it is to ensure that those who are righteous and just have a place in heaven.

Answer 5

I always wondered what it meant by fear God, it seems like you got some good answers so far.

Answer 6

Think of it this way; even though your mother loves you and is sweet and makes you food and does your laundry, you know that if you kick her in the face with a big old boot covered in cow manure, you'll get punished. So, you "fear" your mom knowing that she has the authority to punish your wrong doings. When we disobey or disrespect God, that's like kicking Him in the face with a big ol' poopy boot! lol Get it? He IS loving, but He's not a pushover!! He is our father, and will punish us accordingly if we don't repent! :D

Answer 7

The word "fear" does not mean as you are describing it. The word means "reverence". To be in awe of. It's not fear in the literal sense of being terrified. Many people tend to get that one confused. I hope I cleared it up for you.

Answer 8

It is all in the meaning of the word ' fear'
Fear is not just expecting to be hurt. It is deep respect, not wanting to upset the other person.
If you respect God, you will not do anything that may upset Him.

Answer 9

To fear God means to fear comitting an act for which you may be accountable and responsible.

Answer 10

You fear God as you would a father. You see that he is in control but are in awe of it.

Answer 11

Their god is nice and merciful, but when he has a bad hair day, watch out.