A lot of Christians say they love God but it doesn't really seem like they do. It seems like many believers believe not because they love God, but because they fear him. Am I wrong or is this a reality.
2007-06-10 13:01:45 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's both.
Christianity, and other religions, gain and keep converts through emotional manipulation including childhood indoctrination, fear, guilt, love, pity, and anything else they can use to sway or entrap people.
2007-06-10 13:04:09 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Right! That's why the false doctrine of a hell that is roasting lost souls right now and will continue forever and ever! This is not Biblical, but it sure has increased the numbers in the Christian churches! How could anyone love a God like that? Torturing His Creations millions of years for 80-90 years of sin! I don't read the Bible that way. Malachi 4 says the lost will be ashes under the saved's feet. Rev. 20 and 21 talks about the destruction of the wicked with fire and God making a new heaven and a new earth. Sodom and Gomorrah had the same kind of unquenchable fire - meaning no one could put it out and it burned until it was all burned up!
2007-06-10 13:13:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The kind of fear that God expects of his loyal subjects is a healthy fear of displeasing him, not the morbid fear of being killed by him.
That's the same kind of fear a person would feel toward their father or mother and it would be because they love them and care what they think about the decisions they make.
On the other side, people who hate, or even deny God's existance, would not feel any fear, until its too late.
2007-06-10 13:46:55 · answer #3 · answered by Victor S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is both- the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom as Proverbs says. It is a reverant fear! The Lord wants us to fear Him in reverance- in awe! He is our GOD!
We love Him because of what HE has done for us- for WHO He is!
And we have no fear in anything, because we know Him! Because we are saved in Him- there is nothing to fear!
Those without Christ, should fear ---when you stand before God on judgment day, are you going to be at ease? If you have never accepted His gift of salvation- through Jesus Christ?
Because that day will come- and because He has died and rose again, we who believe are set free from sin and hell. Sin is serious stuff, and we all need forgiveness through Jesus Christ!
I would never want to die in my sins and be separated from God- Sin is horrible!!!
(Read Romans 10 and John 3)
2007-06-10 13:37:36 · answer #4 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a good questions...allow me to remark to this. To fear God is a biblical term that means to respect him through reverence. Therefore the understanding of the word basically answers that question. To love is something completely different because true love comes through god only...while we all know and practice conditional love he has pure unconditional love for us. The final answer would be to your whole question is that we should love and respect him for whom he is and try to be a better christian daily...god bless.
2007-06-10 13:10:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
(John 3:5) Jesus answered (Nicodemus), Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Those are the real Christians Jesus is talking about. Being born again is the experience above all experiences. People who call themselves Christians do not all fall into this category and those who do know that fearing God is a necessary part of their Christian experience, although it is only a part of it.
2007-06-10 13:11:50 · answer #6 · answered by Nels 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry that you have that view. I Love God and I know that Jesus will come again. I live not in fear of the Lord, but TRY to live to please him. I pray that God will help me be strong, brave and to face my fears. I believe that he loves us and will help us if we ask. This does not mean he will give us what ever we want, but will help us deal with what we have. For God so loved the world he gave us his Son.
2007-06-10 13:11:05 · answer #7 · answered by kamarose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's actually possible to love God in the Western, traditional sense of the term. Fear, definitely. But not love.
2007-06-10 13:09:39 · answer #8 · answered by Skye 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is true that some are drawn by the Love of the Cross and others are drawn by the fear of eternal consequence.
As with any relation,it takes time to really fall in love.
Good question
2007-06-10 13:17:31 · answer #9 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh I love my God, not because I fear Him, but because he is so awesome with his mercy and forgiveness. I am just a sinner, saved by grace, His merciful grace. Without it, I would be wandering around the world lost, with no focus or guidance. My Bible is my best friend, His teachings my best lessons, my church family my best friends on earth.
The closer I get to Him, the more I know His love and compassion for me. Something NO ONE on this earth can give. Unconditional love.
2007-06-10 13:09:18 · answer #10 · answered by mamabair 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately over time, the word "Christian" has lost a great deal of it significance and is often used of someone who is religious or has high moral values instead of a true born again follower of Jesus Christ. Many people who don’t believe and trust in Jesus Christ consider themselves Christians simply because they go to church or they live in a "Christian" nation. But going to church, serving those less fortunate than you, or being a good person does not make you a Christian.
2007-06-10 13:04:14 · answer #11 · answered by Silver 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋