Who wants to fear God?

Question

I don't understand why so manyt Christians are proud to be "God-fearing"? Doesn't logic dictate that fear based relationships are dangerously one-sided? For example...When a person is in an abusive and threatening relationship are they not told by loved ones to leave the relationship? Shouldn't a relationship be completely equal? If so, is it not ones moral responsibility to make these "God-fearing" Christians aware of their circumstance so that they may free themselves from it?

FYI: As a curious creature I have read the Bible(many versions) on numerous occasions and went to Church from the age of birth-15. I have read many books on religion and discussed religion in many groups as I find it fascinating. However, this one question has always lacked an answer that satisfied me.

Rev Einstein...if you have this "wisdom" would you be able to answer my question rather than quote something that does not?

David S: Is it really respect or fear of what God can do? Consequences of wrong actions can be harsh in the Bible.

THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT "GOD FEARING CHRISTIANS" If you have no fear of God then I am not speaking about you. I am speaking to and about the millions of Christians who will happily tell you they are GOD FEARING. I understand they may also respect,love,cherish,etc; God but it is the FEAR that i am inquiring about. The word fear is not a substitute for another word. It is clearly there for a purpose and I have heard it thousands of times so I know it is not a substitute for another word.

Fear is in no way another word for respect. They are completely different things.

Well, no Christian has actually answered WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO FEAR GOD.

Answer 1

I don't think you are looking for a scripture that would tell you that the fear we are talking is a reverence.. I fear electricity. So should you, it can kill.. Never the less when used correctly we have found it to be a very useful form of energy. The fear of God can also lead us to something good. A trust in Him that brings His grace for salvation. All outside power (outside us) needs to be feared. The fear of the Lord leads to life... Jim

Answer 2

For hundreds of years Christians were kept in control by being taught that God was a mean old S.O.B. who would show no mercy if the tinyest rule was broken. Break a commandment, and down you go. Everyone was told to fear god because he will show no mercy at all.
Sixty or seventy years ago, god mellowed to the point that he became the soft-hearted, forgiving old grandfather type.
I don't know what brought this change about, but now nobody fears god anymore, he's just an old softy afterall.

Answer 3

Hey C, what up?

I believe the fear that you are describing is not exactly what the Scriptures teach.

For example, " the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" does not point towards a fear like one of getting zapped or burned, bullied, you better or else, kind of meaning. I believe the Word is speaking of a healthy reverance or respect for the Great Creator. It carries the idea of an awe-struck individual ready to understand and give attention to the One who carries authority with great affection. God-fearing people are those who find it exciting,exhilerating, and honorable to go after the One who is just longing for them to take hold of His story and make it their own

Answer 4

I am Catholic and can only speak for myself and what I know of my religion in this instance. I don't think that most people know why they say a lot of things they say. What it really means is that if you sin, you need to fear the punishment that will follow if you aren't truly sorry for your actions. Just as your children don't obey you, there are consequences for them. If you don't keep the laws of man, there are consequences as well...court time, fines or even prison.

So, what God-fearing means is that if you commit the crimes, you have to willing to "do the time". If you don't believe there will be consequences, then you have no fear of them or God. Are you willing to take that chance? I'm not.

Answer 5

The fear of God is a bad translation for reverance. This is a fact, taken from the Greek. Look it up in the Strong's Concordance.

God be with you,
Reverend William M. Butler, St. Luke Ministries

Answer 6

When it is stated that man shall fear God it really means that we should respect the creator for what he is and not fear him in the way that most people understand the term. We are all temples of the one great spirit of God and are engaged in the manifestation of the great plan as it is in the mind of the creator or informing life of this man bearing globe.

Answer 7

I respect God, respect is another word for fear...and in every parent child relationship the child has to respect the parent if they are going to be good people.

Answer 8

You have the wrong definition of fear. The Fear of God is a reverential awe or respect of God, not a dread or a threatening emotion.

Answer 9

God said himself my people( die because of lack of )knowledge. You are correct in saying fear is dangerous in any relationship including with God. The problem is people dont understand the use of the word from a biblical or spiritual perspective. Godly (fear) is basicly Godly( respect) Love is another out of about 72 names for God. When you have an love relationship with any one you( fear) doing anything that would hurt that person because they've been so fair and good to you God did something special for all of us at one time in history he (God) became human (Jesus) to reconnect him self with his creation that was spiritually seperated from him because of Adams sin . He did this out of love (gospel of John 3:16). We are physically alive but spiritually dead to God on the inside when we are born thats why no one has to teach us to steal or lie or do anything else that is wrong. Jesus(God) in human flesh provided us a way to become spiritually alive again meaning you 're now sensitive to the things God desires ,and its no longer about self. Its not about religion or what you do to be consiered righteous, its about relationship and what Jesus(God) did to make you right with him .God calls us his friends ......greater love no man can have than to lay down his lfe for his friends (gospel of john 15:13) so God also said himself their is no fear in Love because with fear comes torment and he who fears has not been made perfect in love ..........1st john 4:18 read whole chapter 4

Answer 10

Fearing your own god is like being in an abusive relationship. Considering Yahweh the Torturer's vengeful, wrathful nature, He's more like an angry drunk than most pagan gods. 'Shhh, Daddy's home, don't do anything to make Him smite thee'. It's disgusting. It's even more disgusting that most people dont realize that there are many different faiths they could try instead of staying with Yahweh the Abuser and His son the executed celibate.