Christian friends. Is your motivation as a Christian fear of God or the love of God?

Question

I think some of us start out fearing God because that is what we are taught, however, I think that as people mature and grow in a relationship with God we find our motivation as love for Him and appreciation for what He has done for us.
Coming from a Baptist background I knew a lot more about fearing God than seeing Him as my Redeemer, as One who has loved me and will love me eternally.
If fear has been your motivation, how can you trust Someone you're afraid of?
When we're told to "fear" God in the Bible, does it really mean to stand in awe of Who He is? To realize why we need Him?
It seems to me that we can't truly love God if we're really motivated by the desire to avoid punishment.
What do you think? And, please, if this question doesn't interest you just pass it by, there is no need for disrespect. Thank you.

These are some great answers. Just to clarify, I believe I understand the "fear" of God in the Bible as being the beginning of knowledge. But blind fear, being told "you'll go to hell" if you don't jump through this particular hoop, that is where I have an issue-I don't think that His love is clearly established, especially in younger Christians who have not had clear examples of faith. Yes, we need to know we're sinners, we also need to experience His love, to know that we are His. I've actually heard preachers complain about "kids coming up to claim fire insurance" when they've just preached a sermon designed to scare the you-know-what out of them!! After many years of fear I found peace and joy in God, because I finally found out He really does love me, regardless. He knows me through and through and still, He loves me.
I read about Fred Phelps and his campaign against dead soldiers, and I wonder, just what does his god look like? I hope to never meet him.

Answer 1

If I feared God, I would not serve Him.
Throughout history, Satan has misrepresented God as unfeeling, unfair and unjust(the devil's own traits) He even labels his own terrible acts towards humanity as, "acts of God" Jesus, in His sacrifice, came to reconcile humanity with God. He has promised to return for us, but for now, we must endure the calamities that have resulted from sin.
In the beginning, heaven was in harmony.Lucifer was perfectly loved just like we are. When Lucifer rebelled, God could've just destroyed him and that would have been the end of it. But this is not the way God works. God accepts only loving voluntary service. The only service acceptable to God is cheerful, voluntary service prompted by love. Obedience for any other reason is unacceptable. If God had destroyed Lucifer, some angels would have believed that Lucifer was 'right'. "Be careful if you go against God, he will kill you!". Plus, The Bible says, "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" 1 Corinthians 4:9 The entire universe is watching the events that are unraveling in this world.
God wanted to make sure the angels understood that He loved them and that He wanted voluntary service prompted by love. He demonstrated it by not destroying Lucifer. Since Lucifer became Satan, he has created a lot of suffering in this world. He has enjoyed instilling fear and hate of God by misrepresenting the character of God. The belief that conscientious souls are kept in eternal terror has kept many people away from the church. And who benefits from this? Satan.
Our Saviour's heart overflows with love, purity and peace. His abundant love, His compassion for me, even though I'm a sinner. Giving His only Son for me, to die a horrible death, although I do not deserve it. All of this makes me serve Him out of love, not fear. If God lives in my heart, His Law lives in my heart. It is my desire to do His will. Throughout history, God has shown me the difference between obey out of fear and serve out of love.

"The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" Luke 9:54-56

Answer 2

I think by fearing God, you're realizing just how powerful he is. A lot of people float through life like it's no big deal. Like we came from monkeys and all we have to live on is morals and mans law. (which is rediculous in my opinion... if we came from monkeys.. why are there still monkeys around LOL) anyways though. I think you hit it dead on with what you were saying. My thing is though, I believe the love is already there to begin with, but the fear is just over powering the love. And with time.. Your relationship with God grows. and the love is stronger.. and the fear is less.

Sorry if that is confuseing. And sorry if that didnt answer ANY thing you were asking. I guess I was just rambleing on.

Answer 3

When i was growing up as a youngin, i use to do some strange things, You know the kind of stuff you would say now why in the heck would a kid do that. And I would get punished for doing those foolish things. When my father came home he would spank my rear pretty good. So when i did those things, I knew when my father came home is was going to get it, you wanna talk about fear. But at the same time I loved my father he was and still is a very good and loved father. I wanted him to be proud of me. As I got older i did less stupid things and got in much less trouble. Now being older and wise I see that i was very lucky to have such a good father. I'm sure somewhere in that story might explain the love/ fear aspect or maybe not but i tried.

Answer 4

Love. I just finished writing an essay on the book of Ephesians. In the first three chapters, we are told that God has done something unheard of in all the religions of the world. He has a adopted us as children into his family. The word for adoption is a legal term that means given full rights of inheritance.

This is mind blowing. This is love. Not vengeful spite and hatred. Those who believe the God of the Bible is hateful have the wrong idea of my Father. I wish they would let him love them.

Answer 5

When the Bible says to "fear God", to me it is directed more to those who do not believe or are on the fence than it does to one who has accepted God and has received His gifts of grace and eternal life. Why? Because unbelievers are the ones who will be punished by His vengeance in due time. Because God tells us in the book of Revelation just what is going to happen in due time and it isn't pretty....it's actually very frightening. Even me, a believer who has received God's gracious gifts finds that book to be scary, but only in how it pertains to those who do not yet believe.

I think it is natural to first come to God in fear because when we have first begun to believe in Him, we know we have sinned and have fallen short and have shamed God. It's natural as a human being to think we could very well be punished. However, God does not punish us for coming to Him and repenting to Him. Instead, He welcomes us into His fold and bestows upon us His gifts of grace and eternal life. All we have to do is accept and embrace those gifts.

The initial reasons for coming to believe in God may not be the best, but I believe that with time and through studying the Bible, our motivations change and we begin to understand just how to allow God to make us new creations.

I really hope this answers your questions. I found your thoughts very interesting!

Answer 6

Both, the bible says the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge.

Answer 7

A more complete meaning of the term 'fear of God' is reverential awe.' We reverence Him so highly we do not want to disrespect Him at all. this term implies worship which is to adore Him or admire Him. That is love. 1 Cor 13 describes this reverential love. It is like when we are so sensitive to someone we love we do not want to do anything to upset them. We humble ourselves and place that person's feelings even above our own.

Answer 8

I wasnt raised to fear Him, having been brought up atheist. My motivation is really love...just the thought that He would save me after all that I said and did against Him makes me love Him...

..because He first loved me..
After that I'd say my driving force is just my desire to return the love.

Answer 9

Fear of God does not mean what you think it does.

Most have been taught such fear is a dreadful fear or torture or pain. But it is actually a healthy fear of displeasing him.

Just as a human (with or without a religion) wants to please and make proud the people who are important in his/her life (teachers, friends, parents, mates, children) we want to be a source of pride to our God and make his heart rejoice. Proverbs 27:11.

That, not "bad" fear is what fear of God means.

Willing to talk to anyone who wants to talk about God/Bible, etc.

Debbie

Answer 10

Both.

When the "love" is not enough to keep me heading the right direction (and it usually is), then the "Fear Factor" kicks in.