What does it mean to 'fear' God?

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Title: What does it mean to 'fear' God?

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dogmafree

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Date Posted：07/07/2007 1:03 PMCopy HTML

The bible suggests we should 'fear God, and keep his commandments'. In christian circles, the word FEAR here is often made to be more like REVERE. I'm sure some scholer can come along and expound the full meaning of the word in its context. It makes me wonder a bit. Is the god of the bible's nature such that he wants us to FEAR him (be afraid of his wrath) in the usual way we think of fear? If so, is this culture of fear an effective manner of behavioural control? If we liken the christians' relationship with god with a parent/child relationship, is a fear of punishment an appropriate way to raise the child? Maybe it is just a background thing (sort of like a cold war) and the predominating culture is one of love and respect, and positive behaviour is encouraged mostly through rewarding it and by positive role modelling? What have we as a culture learned about parenting? There have been a number of reforms in what is acceptable these days. We no longer say 'children should be seen & not heard' and spanking is seriously frowned upon and even outlawed. Psychologists and other professionals seem to have agreed that the 'paddle' is a primitive and ineffective means of behavioural control. Many others would disagree. Who's right and why? So in summary, what are our values in terms of the parent/child relationship, and how might they correlate with the way the bible god interacts with his children and directs them in his ways? Dog.

"for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2)

dogmafree Share to: #1

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Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God?

Date Posted：16/07/2007 8:59 PMCopy HTML

No takers?

Here's a simple question..........

Can we really LOVE somebody that we FEAR (if perfect love casts out all fear)

Dog.

"for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2)

MothandRust Share to: #2

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Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God?

Date Posted：28/07/2007 6:35 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : dogmafree

No takers?Here's a simple question..........Can we really LOVE somebody that we FEAR (if perfect love casts out all fear)Dog.

Interestingly, Christians find they have to prove their theories with scripture citing it is perfect and without blemish despite it being scattered with literary contradictions and meanings that can only be deciphered when the whole context is interpreted and cultural trends identified.

Consider the following concerning the theme of love and fear, as you brought up:

We should fear God (Matthew 10:28)
We should love God (Matthew 22:37)
There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18)

What is love.. baby don't hurt me.. don't hurt me... no more. bump.. bump... do do do do do do

Instagram and Twitter: @mothpete

dogmafree Share to: #3

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Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God?

Date Posted：28/07/2007 9:27 PMCopy HTML

Hmmmm, There WAS a post in this thread about a week ago.

It is no longer here. Wonder why the poster retracted their comments? They were along the lines of saying current trends in child-raising etc are not effective, that respect & discipline has been lost and we have a lot of delinquent kids as a result. They also suggested that the 'firm hand' and occasional smacking never did the poster's kids any harm. At least that's how I recall & interprete their response.

Does that person want to explain why they retracted their comments?

Dog.

"for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2)

RF_on_the_edge Share to: #4

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Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God?

Date Posted：29/07/2007 9:59 AMCopy HTML

Reply to : MothandRust

... that can only be deciphered when the whole context is interpreted and cultural trends identified ...

Aw c'mon, you know that to do anything less is naive and foolish at best, and deceptive tabloid journalism at worst.

You know the old joke ...

An American soldier is in a firepit (foxhole) keeping watch against an imminent enemy attack. An Australian comes up from behind to relieve him. The Yank turns to the Aussie and says, "I'm starving and I've run out of rations. Can I have one of your chocolate bars?" The Aussie says "Go for your life." The Yank jumps up, lets off a wild shot, and starts running.

Or ...

I call a Pom a 'dag' ... do I really mean he is (or even reminds me of) manure hanging off wool on a sheeps backside? (In this case, at least, no because he's my favourite uncle who's just a wee bit eccentric.)

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Title: What does it mean to 'fear' God?
Revival_Centres_Discussion_Forums > Reviving from Revival > The Bible, Beliefs and Faiths	Go to subcategory：

dogmafree
Rank：Poster Venti III Score：9580 Posts：416 From：Unknown Register：22/02/2006 12:26 AM	Date Posted：07/07/2007 1:03 PMCopy HTML The bible suggests we should 'fear God, and keep his commandments'. In christian circles, the word FEAR here is often made to be more like REVERE. I'm sure some scholer can come along and expound the full meaning of the word in its context. It makes me wonder a bit. Is the god of the bible's nature such that he wants us to FEAR him (be afraid of his wrath) in the usual way we think of fear? If so, is this culture of fear an effective manner of behavioural control? If we liken the christians' relationship with god with a parent/child relationship, is a fear of punishment an appropriate way to raise the child? Maybe it is just a background thing (sort of like a cold war) and the predominating culture is one of love and respect, and positive behaviour is encouraged mostly through rewarding it and by positive role modelling? What have we as a culture learned about parenting? There have been a number of reforms in what is acceptable these days. We no longer say 'children should be seen & not heard' and spanking is seriously frowned upon and even outlawed. Psychologists and other professionals seem to have agreed that the 'paddle' is a primitive and ineffective means of behavioural control. Many others would disagree. Who's right and why? So in summary, what are our values in terms of the parent/child relationship, and how might they correlate with the way the bible god interacts with his children and directs them in his ways? Dog. "for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2)
dogmafree	Share to: #1
Rank：Poster Venti III Score：9580 Posts：416 From：Unknown Register：22/02/2006 12:26 AM	Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God? Date Posted：16/07/2007 8:59 PMCopy HTML No takers? Here's a simple question.......... Can we really LOVE somebody that we FEAR (if perfect love casts out all fear) Dog. "for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2)
MothandRust	Share to: #2
Rank：Forum Oracle Score：41550 Posts：1881 From：Australia Register：27/02/2004 11:21 PM	Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God? Date Posted：28/07/2007 6:35 PMCopy HTML Reply to : dogmafree No takers?Here's a simple question..........Can we really LOVE somebody that we FEAR (if perfect love casts out all fear)Dog. Interestingly, Christians find they have to prove their theories with scripture citing it is perfect and without blemish despite it being scattered with literary contradictions and meanings that can only be deciphered when the whole context is interpreted and cultural trends identified. Consider the following concerning the theme of love and fear, as you brought up: We should fear God (Matthew 10:28) We should love God (Matthew 22:37) There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18) What is love.. baby don't hurt me.. don't hurt me... no more. bump.. bump... do do do do do do Instagram and Twitter: @mothpete
dogmafree	Share to: #3
Rank：Poster Venti III Score：9580 Posts：416 From：Unknown Register：22/02/2006 12:26 AM	Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God? Date Posted：28/07/2007 9:27 PMCopy HTML Hmmmm, There WAS a post in this thread about a week ago. It is no longer here. Wonder why the poster retracted their comments? They were along the lines of saying current trends in child-raising etc are not effective, that respect & discipline has been lost and we have a lot of delinquent kids as a result. They also suggested that the 'firm hand' and occasional smacking never did the poster's kids any harm. At least that's how I recall & interprete their response. Does that person want to explain why they retracted their comments? Dog. "for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2)
RF_on_the_edge	Share to: #4
Rank：Regular Poster Score：3180 Posts：156 From：Unknown Register：12/03/2007 10:25 PM	Re：What does it mean to 'fear' God? Date Posted：29/07/2007 9:59 AMCopy HTML Reply to : MothandRust ... that can only be deciphered when the whole context is interpreted and cultural trends identified ... Aw c'mon, you know that to do anything less is naive and foolish at best, and deceptive tabloid journalism at worst. You know the old joke ... An American soldier is in a firepit (foxhole) keeping watch against an imminent enemy attack. An Australian comes up from behind to relieve him. The Yank turns to the Aussie and says, "I'm starving and I've run out of rations. Can I have one of your chocolate bars?" The Aussie says "Go for your life." The Yank jumps up, lets off a wild shot, and starts running. Or ... I call a Pom a 'dag' ... do I really mean he is (or even reminds me of) manure hanging off wool on a sheeps backside? (In this case, at least, no because he's my favourite uncle who's just a wee bit eccentric.)