Religious Buzzwords
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In my attempt to understand how religion and politics became so entangled, I keep coming across "God fearing" people. My God is a loving, forgiving and compassionate God.
Can someone explain "God fearing" to me?
I feel it's more of a fearful respect. He is the Perfect Father and we are His children.
IMO, we're all guilty and we're all sinners. But if we ask for forgiveness He will forgive.
I was also raised southern baptist- small town church with some of these same scare tactics. As an adult I searched for a church that shared some of my beliefs without the fear and scare factor. I found a loving church that serves a loving God but I do believe we should still fear God in some ways.
Anyone seeking God should never fear Him. He is forgiving, loving, accepting.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. - Psalm 111:10 NIV
Think of the respect a rock climber has for the mountain. He isn't afraid of death (or being punished for making a mistake). Death is possible, but you are going to cling to the rock and rely on its strength, not just your own. The rock climber and the mountain work together. Or think of the respect a surfer has for the ocean and all it holds. Being afraid will cripple you, but showing respect, and learning all you can about it will cause you to excel. You could say it's a healthy fear, not a crippling fear.
The book of proverbs, in the Bible, has a few things to say about fearing God ...
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
If you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
He whose walk is upright fears the LORD, but he whose ways are devious despises him.
The book of proverbs, in the Bible, has a few things to say about fearing God ...
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
If you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
He whose walk is upright fears the LORD, but he whose ways are devious despises him.
I think the more people who fear God will turn away.
He/She (yes, I'm one of those who believes God is genderless) has always been patient and offered unconditional support and guidance.
God has an open heart and an open mind.
.
He/She (yes, I'm one of those who believes God is genderless) has always been patient and offered unconditional support and guidance.
God has an open heart and an open mind.
.
Sorry, this is WAY too heavy for me.
Thanks for all the replies. I was raised in the Episcopal church and never feared God. I did attend a Baptist summer camp one summer and that is when I first heard of fearing God and remember all the kids that went up to get saved everynight after worship. No, I never went up for some reason...you would think the peer pressure alone would have made me go.
Tourists who swim when double red flags are posted are fools who do not fear the Gulf.
I once met a Carmelite nun who was so happy about her choice to dedicate her life to God and helping others that her face glowed w/ joy.
She left more of an impression than all of the other religious leaders/people I have met in my life who preface their faith w/ judgments, condemnation, and hate COMBINED.
All "god-fearing" means to me is that I should be afraid of THEM because they are so full of hypocrisy and themselves they can't understand the basic message of the religion they profess to follow.
She left more of an impression than all of the other religious leaders/people I have met in my life who preface their faith w/ judgments, condemnation, and hate COMBINED.
All "god-fearing" means to me is that I should be afraid of THEM because they are so full of hypocrisy and themselves they can't understand the basic message of the religion they profess to follow.
Bingo...that has been my experience with a certain population of Christians. They have been some of the MOST judgemental people I have ever met and it confuses me when they witness and wish to get anyone to see their wonderful lives after finding God.
