General Discussions

FEAR or RESPECT GOD??? – spade89

spade89

Member

Posts: 561
From: houston,tx
Registered: 11-28-2006
Hi i always hear people say fear god and the bible also says fear god? so i am confused-we fear things that are a threat to our well being but god is not a threat to our well being he loves us and he wants us to be well not the opposite so should we be saying respect god or fear god? i think that there may be some error in translation of the bible from hebrew to english it would be possible for whoever interpreted the bible to english to confuse respect with fear because ancient languages like hebrew could have th same word for respect and fear. anyways that is my opinion i don't have an in-depth knowlege of the bible and i don't know any hebrew so if you have any explanation that would help me understand this dilema please feel free to explain.

------------------
a real programmer can write assembly code in any language

Max

Member

Posts: 523
From: IA
Registered: 09-19-2004
Fear = Respect. Generally that's the way I think of it.

------------------
To err is human--and to blame it on a computer is even more so. - Robert Orben

Blind belief is dangerous. - Kenyan Proverb

Computers are useless. They can only give you answers. - Pablo Picasso

Faith_Warrior

Member

Posts: 490
From: So.Cal.
Registered: 09-05-2006
Well, what does the bible say about it?

Proverbs 8:13"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 16:6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

So no, it's not to fall trembling in fear as if a monster were overtaking you. And to call it “respect” does not really cover it, respect is something more of an LA gang thing anyway where you gotta shows respect or gets the smack down. Nah, it's more about doing the right thing, doing what is pleasing towards God such as hating evil and staying far from it, even the sight of evil... which is not easy to do with all the games and movies full of occult imagery and influence as well as murders and rapes and such. What do you enjoy? If it's something that God has said is something He hates from what He wrote to us in the bible, than it's well worth staying away from. Then what happens?

Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves one who pursues righteousness.

Ereon

Member

Posts: 1018
From: Ohio, United States
Registered: 04-12-2005
The Hebrew word there, when applied in a moral sense (which is a vast majority, if not all of the text applying to God in the Old Testament) means reverence, not terror or to be afraid as in the other references where fear is mentioned of something other than God. They're two separate words, with two separate meanings, even though they're translated the same way.

------------------

The time for speaking comes rarely, the time for being never departs.
George Macdonald

Jari

Member

Posts: 1471
From: Helsinki, Finland
Registered: 03-11-2005
Douple post.

[This message has been edited by jari (edited December 02, 2006).]

Jari

Member

Posts: 1471
From: Helsinki, Finland
Registered: 03-11-2005
God wants us to fear Him because He loves us and because He knows what is right. It's similar thing with earthly dad, you should fear him even he may not punish you but if he would it would happen from love.

- Deu 6:2
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

It's also about who should we fear:

- Mat 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.


God who is love knows what is right so you better take Him seriously and not do wrong but what is right, and that is to keep His commandments. Hallelujah!

Reproof from the Lord is a blessing which we should pray for!
So that we wont suffer in the end:

Pro 5:11-12 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, - 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;


In Christ,
Jari.

------------------
1Jo 2:9-10 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
Joh 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

[VoHW] (Help needed) [Blog] - Truedisciple (mp3)

[This message has been edited by jari (edited December 02, 2006).]

Mene-Mene

Member

Posts: 1398
From: Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Registered: 10-23-2006
Additionally, I might add that not only respecting God, and hating evil, but alongside that, fear His wrath, for this will aid in your turn from evil. (Aslan's eyes also help with that. lol)

------------------
MM out-
Thought travels much faster than sound, it is better to think something twice, and say it once, than to think something once, and have to say it twice.
"Frogs and Fauns! The tournament!" - Professor Winneynoodle/HanClinto

Mene-Mene

Member

Posts: 1398
From: Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Registered: 10-23-2006
Double post sry.

[This message has been edited by Mene-Mene (edited December 02, 2006).]

spade89

Member

Posts: 561
From: houston,tx
Registered: 11-28-2006
i think i am starting to understand what we mean when we say fear god,but i have a new question related to this topic but i don't think i should ask questions like this on the generaldiscussions forum so i have started a new topic on the christian discussions forum "being good to get into heaven??" please i would really appreciate it if you check out that topic and responded to it. thanks ^__^

------------------
a real programmer can write assembly code in any language

NetCog

Member

Posts: 149
From:
Registered: 06-15-2006
just to add:

somewhat like "fearing" your parents. (at least in traditional or even biblical manner)
respect, love even, but also the understanding of "they brought you in to this world, they can take you out" (so to speak -- though in the Bible it was a little more literal *see stoning*)