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Regular Joe
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This is a discussion question. In conjunction with a Bible study I am leading, it was necessary to do a lot of homework about the 'fear of the Lord'. Is there a place for it in the lives of believers? If so, what does it really mean? Should unbelievers fear the Lord and why/why not? What is the difference, if any, in how unbelievers and believers should live in 'fear of the Lord?
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Harmony Church Survivor
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| This is my opinion.....the big difference in the way Americans look at God thru our bible and the way the Muslims are taught about Allah are totally different. We are taught faith, hope, and love. It seems to me the illiterate masses being taught the Koran by extremest are being taught to hate those that believe differently. We are raised in an environment of tolerance for other people's beliefs, a foundation of which America was founded. With that being said, I don't have a fear of God. I've been taught that God loves me, for all my faults. That I am a sinner, and as long as I truly ask for forgiveness of my sins, that my soul will rise up and I'll live the the Kingdom of Heaven. God, with his own reasons, has seen fit to protect me in dark times, and taught me some hard lessons along the path. But even in those dark times, I was never afraid of God. Afraid of many things, which were all Earthly, but not of God. As long as you live your life in the spirit of the bible, I don't see any reason to have any fear either. That's how I get out of bed every day....
......."If you dream about shooting me, you better wake up and apologize" Reservoir Dog
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NRA Life Member
 
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Born4Battle (1/10/2008)
Is there a place for it in the lives of believers? If so, what does it really mean? Should unbelievers fear the Lord and why/why not? What is the difference, if any, in how unbelievers and believers should live in 'fear of the Lord?I hope the following does not sound overly simplistic. I don't see how unbelievers can fear God if they don't believe in Him. If they do fear God, then they believe in Him. Humans, like all living organisms, repeat rewarding behavior. Believers think that God rewards certain behavior with acceptance to Heaven and punishes undesirable behavior with sentencing to Hell. Therefore, if a believer fears Hell, he also fears God.
My long distance provider is Black Hills Ammunition. Defend the Second Amendment 
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Caffinated Jumper
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"The fear of the L-rd is the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 1:7 When I speak of godly fear, I do not mean a servants fear such as the one that exists among those who worship false gods. And those that do not believe in G-d have no fear of Him. No, I mean that spirit which G-d is pledged to bless, that spirit to which the prophet referred when he said, "To this man will I (the L-rd) look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word" Isa. 66:2 It was this the apostle Paul had in view when he wrote, "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear G-d. Honor the king." I Pet: 2:17 Nothing can foster this godly fear like a recognition of the Sovereign Majesty of G-d. Should we fear G-d? Yes! Why? Romans 13:1-5 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of G-d; the powers that be are ordained of G-d. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of G-d; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: For he is the minister of G-d to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of G-d, a revenger to ... ( two words missing here; You will have to read the rest of this portion of text for yourself as the software here has a problem with me posting this text in its entirety for some reason.) ... upon him that does evil. Wherefore you must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." We should fear because G-d is a just G-d and he has appointed all authority and as such he has appointed it with the sword and it has the power over life and death, pain and punishment, and that power extends over that which we love. Our family, our friends, our brothers in arms, those saved and unsaved. I fear G-d because that authority is not infallible. It can and has taken the life of those I care about fully vested by the power of G-d. Therefore I am in prayer constantly for the very souls of those who do not believe, that they should. I am in fear of G-d because he cannot be questioned and I can not begin to understand his sovereignty or his judgment and righteousness. He has appointed all authority over me though I may not agree with it I must respect it and this is for a military man the beginning of wisdom, yes? And it goes back to the verse: "The fear of the L-rd is the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 1:7
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Regular Joe
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| For the believer fear of the Lord is a reverent awe of His magnificance rather than terror. For the unbeliever fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom because, as has been said, an unbeliever has no fear of the Lord and when the unbeliever gains that fear they are on the verge of becoming a believer. Which is why we are told to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Having the honest fear that comes from knowing that he is lost and faces eternal judgement and wrath should cause the unbeliever to turn to the only source of hope.
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The hippo is unpredictable and aggressive with old scars and fresh, deep wounds providing signs of daily fights that are accompanied by much bellowing, neighing and snorting.
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Hard Charger
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I'm convinced that there is a place of abject terror for the believer, I think that is where Isaiah found himself in Chapter 6 of his book. When we are truly faced with a Holy God in contrast to our sinfulness, then abject terror is a very reasonable response. It is only through the covering of the blood of Christ that we are able to stand before God in His thrown room.
As for unbelievers we are told that there will be a time when "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess of those above the earth on the earth and under the earth, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father" For those of us who believe that will be a time of joy and adoration and unending worship. For those who do not currently believe it will be a time of abject terror and horror for they will understand that they are condemned to eternal separation from God.
Part of what drives me as a minister of the Gospel is the fear that someone I know will look at me in that moment and ask why I never told them....
"...my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave" General "Stonewall" Jackson
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Site Owner/Operator
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| I look at it like a father and his children. As the child you are scared when your dad is mad and diciplines you but from the fathers perspective it is about getting the child to pay attention because he has the childs best interest at heart and it is in infinite love that a father makes the correction and not from a desire to hurt. God loves us like the most patient father loves his children and because He wants the very best for us we sometimes need to have our heels locked now and then and even God sometimes needs to use the OUTDOOR voice to get us squared away. Deep down I know that my fear is that I have fallen short of His expectation, not from a fear of He Himself.
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Regular Joe
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