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Absolutely. And when the Bible uses that word fear, it's referring to not being afraid of Him, but showing respect and reverence to Him. God is love personified. He proved that on the cross. He gets a lot of bad wrap for things He didn't do. Some people are always eager to fault God and not Satan.
shuhak · M
Can one love God without fearing Him?
Well, first off one has to know what is meant by “fear”. Is it fear as in “being afraid of”, or fear as in “respect, honor”?
We fear (are afraid of) something because we perceive it to be a threat to us. If a child was told not to go into the garage, but then went in anyway … and ended up breaking dad’s new power tool, they’d probably be afraid. They know they did wrong and they fear the punishment (dad is gonna be MAD!). Likewise, if one is afraid of God, then they perceive Him to be a threat.
When we love something, we cherish it. It has meaning or value to us. I mean not many people love a used Kleenex. They simply discard it. However, you probably won’t toss your 2 year old granddaughter in the trash (you know, the granddaughter who calls you gam-ga.) So if one loves God, then they consider Him to have meaning or value.
God is a wee bit more powerful than we are. After all, He did create everything... the majestic mountains, the deep oceans, planets, stars, galaxies…. The sheer complexity and beauty of this universe is utterly mind-blowing. We are but insignificant specks of dust on an insignificant planet that is an insignificant speck in a galaxy, which is barely a speck of light in a vast and expanding universe. And yet the mighty God who created all this wants a relationship with us. He wants us to love Him. Wow! If we truly love God, how can we NOT but fear (respect, honor) Him? The two go hand in hand.
So, “can one love God without fearing (respecting, honoring) Him?” The answer is no. The two are inseparable.
Well, first off one has to know what is meant by “fear”. Is it fear as in “being afraid of”, or fear as in “respect, honor”?
We fear (are afraid of) something because we perceive it to be a threat to us. If a child was told not to go into the garage, but then went in anyway … and ended up breaking dad’s new power tool, they’d probably be afraid. They know they did wrong and they fear the punishment (dad is gonna be MAD!). Likewise, if one is afraid of God, then they perceive Him to be a threat.
When we love something, we cherish it. It has meaning or value to us. I mean not many people love a used Kleenex. They simply discard it. However, you probably won’t toss your 2 year old granddaughter in the trash (you know, the granddaughter who calls you gam-ga.) So if one loves God, then they consider Him to have meaning or value.
God is a wee bit more powerful than we are. After all, He did create everything... the majestic mountains, the deep oceans, planets, stars, galaxies…. The sheer complexity and beauty of this universe is utterly mind-blowing. We are but insignificant specks of dust on an insignificant planet that is an insignificant speck in a galaxy, which is barely a speck of light in a vast and expanding universe. And yet the mighty God who created all this wants a relationship with us. He wants us to love Him. Wow! If we truly love God, how can we NOT but fear (respect, honor) Him? The two go hand in hand.
So, “can one love God without fearing (respecting, honoring) Him?” The answer is no. The two are inseparable.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
Not believing in the bronze-age mythology or the other cults that developed from them. There are over 4,000+ religions in the world, each pushing their own beliefs. Dozens of English language different bible versions shows how much human kind has created its' own myths. Hundreds of other versions exist in the world. I have read many religious doctrines in my lifetime, visited many different cults.
My beliefs are very different, and for me. I have studied religions for over 40 years and have drawn my own conclusions, the important one is to love, even if you don't like or approve. Religion distorts and warps.
My beliefs are very different, and for me. I have studied religions for over 40 years and have drawn my own conclusions, the important one is to love, even if you don't like or approve. Religion distorts and warps.
Pfuzylogic · M
Pfuzylogic · M
@FlowersNButterflies
There is an Author of creation that isn’t hidden and invites you to know him. That is my personal experience.😊
There is an Author of creation that isn’t hidden and invites you to know him. That is my personal experience.😊
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
Blocking a proselytizer. Too trite.@Pfuzylogic @Pfuzylogic
Pfuzylogic · M
@FlowersNButterflies
You come on my response to “correct” it and then start calling me out with your names. I suggest opening your mind to the fact the your point of view is not the only one and your fear of God is embarrassingly being displayed.
It is a shame that this fear won’t save your soul.
You come on my response to “correct” it and then start calling me out with your names. I suggest opening your mind to the fact the your point of view is not the only one and your fear of God is embarrassingly being displayed.
It is a shame that this fear won’t save your soul.
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
That is dogma and indoctrination, born of fearful tradition. @Nobody00
REMsleep · 41-45, F
@Nobody00 if you are referring to the God of The Bible what you said is not correct because God never turns his back on us. It is man that rejects God.
From this next verse in Isaiah we can see that God basically commands us to fear nothing except him.
[quote]Isaiah 43:1 “Don't fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.” God actually commands us not to fear, or worry. The phrase “fear not” is used at least 80 times in the Bible, most likely because He knows the enemy uses fear to decrease our hope and limit our victories. [/quote]
Here are 2 versus in The Bible out of many in which God commands us to fear him
[quote] Leviticus 19:14 Thou...shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord." Deuteronomy 10:12, " And now Israel,what does the Lord require of the e, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God..." [/quote]
From this next verse in Isaiah we can see that God basically commands us to fear nothing except him.
[quote]Isaiah 43:1 “Don't fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.” God actually commands us not to fear, or worry. The phrase “fear not” is used at least 80 times in the Bible, most likely because He knows the enemy uses fear to decrease our hope and limit our victories. [/quote]
Here are 2 versus in The Bible out of many in which God commands us to fear him
[quote] Leviticus 19:14 Thou...shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord." Deuteronomy 10:12, " And now Israel,what does the Lord require of the e, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God..." [/quote]
Nobody00 · F
@FlowersNButterflies thats only your warped view. Have a great day
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
Nobody00 · F
@FlowersNButterflies well God is love. Duh
FlowersNButterflies · 61-69, F
SW-User
Fear there means respect and I wouldn't think so.
bijouxbroussard · F
Doesn’t perfect love cast out all fear ?