Fear?

OK, why fear God?

Certainly if God created me and knows me better than I know myself, I have no reason to fear.

I hardly think the creator of the Universe would be so offended by an inferior being that he'd behave like a spoiled child and smoke the whole planet over my inability to cope with challenges he has purposefully provided.

Certainly God has more maturity, peace of mind and patience than my Dad. I offended him quite a bit and he never banished me to an eternity of torture.

Again...hmmmm.....

8)
Steve

My understanding is that it is more or less a translation problem as in context, it should have been respect and not fear. This like provides a very short answer, but there are many more. So translators used the incorrect English word many times evidently.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090117121047AADPKUB

Steve Hollenbach said:

OK, why fear God?

Keeps the flock in line and keeps the foldin' money goin' in the plate, doncha know. 8)

OK, why fear God?

With no evidence of god(s) there is nothing to fear.

Certainly if God created me and knows me better than I know myself, I have no reason to fear.

This brings up another question: What would be the point of creating us? The only answer I see is that this deity created us merely for entertainment. This doesn't seem loving or vengeful, just a little dickish (sorry about the language, but it seemed appropriate).

I hardly think the creator of the Universe would be so offended by an inferior being that he'd behave like a spoiled child and smoke the whole planet over my inability to cope with challenges he has purposefully provided.

It's the fictitious deity's game. I suppose if he wants to start a new one, what's to stop him?

Certainly God has more maturity, peace of mind and patience than my Dad. I offended him quite a bit and he never banished me to an eternity of torture.

Once again, more reason to devote yourself to your family than to superstition.



Obviously, my responses are the ones in bold type.

Darin

I've read enough bible to know that Jesus is the mellow one in that family. God can go old testament on you pretty darned quick.

With that in mind, I generally keep my prayers short: "Dear God, Got my spoon here boss. Got my mind right. Move along. Amen."

With God, you don't want to be the holiest of the holy rollers because they get whacked the worst whenever God and Satan are acting all macho with each other. For example, Tim Tebow got way too holy and it blew the Gators chance for a national championship this year. You also don't want to be at the tail end of the believer spectrum and admit to being an athiest. God is psychologically comforting if you have to stomp on your brakes in the rain or something.

8)

Steve,

How about these reasons....

Q: OK, why fear God?
A: If you accept the premise that God exists and He is God over you, then obviously He has lots of power and capability, so while fear would not be the way to always be in His presense, sure could think of lots of situations that if I got myself into them, then fear would be appropriate. So in the end, it's really context driven. Just like with police, most of the time don't fear but respect their authority, then of course if I did something I know I should not have, that respect would turn into into fearing.

Q: Certainly if God created me and knows me better than I know myself, I have no reason to fear.
A: True as stated. However, how would this question change if God set you free to make your own decisions...and take the consequences with them? So like becoming 18 and subject to adult rules. So sure, I know my son better than he knows himself, but still I have to let him grow up, make his failures, and let him take the consequences. So free will...a definite double edged sword.

Q: I hardly think the creator of the Universe would be so offended by an inferior being that he'd behave like a spoiled child and smoke the whole planet over my inability to cope with challenges he has purposefully provided.
A: A lttle story for this one...you know, I really like bamboo. Planted some in the back yard. Tended to it for a while then let it do its own think...I gave it free will (smile). Now can't tell you what a p.i.t.a. it is! I would love to "smoke" all of it!

Q: Certainly God has more maturity, peace of mind and patience than my Dad. I offended him quite a bit and he never banished me to an eternity of torture.
A: Tricky one this one. Is everone in creation a "child" of God? Plenty of verses to indicate that this is not true...and why the whole concept of being born again...or more accurately put to have one's "old man" die. So would think perfectly reasonalble to be banned if you were never the child to begin with. So then what if you are a child? Well, don;t think you will be banned...unless you commit the one transgression where He stated there is no forgiveness...denying the Holy Spirit. Now what does denying the Holy Spirit mean? That's another thread I'm sure