what does it mean when someone says they are god fearing?

easygoing · Nov 17, 2009

I have heard people time and time again saying that they are good god fearing christians and a question just popped in my head today about that statement.

What is it that god has put in us that we should fear him? I have been mulling it over all day at work and i can't help but think that this would be the anthem of a person who says that they believe in god but in reality doesn't know god.

We can see in scripture over and over that we are not to fear. The word of god has never put the impression on me that i should be afraid of anything coming from the lord, so why is it that people say they are living in fear of the lord?

Just trying to get my head around this and i keep coming to the same conclusion that this statement is one made by a person who does not have a relationship with the lord.

Would love some opinions.

MyBagsRPacked · Nov 17, 2009

easygoing said:

I have heard people time and time again saying that they are good god fearing christians and a question just popped in my head today about that statement.

What is it that god has put in us that we should fear him? I have been mulling it over all day at work and i can't help but think that this would be the anthem of a person who says that they believe in god but in reality doesn't know god.

We can see in scripture over and over that we are not to fear. The word of god has never put the impression on me that i should be afraid of anything coming from the lord, so why is it that people say they are living in fear of the lord?

Just trying to get my head around this and i keep coming to the same conclusion that this statement is one made by a person who does not have a relationship with the lord.

Would love some opinions.

I think in these times, a proper word to be using is God Respecting. You ned to respect God the way, hopefully, we respect our parents because they know what is best for us, just as God knows what is best for us.

pickles · Nov 17, 2009

:The fear of the Lord is like the first gleam of dawn. Ever brightening till the full light of day.: I agree with( My) that it is about respect, but I have also come to see that his anger can be frightening. If you are able to learn what God has for those that deny him and embrace the world of evils. You will begin to see how good the fear is. It is good to fear the Lord. If we had nothing to fear then what would we have to hope for?
God bless, pickles

MahogonySnail · Nov 17, 2009

Fear of God is synomyous with holiness.

Graybeard · Nov 17, 2009

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD

Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Pro 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Pro 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Pro 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Pro 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Pro 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Pro 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Pro 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Pro 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Pro 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Isa 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
Isa 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

and many many more..

thefightinglamb · Nov 17, 2009

It seems odd that no one has mentioned that you should REALLY fear God...In Acts, in was known to be necessary, as it says in
Acts 9: 31

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

So, obviously fearing God is important as all throughout Proverbs we are taught. But what sort of fear are we to have? For as all Christians like to quote in opposition to any other verse in scripture, "perfect love casts out fear".

Hmmm...I wonder if we have "perfect love" and I understand its trusting in God's perfect love that saves...but I am reminded of the feelings nominal Christians get when they are told if they live in unrepentant sin they cannot be saved...or that they may lose their salvation through sinning...

The IMMIDIATE response in their heart is "so if I lie right before I die I go to hell? " And the heart is perturbed and frightened by the idea of living in a reality of 'standing on a narrow way' and afraid of sinning at all lest they fall into the broad path...

I am not saying that this is true, but the fear that would be in this person's heart is EXACTLY the fear they should have of God...and one of the important assets of this fear is that it keeps you from sinning and falling into the same rut or pit over and over again....

I know that this fear is essential while living on earth...

God bless
tony

loveschild · Nov 17, 2009

When they took the bible and changed it in a language we could understand they didn't know a lot of the Hebrew language. There are many places in the bible where a word is used but the word in Hebrew had many meanings. Fear- Respect- honor-gloifiy. Plus plain ole fear cause he could strike you down dead.

easygoing · Nov 18, 2009

Thank you all for your replies to this and i am seeing the statement in a different light here, i had seen it only one way and sometimes that happens where i get something in my head and get tunnel vision about it.

Graybeard · Nov 18, 2009

loveschild said:

I think you "hit the nail on the head" as that was what I was thinking as well.
I think the problem is exactly that, we loose meaning when translated to modern English as our language is not as diverse as the original...another example of this is the English word "love" the original had four different meanings (I stand to be corrected) which we use just the one for all so we do not get the true meaning that was intended.
A big reason to beware of some modern Bible translations!

Thaddaeus · Nov 18, 2009

loveschild said:

not another ( non-believing Bible) Christain, if the Bible the INSPIRED word of God is in error where the word fear is used, then how do we know for sure That John 3:16 is not in error also UUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Mt 10:28And 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.

Jude 1:22And of some have compassion, making a difference:Jude 1:23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Thaddaeus · Nov 18, 2009

Graybeard said:

not another ( non-believing Bible) Christain, if the Bible the INSPIRED word of God is in error where the word fear is used, then how do we know for sure That John 3:16 is not in error also UUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
If God said to love others even as He has loved us HE gave Love one meaning AGAPE love other with Agape /love love your children and wife with Agape / love .all love God commanded by God has one meaning unconditionly AGAPE/love

Thaddaeus · Nov 18, 2009

Thaddaeus said:

Man has given it 4 meanings so who are you going to listen to man or God, do you mean I am suppose to love my neighbor's wife the same as Mine. No I don't But God commanded you to , but He also commanded you not to lay down with your neighbors wife , so you twist it anyway you want, But God said Love others as I have loved you. AGAPE / LOVE
maybe the hebrew was wrong by giving it 4 meanings well they were men also weren't they

Graybeard · Nov 18, 2009

Thaddaeus said:

WOW, that is such good pastoring pastor!!...this is what I was taught many years ago by your counterparts. It was drummed into my head that there are 4 different meanings to the word love in the old Hebrew/Greek or whatever, I have never claimed and most likely will never be educated/versed in the old Biblical language/s, How dare you being a pastor noggal, accuse me or anyone for that matter of not believing in the God inspired book of the Bible!..you yourself have said that some modern versions of the Bible are mistranslated and watered down to make way for the One world Religion!!
Instead why do you not "WITH LOVE" correct where you think correction is deemed?
Thanks for the accusation and derogatory stance...for me, I pray you don't treat your congregation this way.

Thaddaeus · Nov 18, 2009

Graybeard said:

Ok so you stand before God and God says why didn't you love Pastor Keith as you did your children and your response is well my pastor said that there was 4 kinds of love and that I didn't have to love Pastor Keith as I did my Children , and God says But what did My word say. your response would then have to be love one another even as I have loved you. will you be right before God? because you knew this or because you lived this. so I am wrong for telling you the truth.

now as far as My ways of preaching the truth, you are not of my flock, But if you have a child and this child was playing in the street and you saw a car coming would you politely say: Child please get out of the way of that car. or would you yell at the top of your lungs GET OUT OF THE WAY, A CAR IS COMING. when we say that the inspired word Of God is in error we are flirting with dangerous doctrines, we have enough non-believers in God saying that the word of God is false, we certainly don't need any Christains claiming this. unless it is true and if it is true then let's all scrape christainity and go find the true religion, if we say that the Word is wrong when it says to fear the Lord and now you say that we may not know with what love we are to have, I mean how much of the word Is true, If God can not lie then should the inspired word Of God have errors in it and if if does then does this not make God the author of confusion, and if we say this then we are saying that God is not righteous. so if we say that the Inspired Word of God has errors in it we are Ro 1:23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

I am not sure how I worded this phrase But I think I said the new modern day perversions don't line up with the authorized Version, the King James version, the Word that was consider for almost 400 years now as the true word of God and that they added things or take way things from the truth. and in order to get someone to pick up a newer bible we have to attack the true Word. I have said that if they agreed with the authorized version I would have no problem with a modern day english Bible but I have not seen or heard of one of the newer Books that does not change something within the Word of God.

I Love God and His Word, I will not apologized for my ways in trying to wake up Christains from attacking God or His Word, for it will be God and His Word that I will be judged by one day, and not my peers or my flock.

Graybeard · Nov 18, 2009

Thaddaeus said:

I say the same to you brother

nice...then what are you trying to achieve here? If you truly have a shepherds heart don't you think you should treat every child of God the same?

mmm so why not teach us with love instead of sarcasm...after all we ARE of the same flock as we have but one Master that being Jesus Christ, are we not?

I Love God and His Word, I will not apologized for my ways in trying to wake up Christains from attacking God or His Word, for it will be God and His Word that I will be judged by one day, and not my peers or my flock.

No one was attacking Gods Word brother....you are the one who is doing the attacking

loveschild · Nov 18, 2009

Graybeard said:

Well thank you that was a nice comment! Lets pray for us and others to never be old wine skins who can't take in new wine. Blessings, Love

Thaddaeus · Nov 18, 2009

Graybeard said:

whoa whoa,
when someone says that there is error in the word of God, that is attacking the Word, we believe that the Bible is God breathed, inspired Word Of God, when one says that fear is not fear but respect, just as some say perfect does not mean to be perfect but mature then you are saying the Bible is Wrong this a attacking the word of God, As Far as me standing before God the Bible says as I told her to love one another, the Bible says first: that we are to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind then we are to love another. ( and all please note here I have never said to any one I ever discuss these things with, that they are lost and on their way to hell) if me taking a stand for God and His Word over any christians, that would want to say that it has errrors in it, is breaking the two commandments That Jesus gave us Then I stand guilty, But I would rather face God for My love for him and His word and my love for others because I preach of a Holy God and His inspired Word, than to stand there and say God I thought I was loving others by letting them claim your Word was wrongand not saying anything , and I will do this even on that day.

Ga 4:16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Graybeard · Nov 18, 2009

Fair enough, so what you are saying is that whenever the word "fear" appears in the Bible, that word literally means at all times just what it says.."fear" as in "tremble" or fear of heights, scared etc
and "love" is always agape love, as in love your neighbor, not the same as "I love my cat" or "I love burgers" and not the same as "I'm in love with my wife"

Graybeard · Nov 19, 2009

Thaddeus said:

Graybeard said:

Thaddeus, I hope you do not think my last post is in any way is sarcastic, I posted it to gain clarification as to your meaning, please do not ignore me as you did on a previous thread, I am trying to gain sound understanding of The Word and want to know if I indeed am misinterpreting or have been led wrongfully.

Thaddaeus · Nov 19, 2009

Graybeard said:

do you see in the Bible where it says to love your cat??? we are speaking about spiritual things not carnal, walk in the spirit not in the flesh. any other silly comments you want to make

what does it mean when someone says they are god fearing?

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