FEAR

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Feb 7, 2015
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#1
A friend's words.....

Strangely, in a “religion” whose sacred text is a most oft-repeated command to “fear not”, Christianity has come to rely almost wholly upon fear in order to keep the pews warm and the faithful, well… faithful. Fear of hell, fear of deception, of the end-times, of missing the “rapture”, disappointing God, losing one’s salvation, having God’s hand of protection lifted, etc…, are all ideas regularly used to keep believers walking the straight and narrow, and ensuring that “King James’ ” thin and crinkly pages keep ‘a turnin’.

It seems everywhere you look in Christianity, you find fear. It’s what brings us into the fold, and typically what keeps us there. We’re told that we need to come to Christ in order to have our fear of death lifted, but once we join the club we’re presented with a shiny new list of phobias to assimilate into our psyches. While they’re terrifying, unhealthy, and, oftentimes, irrational, we somehow learn to live with them, and, in manifesting a sort of spiritual Stockholm syndrome, we actually learn to love them. They torment us, but we grow so accustomed to them that we begin to enjoy their company.

Is he right, or wrong?
 

Desertsrose

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
207
63
#2
Tis true, Willie.

It's quite common that the natural man has numerous fears. And lives by them. Not only does the bible say fear not, it also says, 'fear God'. If our fear was placed in the right place, in our God, we wouldn't need to fear anything other than
God.

The interesting thing about fearing God is that this type of fear cause one to trust and not fear. This type of fear of God does not fear man, it doesn't fear things, nor satan.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All wisdom is found in Him. And that very wisdom says, "Fear not." To fear God is to put our total trust in Him. And then we can live and walk in this world without fear.

But in our humaness, we do fear things of life and the Holy Spirit continues to remind us, "Fear not little flock." - it's God's good pleasure to give us the kingdom.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,417
3,468
113
#3
A friend's words.....

Strangely, in a “religion” whose sacred text is a most oft-repeated command to “fear not”, Christianity has come to rely almost wholly upon fear in order to keep the pews warm and the faithful, well… faithful. Fear of hell, fear of deception, of the end-times, of missing the “rapture”, disappointing God, losing one’s salvation, having God’s hand of protection lifted, etc…, are all ideas regularly used to keep believers walking the straight and narrow, and ensuring that “King James’ ” thin and crinkly pages keep ‘a turnin’.

It seems everywhere you look in Christianity, you find fear. It’s what brings us into the fold, and typically what keeps us there. We’re told that we need to come to Christ in order to have our fear of death lifted, but once we join the club we’re presented with a shiny new list of phobias to assimilate into our psyches. While they’re terrifying, unhealthy, and, oftentimes, irrational, we somehow learn to live with them, and, in manifesting a sort of spiritual Stockholm syndrome, we actually learn to love them. They torment us, but we grow so accustomed to them that we begin to enjoy their company.

Is he right, or wrong?
I agree with Him mostly.. But i do not understand why he stated

"""and ensuring that “King James’ ” thin and crinkly pages keep ‘a turnin’.""""

As if somehow the KJV is the fear version of the Bible ? I am a KJV lover and i have no fear because i am not under the bondage of the works salvation brand of churchyanity that most denominations are under to varying extents .. It is not the version of Bible that makes one fear or puts one at peace of mind.. It is the version or perversion if you like, of the teachings that individual sects push...

There is a lot of false christianity out there that millions believe is true Christianity.. In the end people will know the truth, but sadly many will discover the truth to their eternal misfortune.

1 John 4: KJV
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.



 

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#4
This cruel world taught us fear. It is burried deep into our subconscious mind that it is almost impossible to unlearn fear but we can conquer fear through love,courage and trust in the Lord.

Only love is real. The opposite of love is fear. This world is a mass hallucination where fear seems more real than love. The way out of fear is to open the mind to love. Love casts out fear. The way light cast out darkness and this shift from fear to love is the miracle. - Marianne Williamson
 

Pie

Senior Member
May 21, 2011
151
1
18
#5
Is he right, or wrong?
Yup. My brother left the faith and a big contributor was all the fear mongering. After awhile, you get the idea that Christians are using fear to manipulate and control people. However, not all Christians are like that. Thankfully. Or I'd be a hardened atheist by now.
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#6
I agree with Him mostly.. But i do not understand why he stated

"""and ensuring that “King James’ ” thin and crinkly pages keep ‘a turnin’.""""

As if somehow the KJV is the fear version of the Bible ? I am a KJV lover and i have no fear because i am not under the bondage of the works salvation brand of churchyanity that most denominations are under to varying extents .. It is not the version of Bible that makes one fear or puts one at peace of mind.. It is the version or perversion if you like, of the teachings that individual sects push...

There is a lot of false christianity out there that millions believe is true Christianity.. In the end people will know the truth, but sadly many will discover the truth to their eternal misfortune.

1 John 4: KJV
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.



I think he said that because many people are taught that the KJV is the only real Bible, so they actually DO fear reading any other Bible..... because they are afraid it won't be the Bible Jesus and the disciples used.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,417
3,468
113
#7
I think he said that because many people are taught that the KJV is the only real Bible, so they actually DO fear reading any other Bible..... because they are afraid it won't be the Bible Jesus and the disciples used.
Well I have never experienced that fear.. I first read the NKJV when i became a Christian but later discovered it's problems in relation to the KJV.. I assumed like many that the NKJV was just the KJV with all the old English terms like thee and thou replaced with modern equivalents.. But i was wrong..

As regards to the KJV if one believes it is the word of God then fear of other versions becomes irrelevant.. If you believe you have the right version you have no need to read others that you believe are faulty..
 

88

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2016
3,517
77
48
#8
We have to grow from being "servants" to being friends...
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#9
We have to grow from being "servants" to being friends...
Sort of. Actually, we have to learn that we really are sons and daughters.
 
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#10
Well I have never experienced that fear.. I first read the NKJV when i became a Christian but later discovered it's problems in relation to the KJV.. I assumed like many that the NKJV was just the KJV with all the old English terms like thee and thou replaced with modern equivalents.. But i was wrong..

As regards to the KJV if one believes it is the word of God then fear of other versions becomes irrelevant.. If you believe you have the right version you have no need to read others that you believe are faulty..
....................................LOL
 
J

JustWhoIAm

Guest
#11
Tis true, Willie.

It's quite common that the natural man has numerous fears. And lives by them. Not only does the bible say fear not, it also says, 'fear God'. If our fear was placed in the right place, in our God, we wouldn't need to fear anything other than
God.

The interesting thing about fearing God is that this type of fear cause one to trust and not fear. This type of fear of God does not fear man, it doesn't fear things, nor satan.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All wisdom is found in Him. And that very wisdom says, "Fear not." To fear God is to put our total trust in Him. And then we can live and walk in this world without fear.

But in our humaness, we do fear things of life and the Holy Spirit continues to remind us, "Fear not little flock." - it's God's good pleasure to give us the kingdom.

God is good and faithful.

People can be impossible to trust sometimes, it seems.
 

Yeraza_Bats

Senior Member
Dec 11, 2014
3,632
175
63
35
#12
Psalm 111:10
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"

Fear serves a purpose. As children, we did not break the rules in fear of punishment. And as we grew older and became wiser, we began to learn and understand why the rules existed, and why wrong is wrong.
I think the same applies to God, we turn to Him in fear, and with time comes wisdom and understanding. But first we need to break that wall of pride we all once had, and come to Him. Fear leads many to God, and we should always keep that fear.
(Not "live in terror of", but keeping in mind that He is God)
 

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
Jan 15, 2011
6,029
3,240
113
#13
I think he said that because many people are taught that the KJV is the only real Bible, so they actually DO fear reading any other Bible..... because they are afraid it won't be the Bible Jesus and the disciples used.
Maybe it's because those churches that hang their hats on fear and condemnation are most likely to be KJV only congregations.
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
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#14
EX. 14:31.
And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD,
and believed the LORD, and His servant Moses.

LEV. 25:17.
Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.

JOB 1:1.
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright,
and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

PS. 2:11.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

REV. 11:18.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints,
and them that fear Thy Name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

14:7.
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come:
and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

15:4.
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy:
for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

19:5.
And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants,
and ye that fear Him, both small and great.

JOB 28:28.
And unto man He said,
Behold, the fear of The Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.