I am always saddened to see and hear things that refer to God as fierce and mean - a Being to fear, not worship. I was recently in a middle school gym that had a "Fear the Lord" banner, 10'-high strung across the wall. Similarly, I have a friend who thinks he has to "suffer" to love God. Can you help me find New Testament scripture to maybe change his mind. Do you think we should live in fear of God and His retribution? This doesn't fit at all with my belief in a kind, loving, gentle and forgiving father (mother?).
Thanks,
Confused In Pensacola
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Dear Confused In Pensacola,
The Bible, Old and New Testament, informs us of God's attempts over time to connect with His children. He has used Prophets, Covenants and various other ways to speak to those He hath created. To think that we are His creation to whom He has given "free will", and He will make us suffer in order to know and love Him, is not the God that sent Jesus as His "WORD" (John 1:1-5) to share His nature with us. Also in John 3:16 it is said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
In 1st Peter 5:6-8a it says, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert..." In Ephesians 2:4-5, Paul tells us, "But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ*—by grace you have been saved—"
I don't think the word "fear", as in "fear the Lord", is intended to mean be afraid of the Lord. Many words and phrases in Holy Scripture can be and are misinterpreted. Seek the Lord, follow and serve Him might be a better way to say it. If we do not seek the Lord, then it is very hard to experience Him in our lives. Once we begin seeking Him in our lives and surrender to Him, we then convict ourselves when we stray from Him.
God does not convict us, but the knowledge of our loving, forgiving Creator Father who wants us to love and follow Him, brings a fearful self-disappointment upon us that we have separated ourselves from Him who loves us. Now that is suffering, and it is self-imposed due to our free will choice to ignore God. We are called to seek a continuous concentration on God. Our nature can make us suffer in this, because of our unwillingness to fully surrender and abandon to Him.
In His Love,
Pious Bob
I don't think the word "fear", as in "fear the Lord", is intended to mean be afraid of the Lord. Many words and phrases in Holy Scripture can be and are misinterpreted. Seek the Lord, follow and serve Him might be a better way to say it. If we do not seek the Lord, then it is very hard to experience Him in our lives. Once we begin seeking Him in our lives and surrender to Him, we then convict ourselves when we stray from Him.
God does not convict us, but the knowledge of our loving, forgiving Creator Father who wants us to love and follow Him, brings a fearful self-disappointment upon us that we have separated ourselves from Him who loves us. Now that is suffering, and it is self-imposed due to our free will choice to ignore God. We are called to seek a continuous concentration on God. Our nature can make us suffer in this, because of our unwillingness to fully surrender and abandon to Him.
In His Love,
Pious Bob
1 comment:
Dear PB,
Thanks so much for your answer. You have made clear that which has been muddling around in the brain for a time. I believe so strongly in Grace - that precious gift. Even with my strong sense of Grace - and the fact that I truly believe that the love of our Lord separates us from our sin äs far as the East is from the West, I have the hardest time living with my own things done and left undone. I find it much easier to forgive someone else's shortcomings than mine. Today I am seeking peace with myself and rest in His love. Tomorrow will bring it's own needs and desires. Thanks for this blog - as always, a gift right when I needed it.
Confused in Pensacolaearotte
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