Why should we have "fear of God"?

I had always just assumed it was a holdover from times when church and government were attached at the hip, if not one and the same, and that it was simply a method by which the masses could be easily controlled. But I'm honestly not very well educated on history at the moment, so take that with a huge salt crystal.

CryojenX wrote: I had always just assumed it was a holdover from times when church and government were attached at the hip, if not one and the same, and that it was simply a method by which the masses could be easily controlled. But I'm honestly not very well educated on history at the moment, so take that with a huge salt crystal.

I don't believe you're too far off here.

Gisteron wrote: Yea, that quote of mine is where I am acknowledging that I am perhaps being a little harsh. It's a matter of self-awareness. It had definately nothing to do with offense, and why would it? I put no stock in that book. The worst I can say is what I already said: When what you say about the Bible contradicts it, don't say you read it from cover to cover. It either just sounds like you really haven't read it or like you hope nobody else did and both looks worse than you need it to.

Right so don't stress about the cynical sentiment directed at me but you are calling me a lyre because my opinion from reading the bible doesn't match yours from not having read it? OK???? I'm guessing nothing I'm going to say is going to change your view of me as a lyre so I won't bother on this point.

As for my opinion: If you start at the very beginning of Exodus and read thought to 2:1 it is clear that the Egyptian rule was very oppressive to the point that the king of Egypt ordered the death of the Hebrew's male children. I'm saying the subsequent plagues by God were an act of justice and liberation of the oppressed. if I understand you correctly you are saying:

Gisteron wrote: Rather, God just felt like screwing with the Egyptians because at the time Exodus was composed the ancient Hebrews happened in their culture to dislike Egyptians quite a bit and probably found it pleasant to write and read their sick fantasies and manifest their attitude in the person of God.

That is a big claim about their culture, attitudes and in your view sick fantasies at the time Exodus was written. You derived this how? Same way as you condemned me as a lyre?

As for the fear of god being a result of his justice read Exodus 1:17 "But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded then, but saved the male children alive.' Of course read as much as required on either side to gain context. Seams like fear of gods justice to me which is my answer to the question the title of this thread poses.

SeventhSL wrote: Same way as you condemned me as a lyre?

:blink: How many strings you got?

steamboat28 wrote:

SeventhSL wrote: Same way as you condemned me as a lyre?

:blink: How many strings you got?

It stands to reason that if someone is quick to wrongly judge someone then they may also be quick to wrongly judge something. That said it was a question not an accusation. If im lucky he will come back with some great reasoning. Maybe a historian that was around at the time of writing and can attest to the attitudes of that time. Sounds crazy but ha you never know?

(He was teasing you. A lyre is a stringed instrument. A liar is one who tells falsehoods )

this expression will have different meaning depending on who is saying it

im not fond of the simplistic and superstitious version, but it is popular enough

i belive that many religious ideas have pretty sophisticated origins if we understand them "correctly"

for me, to say "fear of god" is the same thing as to say "beware of thinking that the rules of life do not apply to you"

the observation of my personal life experience is that acting without regard to consequences, acting impulsively and selfishly, and acting in a way which is exploitative of others, is a consistently successful strategy for ruining ones own circumstannces

even of ruining ones own life, ultimately

i belive that this is the heart of the idea of being a god fearing person

also this is, imo, the heart of the idea that god has a sense of righteous justice

Kamizu wrote: (He was teasing you. A lyre is a stringed instrument. A liar is one who tells falsehoods )

Thanks so much. That is an exceptionally funny miss spelling by me there. Lol. I'll just hide under my desk now.

In the Hebrew mindset, to fear God means to obey Him. Fear, obedience, faith and love are all synonymous in hebraic thinking.
Faith, Love, Fear and Obedience are all demostratable actions. James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

If I say I believe planes can fly, I will demonstrate that faith by getting on said plane and traveling to whatever destination.

Abraham Believed (demonstrated faith, showed God he loved Him, feared God) and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.
Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham OBEYED my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my status and my laws.
1John 5:2 by this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
These three verses show love, fear and obedience as commandment keeping (ie obeying the law of the kingdom).

Areion wrote: In the Hebrew mindset, to fear God means to obey Him. Fear, obedience, faith and love are all synonymous in hebraic thinking.
Faith, Love, Fear and Obedience are all demostratable actions. James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

If I say I believe planes can fly, I will demonstrate that faith by getting on said plane and traveling to whatever destination.

Abraham Believed (demonstrated faith, showed God he loved Him, feared God) and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.

May it be reasonably assumed that your belief in planes flying, and demonstrating that faith, does not necessarily require a fear of air travel?