Followup note from guestbook comment
Well, even though I didn't expect anything, the proprietor of the guestbook I left my inquiry in did follow up after all. While I don't necessarily agree with the philosphies at work there, she was very polite and understanding of my desire to question her ideals.
I was pleasantly surprised. I do want to write back but I want to take my time and seriously consider everything presented. Odds are pretty good that I will end up questioning it all, but I want to make it a point to return the same level of patient respect that was shown to me.
Hello!
Thank you for signing my guestbook. I will try and answer your question. If you have questions, PLEASE continue to write and we will find the answer together in the Bible.
:( Why is God scary? Logically speaking, if God is Love, and the quote below is true, then God should be nothing to fear. Correct?
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn\'t jealous. It doesn\'t sing its own praises. It isn\'t arrogant. 1 Corinthians 13:4
I'll do my best to answer this question.
Have you ever read about Adam and Eve in the garden? Remember how they hid AFTER they had sinned? They feared God because they did wrong. Did they fear God or His punishment BEFORE they sinned? No, they walked and talked with God. He gave them one command (not to eat the fruit) and they did not obey.. then the fear of punishment came.
Here is a scripture that shows that fear involves punishment.
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear , because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
So, we know that we are sinners. We know that we've sinned against God. We know that God can send us to hell because of those sins. That causes the fear.
Luke 12:5-6 - “But I will warn you whom to fear :fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
We were all doomed to an eternity of hell… until… Christ came to earth… God in the flesh dwelt among us.
When we acknowledge that we are a sinner, confess our sins to God, believe that Christ (who was God in flesh) lived a perfect life on this earth (something we could never do) then died on the cross taking our punishment (he was perfect and didn't deserve to die.. we did), was buried in a tomb, rose on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father.. THEN our fear of God changes. We no longer fear His punishment because the blood of Christ paid for every sin.. past, present and future. We will never be punished for our sins. The fear of punishment is gone. We know that we are accepted by God because of what Christ did.
But, we are still commanded to fear God in the sense of reverencing Him.
1 Peter 2:17 - Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
The fear of God that is spoken of in the above scripture speaks about a reverence of God… an awe. This is the kind of fear that a believer has.
Does that make sense? Or did I make myself clear as mud? I've love to continue this conversation with you if you have more questions. Please do not hesitate to write again.
May we live [coram deo] before the face of God!
Georgene
~ A Woman that Fears the Lord Webpage http://www.awomanthatfearsthelord.com/
~ Georgene's Blog http://www.xanga.com/georgene
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Nobadvoma said,
October 15, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
Hello.
:)
“The birth took place at the couple’s home (just outside Oslo),” says the palace, adding mother and baby were both well.
Bye.