Fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom...

[pathfinder7]

Hmmm… doesn’t seem to be much wisdom going on these days.

We have a president-elect who claims to be Christian but thinks its OK to throw human beings (created in God’s image), into the trash can (after first mutilating them without anasthesia). Maybe he believes the parts of the Bible that sound good and discards the rest… not the only one, of course…

We have people fornicating right and left (which is why they think they need legalized abortion - to cover their numerous mistakes)

and then we have people who think they cn get into Heaven just by believing in God…

Hmmmm… :banghead: :hypno:

Wisdom is a rare commodity…

 

[brkn1]

Hmmm… doesn’t seem to be much wisdom going on these days.

We have a president-elect who claims to be Christian but thinks its OK to throw human beings (created in God’s image), into the trash can (after first mutilating them without anasthesia). Maybe he believes the parts of the Bible that sound good and discards the rest… not the only one, of course…

We have people fornicating right and left (which is why they think they need legalized abortion - to cover their numerous mistakes)

and then we have people who think they cn get into Heaven just by believing in God…

Hmmmm… :banghead: :hypno:

Wisdom is a rare commodity…

I agree. You might add the idea of (being “sincere” and not having been exposed to the Gospel still allowing the possibility of salvation) to your list. There is just so much heresy out there.

 

[Nuance]

I hope I’m not out of line here, but pathfinder, you should look at this thread: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=218702

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

The bible states “fear is of the devil” What’s the difference between “Fear” and “Holy Fear”?

 

[Reuben_J]

The bible states “fear is of the devil” What’s the difference between “Fear” and “Holy Fear”?

Fear of the Lord as one of the seven fold gifts of the Spirit as in Isaiah 11. We fear God because we love Him and we fear not experiencing this love and being separated from Him if we should disobey Him.

Isaiah 11
1 A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse, a new shoot will grow from his roots.
2 On him will rest the spirit of Yahweh, the spirit of wisdom and insight, the spirit of counsel and power, the spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh: 3 his inspiration will lie in fearing Yahweh.

‘Fear is of the devil’ is literal. We are afraid that if we don’t do as he wants he will oppress us.

My apology for jumping the gun. Just my two cents.

 

[pathfinder7]

The bible states “fear is of the devil” What’s the difference between “Fear” and “Holy Fear”?

where does it say in theBible that fear is from the devil??? I’ve been through the Bible several times (daily/Sun Mass for years & years, takes you thruogh the whole Bible) and have never read that.

Fear of God means fear of offending Him - doing things that are against His holiness… hurting ourselves and others, who are created in God’s image. When we hurt a human being, we hurt God (St. Matthew 25:31)

 

[pathfinder7]

I agree. You might add the idea of (being “sincere” and not having been exposed to the Gospel still allowing the possibility of salvation) to your list. There is just so much heresy out there.

i’m not sure i totally understand this… but anyway, those who are ignorant ofthe Word are not ignorant of what is good and evil. Everyone is born with a conscience. Everyone has choices every day, every minute of the day and those choices lead one to Heaven or to Hell (usually to Purgatory and then to HEaven, if one sincerely tries to follow Truth/Love [Jesus]) If one goes against his conscience, he knows it.

 

[Ceil-1]

Fear of God, and the fear the Bible talks about are two different things.

Jesus said that fear is useless, what is needed is trust. God is also constantly telling us not to be afraid, and, do not fear.

Fear of God is a gift that allows us to understand Him as He truly
is in comparison to our insignificant selves. It is humility.

The other fear is a lack of trust in God resulting in being manipulated by the enemy.

 

[christcnection1]

Fear of God, and the fear the Bible talks about are two different things.

Jesus said that fear is useless, what is needed is trust. God is also constantly telling us not to be afraid, and, do not fear.

Fear of God is a gift that allows us to understand Him as He truly
is in comparison to our insignificant selves. It is humility.

The other fear is a lack of trust in God resulting in being manipulated by the enemy.

A synonym for “fear” of the Lord, is reverence. It’s a similar kind of respect a child ought to have for their father. It’s a holy fear.

I agree with your points on unholy fear, which is especially the opposite of “fear” of the Lord.

 

[pathfinder7]

Fear of God, and the fear the Bible talks about are two different things.

Jesus said that fear is useless, what is needed is trust. God is also constantly telling us not to be afraid, and, do not fear.

Fear of God is a gift that allows us to understand Him as He truly
is in comparison to our insignificant selves. It is humility.

The other fear is a lack of trust in God resulting in being manipulated by the enemy.

I know the bible and i don’t think taht is in there, verbatim (“Fear is useless, waht is needed is trust.”) I think some priest said that on TV once, but doubt it is in the Bible (unless it is in one of the few OT books i have not read).

Anyway, i do know that JEsus said Fear not. Its a good thing he said that because we humans tend to fear many things.

Fear of God means acknowledging that He has all power and we have none. We can do nothing without him. Jesus said it would be better to cut off a foot that causes us to sin than to continue sinning and end up in Hell with both feet. (paraphrase)

He also said that wahtever we do to one of his people, we do to Him (God).

So we should fear to do anything against anyone because, well, one can imagine the conseqences that ensue when one hurts God.

God hates sin.

There’s no OSAS.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Fear of God means fear of offending Him - doing things that are against His holiness… hurting ourselves and others, who are created in God’s image. When we hurt a human being, we hurt God (St. Matthew 25:31)

Gabriel of 12;
**1John 4:18 ****There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. **19
We love because he first loved us.
20
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God 5 whom he has not seen.
21
This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

**God loves you pathfinder7 and so do I: Gabriel of 12

My only fear I have is losing God.**

Philipians 2:12 So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Peace be with you

P.S, I will answer your request only if your nice

 

[pathfinder7]

Gabriel of 12;
**1John 4:18 **There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment,

The perfect love spoken here, in my opinion/interpretation is Jesus’ love. Jesus is the Love of God Incarnate. when i am in His Presence (praying rosary, reading His Words or at Church), i experience His unconditional love. I have never experienced uncondtional love from a human being. Any so-called human love I’ve ever had has… disintegrated. But Jesus’ love is always & forever.

Kind of interesting to think about… Here is this perfect Person who understands me (& everyone), knows me inside & out (and all of us), yet loves me (everyone) so much and so completely and perfectly…

I (we) are good enough for Him but not, apparently, for certain human beings - who are sinners like me (us)… Hmmm… kinda strange. But that’s just the way things are. (Here on Earth).

As it is in Heaven, so let it be on EArth.

But, as good as it is to pray for such a thing, it never is and never will be.

God bless you.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

The perfect love spoken here, in my opinion/interpretation is Jesus’ love. Jesus is the Love of God Incarnate. when i am in His Presence (praying rosary, reading His Words or at Church), i experience His unconditional love. I have never experienced uncondtional love from a human being. Any so-called human love I’ve ever had has… disintegrated. But Jesus’ love is always & forever.

Kind of interesting to think about… Here is this perfect Person who understands me (& everyone), knows me inside & out (and all of us), yet loves me (everyone) so much and so completely and perfectly…

I (we) are good enough for Him but not, apparently, for certain human beings - who are sinners like me (us)… Hmmm… kinda strange. But that’s just the way things are. (Here on Earth).

As it is in Heaven, so let it be on EArth.

But, as good as it is to pray for such a thing, it never is and never will be.

God bless you.

Very well spoken like a true Catholic who is a partaker in the divinity of Jesus Christ; “Oh, blessed Sacrament”

The love we experience is just a sharing in the divinity of God, That is why Jesus taught us in the New Covenant to Love God with all our strength, and to Love our neighbor as ourselves, thus sharing in God’s Love which grows from excercising these two greatest of commandments and the Catholic saints and martyrs have matured in this divine Love from their self giving and sacrifice.

For GOD IS LOVE, and any thing of love shares in his divinity.

May the peace, love and joy of God be with you always.
Gabriel of 12

 

[pathfinder7]

Very well spoken like a true Catholic who is a partaker in the divinity of Jesus Christ; “Oh, blessed Sacrament”

The love we experience is just a sharing in the divinity of God, That is why Jesus taught us in the New Covenant to Love God with all our strength, and to Love our neighbor as ourselves, thus sharing in God’s Love which grows from excercising these two greatest of commandments and the Catholic saints and martyrs have matured in this divine Love from their self giving and sacrifice.

For GOD IS LOVE, and any thing of love shares in his divinity.

May the peace, love and joy of God be with you always.
Gabriel of 12

for one thing, i thought you were something other than Catholic???

Maybe you could tell me more about where you are “at” and have been, spriitually, for most of your life… Then i would understand (?) things better…

Anyway… you are right that God is love…

but it seems tht people these days are not so into being like God in that sense… they are more rude and uncaring these days than ever before…
that makes it hard to love neighbor… I h ave tried to love my neighbor and have not gotten “very far”… (long story what i mean…)

I thought about going to a Protestant church some times just so i could be around friendlier people… I have been thinking of that for Years!! But haven’t done it yet… i guess i am in a comfort zone…

Anyway… God bless.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

for one thing, i thought you were something other than Catholic???

Gabriel of 12;
I never professed to be anything other than a member in the body of Jesus Christ in his Catholic church on earth in the Latin Rite who is in solidarity with St. Peter’s successor, Pope Benedict XVI, along with our Catholic Bishops and Priests.

pathfinder7
Maybe you could tell me more about where you are “at” and have been, spriitually, for most of your life… Then i would understand (?) things better…

Gabriel of 12;
I am one, who has searched for Truth and God in most of what the world and man’s religions can offer, and when I put them to the test they all failed. God has performed miracles before my eyes, and I vowed to seek him out, and when I find him, I will serve him the rest of my life. And God has revealed to me, “God dwells with the human race”, in his blessed sacrament of the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ my Lord whom I follow now in the Roman Catholic church with faith and confidence in his Word.

pathfinder7
Anyway… you are right that God is love…

but it seems tht people these days are not so into being like God in that sense… they are more rude and uncaring these days than ever before…
that makes it hard to love neighbor… I h ave tried to love my neighbor and have not gotten “very far”… (long story what i mean…)

Gabriel of 12
You are not alone pathfinder7; we have all crossed that bridge. It is called a journey. When I read your words, I can not help but think of Jesus, when he was accused of many false things, questioned of his teachings, doubted, hated, prejudiced against, hit, kicked, tortured, whipped, mocked, slapped, pushed, pulled by the beard and hair, yet Jesus forgave all these, and loved them to his death. We are Christians of the Catholic faith, many of our fathers and saints in the Catholic church before us have died for this Catholic faith for love of God and neighbor who have taken up their cross and followed Jesus. We are no longer of this world, we only journey in it to invite the lost to the wedding feast of the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

pathfinder7
I thought about going to a Protestant church some times just so i could be around friendlier people… I have been thinking of that for Years!! But haven’t done it yet… i guess i am in a comfort zone…

Anyway… God bless.

**Gabriel of 12
You will find, if you cross the fence, the grass isnt any greener any where else, people are people. It is Christ in you that can make the difference. Catholics are partakers of his divinity in his sacraments. If Jesus is with us, who can be against us?

Peace be with you**

 

[tGette]

I just finished the book “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” by His Holiness Pope John Paul the Second about two hours ago and it could not have been more perfect timing.

He quotes Psalm 110[111]:10 as in the original post which says:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”

John Paul II tells us that fear of the Lord is a filial fear, not a servile fear. It is a fear that is constructive and never destructive. A healthy fear, if you will. One that makes us profoundly aware of eternal reality and that separation from God forever is something very worth fearing.

It is the fear similar to that a child has in disobeying his/her father.

With this fear we can have wisdom. With that wisdom we can see the truth and know and understand God intimately.

With this fear, we can rejoice in Christ’s words which resounded through John Paul II’s papacy…“BE NOT AFRAID!”

The fear of God is a fear which allows us to not be afraid…because we trust in Jesus!

 

[Eucharisted]

Fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom.
Fearing man is the beginning of all stupidity.

 

[pathfinder7]

**Gabriel of 12
You will find, if you cross the fence, the grass isnt any greener any where else, people are people. It is Christ in you that can make the difference. Catholics are partakers of his divinity in his sacraments. If Jesus is with us, who can be against us?

Peace be with you**

thank you so much for all that you said. And yes, i know that the grass isn’t always greener… but at least its a different type of grass!! Sometimes we probably need to get away from something so as to have something to compare it to and therefore, appreciate it more… (etc). also… I think a lot of protestants are more ACTIVE in the Christian life… doing things to fight abortion, etc. I know… it is probably just the particular people i know and i don’t know as many as… well, those who are more outgoing / sociable… but in any case, it seems i know a LOT of Catholics who… (don’t want to sound judgmental so you fill in the blanks).

(Anyway, i wish that one part you said showed up here because now i can’t remember it… just remember that it was very good & uplifting to read… Maybe i will catch you on that part later… )