In what sense are we supposed to fear God?

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ffg said:
They did not.

What drives that fear for you, do you think?

God wants you to have peace, not just later, but now.
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Reading about purgatory, both in Catholicism and Judaism, and knowing that it’s a purification process much like the suffering in hell. However, I believe that many saints suffered here on earth and that it acted as their purgatory.
O Jesus, gracious Lamb of God, I renounce forever my impatience. Crucify, O Lord, my flesh and its concupiscences; scourge, scathe, and punish me in this world, do but spare me in the next. I commit my destiny to Thee, resigning myself to Thy holy will: may it be done in all things!
-Saint Francis of Assisi
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Robert_Sock said:
Reading about purgatory, both in Catholicism and Judaism, and knowing that it’s a purification process much like the suffering in hell. However, I believe that many saints suffered here on earth and that it acted as their purgatory.
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I agree with the bold, I watched it with my Dad, especially the end of life. He suffered much.

Something great happened recently though - I had a dream with him in it for the first time.

Up to that point, I could not picture him outside of his torn up body at the end of his life.

Now I have this perfect image of a young Dad, even more importantly, or interestingly, it is more difficult to picture his end of life state. Like a switch, it’s pretty neat.

I consider it a Christmas gift from Dad.

We can’t control the consequences of our sinfulness, and our sins / the consequences don’t make us less desired by Our Father.

If the Lord says ‘Be not Afraid’ and our strength lies in the Lord, put your attention on the reason for our being - know, love, serve - and your fear will fade.

(notice ‘read’ is not in there, not that it’s bad, but that it’s not necessary to know, love, and serve God. Our fears tend to fade when we keep ourselves busy, especially with the Lord’s work.)
 
The fear of God is considered to be a Christian virtue, not a psychological defect.

It is proper to fear God in the same way that a child has reason to fear displeasing his father.

Actions have consequences, and any child well-reared has learned this … sometimes the hard way.
 
Charlemagne_III said:
The fear of God is considered to be a Christian virtue, not a psychological defect.

It is proper to fear God in the same way that a child has reason to fear displeasing his father.

Actions have consequences, and any child well-reared has learned this … sometimes the hard way.
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Do you fear hell and purgatory? Do you like suffering?
 
Fear of God comes from an overwhelming sense of reverence and a desire to please Him. It’s not the same as a type of fear that you have when you think He’s going to punish you. To fear Him is to love Him and to love Him is to fear Him. They go hand in hand. When you go to pray and you’re left speechless and you’re in awe of how Holy, Pure and Mighty He is; that’s what fear feels like. 🙂
 
The following is Jewish in origin, but it’s similar to much of Christianity, such as The Imitation of Christ, which warn against partaking in the vain pleasures of this world.
He who never derived pleasure from this world all his life need not undergo the “Purgatory of the Grave.” However, anyone who has not attained this level must undergo this punishment to purify his body of the uncleanness received from the enjoyment of mundane pleasures.
-Tanya
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What the passage fails to mention, Jesus fulfills.

That being the to-do to avoid a constant want of this world’s pleasures, is to serve.

The world teaches receiving is the highest good.

The passage accurately knocks that down, but doesn’t complete the story by giving the true answer.

Enter Jesus and we learn giving is the true answer.

Even up to and including your life. Not necessarily in death (though it’s included), but in serving those around you.

The one who receives the gift will remember the gift and use the gift for a short time, the one who gives can never have that act undone / taken from them.
 
CHRISTINE77 said:
Have you ever read Dante’s “Purgatorio”? It’s not as bad as you are making it out to be.
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No, I have never read that book, but I would warn not to place too much faith in it. I did attend a Catholic grade school and was instructed that purgatory was just as tormenting as hell, except that those in purgatory were assured of their eventual salvation.

In any event, be assured that these bodies can be “transformed” into torture chambers at any time. Reading the painful deaths of many of the saints also fills me with a fear of God.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Reading the painful deaths of many of the saints also fills me with a fear of God.
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Painful death is to be feared, to be sure.

But why fear God because of a painful death?

A painful death, such as martyrdom, should assure of being with God forever.
 
Robert_Sock said:
No, I have never read that book, but I would warn not to place too much faith in it. I did attend a Catholic grade school and was instructed that purgatory was just as tormenting as hell, except that those in purgatory were assured of their eventual salvation.

In any event, be assured that these bodies can be “transformed” into torture chambers at any time. Reading the painful deaths of many of the saints also fills me with a fear of God.
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Purgatory is AFTER death. It is not as bad as Hell as there is hope for Heaven and reminders of the good times ahead. It is more like a time of extreme remorse for our sins, and leaning how to go to Heaven, not so much physical torture. Go ahead and give the book a shot!🙂
 
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