S
spencer2
Guest
Was Jesus teaching his disciples to have a “literal” fear of God? If so how can we serve and love him with this fear always lingering in our mind.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
P
Pfaffenhoffen
Guest
Yes, fear of God. Fear does not mean that we are fearing a criminal or a murderer or someone who is going to hurt you.Was Jesus teaching his disciples to have a “literal” fear of God? If so how can we serve and love him with this fear always lingering in our mind.
Fear ans atomic bomb, fear to approach the Sun, fear to meet someone who is a Great Personality for fear that you do badly so you dress well, you prepare your best words and sentences. Like going to a wedding and you re the bride.
Fear means that you Love that Personality, and that you are meeting SomeOne Who is Unique, and Unique means exactly Unique, No Other Like Him.
The Bible said, You cannot see God and stay alive, for His Power and His Bright will dissolve you.
The Famous Jewish Prayer is so beautiful: “Listen, Israel, Your God is the Only One. You will Love Him with Your Whole Heart with Your Whole Soul”.
That for me it what fear means.
B
BrotherAlan
Guest
St. Thomas Aquinas treats of this question of fear in his “Summa Theologica” (IIa-IIae, Q.19). In this question, St. Thomas speaks about different kinds of fear of God (all of which have some good in them, but some are more perfect than others). The most imperfect kind of fear-- servile fear-- is that which fears God because of His punishments (this is imperfect, for it stems not from love of God, but fear of His punishments; nevertheless, there is still some good in this kind of fear, for it does recognize His power and authority). The best kind of fear, “filial fear”, is that fear which stems from love of God, as a Father, and fears offending Him out of love for Him. St. Thomas also recognizes that sometimes we experience a combination of these two kinds of fears (and the Saint calls this “initial fear”-- it is better than servile fear, but not so perfect as “pure” filial fear).
Here are some pertinent excerpts from St. Thomas’ treatment of this question:
“Just as hope has two objects, one of which is the future good itself, that one expects to obtain, while the other is someone’s help, through whom one expects to obtain what one hopes for, so, too, fear may have two objects, one of which is the very evil which a man shrinks from, while the other is that from which the evil may come. Accordingly, in the first way God, Who is goodness itself, cannot be an object of fear; but He can be an object of fear in the second way, in so far as there may come to us some evil either from Him or in relation to Him.” (IIa-IIae, q. 19, art. 1, corpus)
"We are speaking of fear now, in so far as it makes us turn, so to speak, to God or away from Him. For, since the object of fear is an evil, sometimes, on account of the evils he fears, man withdraws from God, and this is called human fear; while sometimes, on account of the evils he fears, he turns to God and adheres to Him. This latter evil is twofold, viz. evil of punishment, and evil of fault.
Accordingly if a man turn to God and adhere to Him, through fear of punishment, it will be servile fear; but if it be on account of fear of committing a fault, it will be filial fear, for it becomes a child to fear offending its father. If, however, it be on account of both, it will be initial fear, which is between both these fears. As to whether it is possible to fear the evil of fault, the question has been treated above (I-II, 42, 3) when we were considering the passion of fear. " (Summa Theologia, IIa-IIa, q. 19, art. 2, corpus)
In Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary,
BrotherAlan
“Jesus Christ is Lord!” (Phil. 2:11)
Here are some pertinent excerpts from St. Thomas’ treatment of this question:
“Just as hope has two objects, one of which is the future good itself, that one expects to obtain, while the other is someone’s help, through whom one expects to obtain what one hopes for, so, too, fear may have two objects, one of which is the very evil which a man shrinks from, while the other is that from which the evil may come. Accordingly, in the first way God, Who is goodness itself, cannot be an object of fear; but He can be an object of fear in the second way, in so far as there may come to us some evil either from Him or in relation to Him.” (IIa-IIae, q. 19, art. 1, corpus)
"We are speaking of fear now, in so far as it makes us turn, so to speak, to God or away from Him. For, since the object of fear is an evil, sometimes, on account of the evils he fears, man withdraws from God, and this is called human fear; while sometimes, on account of the evils he fears, he turns to God and adheres to Him. This latter evil is twofold, viz. evil of punishment, and evil of fault.
Accordingly if a man turn to God and adhere to Him, through fear of punishment, it will be servile fear; but if it be on account of fear of committing a fault, it will be filial fear, for it becomes a child to fear offending its father. If, however, it be on account of both, it will be initial fear, which is between both these fears. As to whether it is possible to fear the evil of fault, the question has been treated above (I-II, 42, 3) when we were considering the passion of fear. " (Summa Theologia, IIa-IIa, q. 19, art. 2, corpus)
In Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary,
BrotherAlan
“Jesus Christ is Lord!” (Phil. 2:11)
M
marine13
Guest
One way that I have come to look at having a fear of God is fearing that He will allow me to go away from him through sin. Because God is all loving and His justice is perfect God will allow me to fall away from Him and go to Hell if I choose not to follow His commandments. If I deny God’s love I face an eternity in Hell. That is how I fear God. I hope that makes sense.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.