What is the "fear of God?"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Counterpoint
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
In Catholic terms it is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit confirmed on us at the sacrament. My understanding is to be in awe of His Majesty and a fear of offending Him through sin.
My secretary in one of my jobs once said that even though I was her nicest boss she still had a certain fear of me because I had authority over her. I remember that as I thought about my relationship to my Father. I am not afraid of Him as I know through my faith that He loves me more than I can comprehend. I am not fearful of Him because He could send me to Hell as I know He has given me that decision through Free Will. However, I know that if I ever have the chance to meet Him I will be prostrate on the floor in fear or awe at His Power and Kingship.
 
Counterpoint said:
What is the “fear of God?”
Click to expand...
Why do you ask, when you provide a Catholic definition in your link?
Have you ever experienced it?
Click to expand...
This is a good question. 👍 Yes, I have experienced it, it is why I convert my heart to Him. And I am called to this ‘Fear of God’ at all times. I think it is especially recognized in our examination of conscience. We are called to do this before receiving His Eucharist.
 
If you look in the bible at people who are described as living in the fear of the Lord - they are living a life of obedience to the laws of God - have turned away from their sinful ways and repented - and see God as the true source of life and truth.

Its living a life of obedience to God. Then you can be said to be living in the fear of the Lord.

Its not fear like walking down a dark alley and afraid one might be attacked

Its recognizing and showing reverence to God and then living accordingly to his word.
 
The Scriptures seem to imply that we may experience the fear of God in another sense - namely as the fear of God’s judgment and wrath.

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:16-18
 
For me, to hold a proper fear of the Lord means to recognize His authority and His power. We see Jesus as the Lord reaching out to us, the Shepherd coming to save the lost sheep, His Own children. And yet we know the Lord to be the Judge of the righteous and unrighteous. Having a fear of the Lord doesn’t mean you don’t have a love of the Lord, or even that you aren’t blessed with an intimate and personal relationship or understanding of the Lord. It means you believe the Lord God to be who He is, and to hold the promises He will hold, and that He wields the power and authority He professes to wield.

In short, it is a placing of oneself in the proper state of submission, obedience, and giving honor and thanksgiving to, the Lord.
 
Counterpoint said:
The Scriptures seem to imply that we may experience the fear of God in another sense - namely as the fear of God’s judgment and wrath.

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:16-18
Click to expand...
Yes, you have found yet another one of these ‘seemingly contradictory’ expressions in the Scriptures. One could certainly lose patience trying to use words alone to form our understanding of Scripture. Thank God we have the Holy Spirit, and the whole Body of Christ on earth in order to lead us into understanding!

The Law of Christ is Love. We no longer know God as a Master, but as a friend. We know He has forgiven us, and that He has done it because He loves us. John is making the point that fear does not compell us to Love, because Love is greater than fear. We are offered the Spirit of God Himself, which is not motivated by fear, but the love which a Father has between his own son. We could never know this Love from fear of consequences. It had to be revealed to us by the Son of God.

But there is still the righteous use of the expression “Fear of God” which is the gift of our conscience. Many destroy their gift of “Fear of God” by ignoring, or lying to themselves. God is pushed away from them to the point of total loss.
 
Imagine your fear of offending your wife, the one you love most in this world…

Multiply that by infinity.

That is close to fear of the Lord. 👍
 
rcwitness said:
Yes, you have found yet another one of these ‘seemingly contradictory’ expressions in the Scriptures.
Click to expand...
Yes, it would appear that I have.
But there is still the righteous use of the expression “Fear of God” which is the gift of our conscience. Many destroy their gift of “Fear of God” by ignoring, or lying to themselves. God is pushed away from them to the point of total loss.
Click to expand...
The bottom line is that the apostle John teaches that “[t]here is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18

IOW, you who fear God have not been made perfect in love.
 
USCCB > Bible

Sirach, chapter 1

Fear of the Lord Is Wisdom*

11The fear of the Lord* is glory and exultation, gladness and a festive crown.

12The fear of the Lord rejoices the heart, giving gladness, joy, and long life.

13Those who fear the Lord will be happy at the end, even on the day of death they will be blessed.

14The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord; she is created with the faithful in the womb.

15With the godly she was created from of old, and with their descendants she will keep faith.

16The fullness of wisdom is to fear the Lord; she inebriates them with her fruits.

17Their entire house she fills with choice foods, their granaries with her produce.

18The crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, flowering with peace and perfect health.

19Knowledge and full understanding she rains down; she heightens the glory of those who possess her.

20The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord; her branches are long life.

21The fear of the Lord drives away sins; where it abides it turns back all anger.

22Unjust anger can never be justified; anger pulls a person to utter ruin.

23* Until the right time, the patient remain calm, then cheerfulness comes back to them.

24Until the right time they hold back their words; then the lips of many will tell of their good sense.

25Among wisdom’s treasures is the model for knowledge; but godliness is an abomination to the sinner.

26If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will bestow her upon you;

27For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline; faithfulness and humility are his delight.

28Do not disobey the fear of the Lord, do not approach it with duplicity of heart.

29Do not be a hypocrite before others; over your lips keep watch.

30Do not exalt yourself lest you fall and bring dishonor upon yourself; For then the Lord will reveal your secrets and cast you down in the midst of the assembly. Because you did not approach the fear of the Lord, and your heart was full of deceit.
  • [1:11–30] This is one of several poems of 22 bicola, or poetic lines, corresponding to the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Ben Sira uses the expression “fear of the Lord” twelve times and the noun “wisdom” seven times to emphasize the connection between the two ideas. He describes the blessings that come to those who fear the Lord, i.e., those who practice true religion by loving and serving God and keeping the Law (2:7–10, 15–17; 4:11–16; see Dt 6:1–5, 24). Such blessings recur throughout the book.
usccb.org/bible/sirach/1/

Peace
 
Counterpoint said:
The bottom line is that the apostle John teaches that “[t]here is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18

IOW, you who fear God have not been made perfect in love.
Click to expand...
I agree wholeheartedly! 👍

And we can say the same thing of Faith Alone! The bottom line is that love is the Spirit of our Saviour. If we do not possess His love, we do not have Him.

Hebrews 11:39,40

“And all these things, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

1Cor. 13:1-3

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.”

This is from the prologue of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

“The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends. Whether something is proposed for belief, for hope or for action, the love of our Lord must always be made accessible, so that anyone can see that all the works of perfect Christian virtue spring from love and have no other objective than to arrive at love.19”
 
Counterpoint said:
IOW, you who fear God have not been made perfect in love.
Click to expand...
I hope you aren’t going to a misunderstood extreme with this statement. All who have been perfected by the love of God also hold to a ‘Fear of God’.

Ultimately, our fear of God is lacking. We all needed the grace of God’s love toward us, in order for us to attain the perfection of His Son.

Apart from the ‘Fear of God’ we will not seek Him. Apart from Him seeking us, we would not find Him. Once we have have found who has sought us, we have known the love God has for us. Once we know this love, we can be perfected by it.

Many people recognize the love of Jesus and call Him good, but they do not have a ‘Fear of God’ which initiates our understanding of personally needing His forgiveness and love! They remain wordly in their hearts, thinking Jesus was simply a good man, but not necessary for their life.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top