justbyfaith
Well-Known Member
I don't ignore any scripture.
Jesus did not teach us that God is to be feared.
To these two statements, I respond:
Please read the following passages:
Jer 32:38, And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
Jer 32:39, And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
Jer 32:40, And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Psa 19:9, The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
If you want to identify the fear that is spoken of as reverence/respect, that is fine and dandy; however, such a fear as what you speak of may not serve to keep a person in the kingdom when they desire to walk away.
The following kind of fear, however, will:
2Co 5:11, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
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Mat 10:28, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luk 12:5, But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
I suggest that you take the time to read the scriptures that I have quoted above; because I think that you are ignoring them in the formulation of your theology.
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Do YOU believe God created evil/darkness/calamity?
I have answered this before. Yes, I believe that He did so indirectly, in that He created His creation with the capacity for free will.