Love or fear?

[Prentis]

You all know this debate has been going on in about 1/3 of the threads on this site lately. May I suggest an answer?

Both.

We must take the full cousel of God. He calls us both to love and fear him, he is both our Father, and our King.

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Rom. 11:22)

We like to pick and choose, that's human nature. But we can't do that with the commandments of God, otherwise we are setting up our own system of righteousness.

I think we must be very careful not to claim one to override the other. Does God's love make him unjust? That's a terrible thing to say, all reap what they sow. Of course, there is forgiveness, if we will humble ourselves. But we cannot use that very thing to justify ourselves!

 

[Insight]

Prentis,

Good thoughts!

Have you considered the context of Rom 11:22? What is Paul teaching both the Jew and Gentile?

Insight

 

[Prentis]

I'm surprised no one else wants to post on the subject ( I say this with humor) ... Everyone is posting stuff about it in threads sometimes concerning other subjects, now that it's tackled head on, no one :lol:

 

[Insight]

A voice crying in the wilderness?

 

[Duckybill]

You all know this debate has been going on in about 1/3 of the threads on this site lately. May I suggest an answer?

Both.

That is exactly right.

 

[jiggyfly]

I'm surprised no one else wants to post on the subject ( I say this with humor) ... Everyone is posting stuff about it in threads sometimes concerning other subjects, now that it's tackled head on, no one :lol:

What has God Himself asked us directly to do?

 

[Prentis]

What has God Himself asked us directly to do?

I just want to clarify my comment was purely humor, not meant as anything else :)

God has given us many commands. It comes down to 'love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.' The rest of the commands give us an idea of what it means to love God, and in walking in the Spirit we learn to do so. :)

 

[tomwebster]

I'm surprised no one else wants to post on the subject ( I say this with humor) ... Everyone is posting stuff about it in threads sometimes concerning other subjects, now that it's tackled head on, no one :lol:

Search the forum and you will see this question has been asked regularly in one form or another.


http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/11675-should-we-fear-god/page__hl__fear__fromsearch__1
http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/11574-the-fear-of-the-lord/page__hl__fear__fromsearch__1
http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/7469-what-does-it-mean-to-fear-god/page__hl__fear__fromsearch__1

 

[falconduler]

I'm surprised no one else wants to post on the subject ( I say this with humor) ... Everyone is posting stuff about it in threads sometimes concerning other subjects, now that it's tackled head on, no one :lol:

With all respect can I tell you something? I'll grant you the benefit of the doubt ;that you are well intentioned ,but all I'm hearing from you is the same mantra one hears coming from the mouth of a buddhist monk spinning his prayer wheel. He recites his mantra in words that are spaced in 20-30 second intervals so as to resound in his own mind . The high morality you've been preaching really goes nowhere with anyone with half a brain.

In fact there's nothing really moral or ethical or virtuous in anything you've written. And certainly nothing Christian . All that you write will have the exact opposite result in terms of Christian morality and create nothing but untold misery for millions.

 

[Prentis]

With all respect can I tell you something? I'll grant you the benefit of the doubt ;that you are well intentioned ,but all I'm hearing from you is the same mantra one hears coming from the mouth of a buddhist monk spinning his prayer wheel. He recites his mantra in words that are spaced in 20-30 second intervals so as to resound in his own mind . The high morality you've been preaching really goes nowhere with anyone with half a brain.

In fact there's nothing really moral or ethical or virtuous in anything you've written. And certainly nothing Christian . All that you write will have the exact opposite result in terms of Christian morality and create nothing but untold misery for millions.

God bless you, falconduler :)