As far as Jehovah of the Bible goes, what's there to love? He dangles things in front of you only to rip them away as soon as you do one little thing wrong - or don't do something he or his WT minions - say is right. If you actually DO get something from prayer, it's his undeserved kindness. If you don't, it's because YOU are no good. Or it's not his time. Or it's not what he wants for you. Yet he'll never directly let you know. He gave life then he continually threatens to take it away - and often did, with no regret whatsoever. He only felt badly because he used water last time around - next time, he'll use fire. The bible had one thing right: Don't throw your pearls before swine. He is not even worthy of the kind of love I give to my cat.
** If God is love, you cannot fear him **
by FlyingHighNow 62 Replies latest jw friends
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reniaa
for reference lol......
"Fear of God" Bible Verses
This document is a collection of all verses from the bible that refer to the fear of God. It was compiled by scouring the New International Version of the Holy Bible for all verses containing the word "fear", or derivatives of it (feared, fears, fearing, etc), then omitting those not specifically concerned with the fear of God. Because it was done manually by a human, a few may have been missed - but not many.
Genesis
22:12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
Exodus
1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
14:31 And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
20:18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."
20:20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
Leviticus
19:14 "'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.
25:17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy
5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
6:1,2 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
6:13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
6:24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.
9:19 I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me.
10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
10:20 Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.
31:12 Assemble the people--men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns--so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.
31:13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
Joshua
4:23,24 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God."
24:14 "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
1Samuel
12:14,15 If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God--good! But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
12:24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
2Samuel
23:3-4 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
23:4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'
1Chronicles
16:25-26 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
2Chronicles
17:9,10 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.
20:29 The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
Nehemiah
5:9 So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?
Job
1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
1:8-9 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied.
2:3 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
23:13-15 "But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him.
28:28 And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"
Psalms
2:11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
15:1-4 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, ... who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord,
19:9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
22:23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
25:12-14 Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
31:19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
33:8-9 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
33:18-19 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
34:7-11 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
36:1-2 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.
40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
52:5-7 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, "Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!"
55:18-19 He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them - men who never change their ways and have no fear of God.
60:4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.
61:5 For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
65:8 Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.
76:7-8 You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet -
76:11-12 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared. He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
85:9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
86:11Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
89:7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.
90:11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
96:4-5 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
103:17-18 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
111:5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
112:1-2 Praise the Lord. [b] Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
115:11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord-- he is their help and shield.
115:13 he will bless those who fear the Lord-- small and great alike.
119:120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.
128:1-4 Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.
130:3-4 If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
145:19-20 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
147:11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Proverbs
1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
1:29-31 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
2:1-5 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
3:7-8 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
10:27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
14:2 He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises him.
14:16 A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
14:26-27 He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
15:16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
15:33 The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honour.
16:6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.
19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
22:4 Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.
23:17-18 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
24:21-22 Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?
28:14 Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Ecclesiastes
7:16-18 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-- why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool-- why die before your time? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
8:12-13 Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Isaiah
8:12-13 Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy [f]; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread,
11:2-3 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord -- and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
50:10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
59:19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along.
Jeremiah
5:22-24 Should you not fear me?" declares the Lord. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'
26:19 Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek his favor? And did not the Lord relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them?
32:39-40 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.
Daniel
6:26-27 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
Jonah
1:15-16 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.
Zephaniah
3:7 I said to the city, 'Surely you will fear me and accept correction!' Then her dwelling would not be cut off, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
Malachi
1:14 For I am a great king," says the Lord Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.
3:5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty.
Luke
1:50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
8:24-25 He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
12:4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?
Acts
7:30-32 "After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord's voice: 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
9:31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
10:34-35 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
2Corinthians
5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
Ephesians
6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Phillipians
2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Hebrews
11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.
12:21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
1Peter
1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
2:17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
Revelation
14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."
15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"
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Deputy Dog
berylblue
He dangles things in front of you only to rip them away as soon as you do one little thing wrong - or don't do something he or his WT minions - say is right.
You need to ditch of the god of the WT, for the real God of the bible.
John 8:11
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. -
Witness 007
God is love as long as you do everything he tells you, never question him, lack faith, don't mind if you die or get sick, if it is "his will" or suffer like Job did....he would make a nice husband don't you think?
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FlyingHighNow
I wonder if that worked for Hitler? Hitler didn't fear God. What was motivating him?
Who said Hitler cared about any kind of god but himself and the Nazi party? Obviously he did not LOVE. Love didn't motivate Hitler. Fear and hate motivated Hitler. Love is vastly superior as a motivator. This is the point of my thread. Or did you read the short my comments and the article?
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FlyingHighNow
As far as Jehovah of the Bible goes, what's there to love?
Beryl, did you read the article I posted or my comments about how it's not possible for Jehovah to be the God of Love mentioned at 1 John 4:8. The purpose of this thread is to show that Jehovah cannot be that God. And that trying to use fear to motivate people to obey God makes it impossible for them to come to the right decisions out of love period, much less love for God. Also, did you read my comments on gnosticism and who they say is Jehovah? I think you have missed the point of this thread.
He gave life then he continually threatens to take it away - and often did, with no regret whatsoever. He only felt badly because he used water last time around - next time, he'll use fire. The bible had one thing right: Don't throw your pearls before swine. He is not even worthy of the kind of love I give to my cat.
I am not one who believes the entire Bible is inspired by God. If you read a scripture that paints God as a jealous, murderous god who wants you to fear him, he cannot be the god of 1 John 4:8, who is LOVE. This is how I know the Bible was never intended to be taken as an all inspired book. That is fundamentalist, JW thinking. I wasn't raised in a church that believed this way.
for reference lol......
Reniaa, do you believe God really inspired those verses? Or do you ever consider men made those up and attribute all kinds of evil to God? I don't believe for a second God ever inspired anyone to say we should be afraid of him. One of the things that helped me get out of the org was that the WT god felt just like a great big abusive parent. I had an abusive mother and grandmother. I knew God couldn't be like that.
God is love as long as you do everything he tells you, never question him, lack faith, don't mind if you die or get sick, if it is "his will" or suffer like Job did....he would make a nice husband don't you think?
You mean the fundy God? Or the WT God. Those are not love, so they cannot be God.
Many of the cruelest men in the world don't (or didn't) fear God. In fact, many thought they were gods themselves. What does your "god of love" intend to do with them?
I am a Universalist. I believe that when we die, we are do not get off without someone showing us the good we did and how it affected humans, animals and the earth, even angels. I also believe we do not get off without being shown the harm we did. I read a book by a married couple who are grief counselors in a hospice. They spoke to many, many people who had been visited by loved ones who had died. Some of these loved ones had been terrible fathers, mothers, friends, etc. And sometimes the visits were delayed by years. But the visits would often be healing and apologetic and undo the pain of the people left behind. It was this couples theory, as well as some others', that when we die we go through rehabilitation and debriefing and different types of service. So, as Andy often say, "Hitler will be doing A LOT of community service." Universalists believe Good and Love will eventually attract back all intelligent creatures and that none will be lost or condemned. So fear does not motivate us to do what is right. We have to come to the conclusions to do the right thing as move along our earthly journeys. We have free will and learn from our free will and our choices as well as the free will choices of others. What have we learned from Hitler? From the Germany that blindly trusted Hitler and brought him to power? It was his and other Nazis' free will being exercised during the Third Reich.
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AGuest
You need to ditch of the god of the WT, for the real God of the bible.
In truth, folks need to ditch the "god" of the Bible, as hatefully depicted by the "false stylus of the secretaries"... for His Son, the Holy One of Israel, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, who came to bear witness to the TRUTH about His Father, the True God and MOST Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies... and remember that he (the Son) condemned the [practices of] the scribes... right along with those of the Pharisees.
It was the scribes who wrote what we have about the "god"... of the Bible. There was even a "Bible" of sorts when he was on the earth (the Greek Septuagint). If, then, Christ gave them... and their work... no creditation, why in the world should we? Kiss... the SON.
Peace to you all.
A slave of Christ,
SA
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caliber
Never may we forget to recognize our greatest friend
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=_N-136t6SS8&feature=related
Caliber
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quietlyleaving
didn't jesus say "be in fear of him who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna" Matt10:28. He also told us to love him. So it seems to me that the gospels show that love and fear go together
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caliber
I believe that love and fear will both be present but the dominate driving power should be love
Fear of drowning or high falls serve a very valuable purpose but they need not dominate our minds
Caliber