Who should Christians fear?

[elisha]

Who should Christians fear?
Is there enough ''Fear of God'' or is there to much ''Fear of men''?
Why are some Christian topics more sensitive than others?
...Does this lead to fear?



Ecclesiastes 12:13:Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

 

[agua]

H3372
ירא
yârê'
yaw-ray'
A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).


Fear is both reverence/awe and dread. We revere God always and certainly should dread Him if we fall into unbelief and sin.

There isn't enough fear of God and there is too much fear of man.

Some Christian topics are more sensitive because the subject matter is controversial and usually one that people have strong opinions on. Society/men like to make their own rules and when God's ways are placed as authority it causes unrest and rebellion. This can lead to fear/dread when people are persecuted for their godly faith/beliefs.

 

[elisha]

H3372
ירא
yârê'
yaw-ray'
A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).


Fear is both reverence/awe and dread. We revere God always and certainly should dread Him if we fall into unbelief and sin.

There isn't enough fear of God and there is too much fear of man.

Some Christian topics are more sensitive because the subject matter is controversial and usually one that people have strong opinions on. Society/men like to make their own rules and when God's ways are placed as authority it causes unrest and rebellion. This can lead to fear/dread when people are persecuted for their godly faith/beliefs.

The fear of men is stronger than the fear of God,in today's society?

...It could be very easy for someone to be branded an outcast,especially and I mean especially by a Christian.(To view other beleifs differently and then criticize other Christians)

This is more of a Christian view,how Christians view other Christians in sensitive topics....

 

[agua]

...
This is more of a Christian view,how Christians view other Christians in sensitive topics....

When Christians disagree they can make their position known with love and godly intention. If a Christian promotes an idea/teaching that isn't scriptural they should be shown their error. There are some topics that don't have clear scriptural guidelines and in these areas it is best to refrain from being dogmatic and if resolution is needed this should be delegated to elders/pastors to bring clarity/ruling.

Yes, if truth is not undergirded by love, it makes the possessor of that truth obnoxious and the truth repulsive

Ravi Zacharias

 

[elisha]

When Christians disagree they can make their position known with love and godly intention. If a Christian promotes an idea/teaching that isn't scriptural they should be shown their error. There are some topics that don't have clear scriptural guidelines and in these areas it is best to refrain from being dogmatic and if resolution is needed this should be delegated to elders/pastors to bring clarity/ruling.


Ravi Zacharias

If the pastors are not leading Christians the right way,would they really like to be corrected?
I think people/Christians like popular teachings,these ''popular'' Christians,from what I gather follow more along false teachings than true teachings.

I have learned that one of the most sensitive topics in Christianity is:JEW/Judaism

...If you disagree with a Christians stance on Jew/Judaism,they make you an outcast and shut you down!

Does anyone agree,that that is a sensitive topic?

 

[gdemoss]

Eccl12v13 welcome back. Why Elisha?

 

[elisha]

Eccl12v13 welcome back. Why Elisha?

Welcome back?

Elisha,Biblical name.

 

[gdemoss]

Welcome back?

Elisha,Biblical name.

Have I mistaken you for someone else? Are you not the person who was just removed from the forum using Eccl12v13 for a username?

If I am mistaken, my apologies.

Are you him or not? Eccl12v13 would never lie as he holds to the 10 commandments perfectly without error.

 

[agua]

If the pastors are not leading Christians the right way,would they really like to be corrected?

All believers need to be as Berean and "search the scriptures daily whether those things were so"

I think people/Christians like popular teachings,these ''popular'' Christians,from what I gather follow more along false teachings than true teachings.

Many people follow poor teaching and also there are many false teachers. Both fall into a pit.

I have learned that one of the most sensitive topics in Christianity is:JEW/Judaism

...If you disagree with a Christians stance on Jew/Judaism,they make you an outcast and shut you down!

Does anyone agree,that that is a sensitive topic?

There is a teaching called "replacement theology" which is not supported by scripture. There is also a teaching that gentile believers become Jews which is also not supported by scripture.

 

[elisha]

Have I mistaken you for someone else? Are you not the person who was just removed from the forum using Eccl12v13 for a username?

If I am mistaken, my apologies.

Are you him or not? Eccl12v13 would never lie as he holds to the 10 commandments perfectly without error.

No,I am not him/that person-this is my first time here.

 

[elisha]

All believers need to be as Berean and "search the scriptures daily whether those things were so"


Many people follow poor teaching and also there are many false teachers. Both fall into a pit.



There is a teaching called "replacement theology" which is not supported by scripture. There is also a teaching that gentile believers become Jews which is also not supported by scripture.

The false teachings I think would be easier to spot,since they would be the most popular ones,the ones favored by people.

Confusing words for some people are ''gentile'' and ''Jew''

They insist that gentile means non-Jews(FULL STOP) without seeking out what it means,in the Bible or in a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as well as what Jew means in the modern sense and in the Bible,as well as in history,and in addition to what they say about themselves.
I think people forget words have meanings!

 

[agua]

Gentile
H1471
גּי גּוי
gôy gôy
go'ee, go'-ee
Apparently from the same root as H1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.


A foreign nation in the OT was any people apart from Israel. A gentile therefore was considered apart from God and "heathen".


Heathen
G1482
ἐθνικός
ethnikos
eth-nee-kos'
From G1484; national (“ethnic”), that is, (specifically) a Gentile: - heathen (man).


A non Israelite/Jew in the NT was also defined as a Greek.


Gal_3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.


Greek
G1672
Ἕλλην
Hellēn
hel'-lane
From G1671; a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek speaking person, especially a non-Jew: - Gentile, Greek.

 

[agua]

The false teachings I think would be easier to spot,since they would be the most popular ones,the ones favored by people.

False teachings are also easy to spot when they are obviously not found in scripture.

"Jesus is Lord" is a very popular belief and is also found in scripture. : )

 

[brakelite]

The devil is a master of deception. The false teachings he promotes are not always that obvious. Counterfeit money is all but indistinguishable from the real. You dont get counterfeit 99$ notes.

 

[Kit Carson]

A good example is the unfortunate Pastor in Iran who will not renounce his faith, so men become those to fear. But God is the real one we should all fear.

So he holds true and will not renounce his faith. He knows who can really kill him.

I also fear God more than men, but for sure I fear men too.

As for the false teachings you all speak of, that is so easily recognized if you read the Bible that they jump out at you. Unfortunately about 99 percent of those who attend church and listen to modern day preachers have not read the Bible, they simply follow men. So they in good faith you might say, follow false teachings. Not sure that is possible if one has actually accepted Christ as the Holy Spirit talks to us when we do.

Dunno, even on this forum I see those wishing to hold to the old laws, to avoid grace, to put the law under grace and to not simply as a child accept Christ and his grace. To put mans meanings to many things , but I think that is basically harmless as long as you really do believe in God. As God knows your heart and also knows all about becoming confused.

But God is the one to fear. To honor, to hold in great respect, to have as a friend, but always with respect. And realize he does not play games, but also does not demand a whole lot, only to honor him and believe him. And yes fear him as he has the right to require what he desires.

Kit

 

[RJ]

For me, the key here is you asked about Christians?

For a true"Born Again" Christian; with God living in them, there is nothing to fear from God or man!!

For the un-believer there is plenty to fear!

 

[jiggyfly]

For me, the key here is you asked about Christians?

For a true"Born Again" Christian; with God living in them, there is nothing to fear from God or man!!

For the un-believer there is plenty to fear!

Exactly, excellent response RJ, perfect love casts out all fear.

 

[Kit Carson]

For me, the key here is you asked about Christians?

For a true"Born Again" Christian; with God living in them, there is nothing to fear from God or man!!

For the un-believer there is plenty to fear!

Such a simple answer, why did I not think of that. So simple and so true.

We fear God but it is not a real fear, it is more of total respect. We wish to not let him down. And out of love we always show respect and our wish to serve.

Best answer yet.........

Kit

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

Originally Posted by RJ
For me, the key here is you asked about Christians?

For a true"Born Again" Christian; with God living in them, there is nothing to fear from God or man!!

For the un-believer there is plenty to fear!

That works for me to,although there is still plenty of AWE in learning of him.

 

[HisFollower]

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 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.
(Luke 12:4-5)