Why do you Fear God?

I cannot believe some of these answers. "Fear" has NEVER meant anything any different than it does now. It is clear in both the Old Testament & New that one should "fear" god because he is a vindictive, sadistic punisher.

I just... to see people entirely change the etymology of a word just to try and explain their version of 'God' is the height of ignorance. The word "fear" is used very obviously in the Bibles. It certainly doesn't mean "to worship".

*Head explodes*

You people - you made the Cookie Monster's head explode!

*Goes back to being exploded*

If I believed in God, I would fear him.

Why do you think he is unforgiving? All loving? Is it from bible scriptures? If yes, than you have to take into account the many other bible scriptures where he isn't loving, and far from forgiving (he is a firm believer of punishing future generations for the sins of their ancestors).

You ask for no scriptures, is it because you know there are hundreds that show God to be anything but loving? He even describes himself as vengeful!

Something all loving would not create a hell- it's infinite punishment for finite crimes. Where is the love?

Or perhaps you just *think* he is all loving, you *feel* it in your heart... where is your evidence for that? If you believe in the God of the bible, you should believe in the word of the bible.

because you do not see him, thats what makes God so frightengly powerful and mighty, its the whole point of not seeing Him, he is forgiving and merciful because we do mistakes and He will always be patient but if you have a complety negative attitude in your belief and think that you are God yourself then you will be reminded what a mistake you are doing...to the point that you can even die in your sleep, you are NEVER guaranteed to wake up again in the morning and before you know it, you are up by God ready to judged on your life, its better to believe in someone up there rather than thinking you are the only ONE, which atheists do think sadly!!! One day something terible will happen to you, something when you least expect it to and then you will remember God, ppl only do remember God went bad things happen or they are depressed cos you jus neva know when you will die..you could die right now after having read this post, this is so how fearful you should be of God.

Well if you don't believe in the Bible how do you possibly expect to know God? The Bible was written by men who GOD Created! Are you saying God cannot control a few people that He created to be a Secretary for Him? And that He hasn't the power to reveal Himself through the Word by the power of the Holy Spirit? Wow you are deceived.

We do not fear god - we fear the followers of god who have become intolerant, hate filled warmongers. Splitting the church into factions, denying education, science, evolution and everything else!!!

They are destroying the church from the inside and turning it into something that a good and just society will find more and more difficult to tolerate. Indeed criminal law is now being used in a number of countries to curb their excesses!!!!

Pundits are now referring to the "post Christian era"!!!!!

So not God - his followers!!!! Hate is a human emotion!!!!

Fear (Reverent Awe by definition) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Prov 1:7

If God loves unconditionally why does he punish us for an eternity based on the minuscule amount of time we spend on Earth?

People fear things that they don't know about. And, there isn't actually any real proof of him existing. Then, that doubt of him existing causes more fear. At least, that's what I think it may be. I can't answer for myself, though. I'm not actually scared of him.

You love your parents unconditionally (or you should) and you feared them at times. My dog loves me unconditionally and fears disappointing me. Dont confuse psychology with scriptures verses.

I fear him as I know by myself I can't do it, or go on, or complete this life. If one was to die and get really scared in his or her passing he or she needs someone to call to. As we are born with parents the earthly is symbolic of the heavenly.