Fear vs Love

[marthaolivia]

Remember waaay back in the late forties & early fifties when a lot of preachers would only preach "fire & brimstone"? Mom would take us to church and the preacher always seemed to tell of a sinner, especially a backslider, who would walk, unrepented, out of church and was killed in terrible accident before they could get home and "busted hell wide open". As a youngster I remember hearing thses stories being scared to death that unless I went to the altar that God would strike me dead if I walked out the church door. I never understood that kind of God. I don't believe we were taught as much about the love of God as about the vengefulness of God. I suppose what I am trying to say is that we were "scared to the the altar" and trying to serve God out of only fear didn't work.

Originally Posted by marthaolivia

Remember waaay back in the late forties & early fifties when a lot of preachers would only preach "fire & brimstone"? Mom would take us to church and the preacher always seemed to tell of a sinner, especially a backslider, who would walk, unrepented, out of church and was killed in terrible accident before they could get home and "busted hell wide open". As a youngster I remember hearing thses stories being scared to death that unless I went to the altar that God would strike me dead if I walked out the church door. I never understood that kind of God. I don't believe we were taught as much about the love of God as about the vengefulness of God. I suppose what I am trying to say is that we were "scared to the the altar" and trying to serve God out of only fear didn't work.

My experience in the 70's and 80's was very similar to what you describe. I got baptized at around age 11 because the SS teacher said if God came back right then I would burn in hell... and I remember the church services where you were afraid to leave or go to the bathroom too...

[ReformedDave]

What does Scripture address????? Both. It's not an either-or proposition.

I still maintain that you cannot love someone and fear them at the same time, although I know we have been through this over and over.

I found it interesting that the recent discussion about whether it is okay to take a life in defense of your family, the same issue was brought up from the other direction and posters were ridiculed for saying that they could love the criminal while pulling the trigger (pretty much the same people doing the ridiculing are the same ones who declare that you can love and fear the same thing at the same time).

[marthaolivia]

A child doesn't understand anything except what they are told. I only remember being afraid of God striking me dead. As I grew into an adult, I seemed to lose that fear since I was still alive and had never even been in an accident after I left the church service. In my later years, through God's mercy & grace, I have come to know this wonder and awesome God in a different light.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

What does Scripture address????? Both. It's not an either-or proposition.

Amen

[marthaolivia]

I am not saying that I don't fear God now. I DO...but I have found out that He is also a loving and just God.