Another angle to discuss on the topic of fear; we had a visiting preacher (that I love and respect) yesterday and he preached one of those "get in the ark, the end is coming" messages. It has been a long time since I have heard a message like that, and it confirmed my feeling about them, I thoroughly dislike them. Very little scripture and a whole lot of hype. I have never seen any permanent results out of fear tactics, and it is disturbing to me. He also made several comments about not questioning your pastor, he is the one watching for your soul... that gave me cold chills, I KNOW there is no scripture for that one!
He also made several comments about not questioning your pastor, he is the one watching for your soul... that gave me cold chills, I KNOW there is no scripture for that one!
It's a very common teaching, and contributes to the fear.
Another angle to discuss on the topic of fear; we had a visiting preacher (that I love and respect) yesterday and he preached one of those "get in the ark, the end is coming" messages. It has been a long time since I have heard a message like that, and it confirmed my feeling about them, I thoroughly dislike them. Very little scripture and a whole lot of hype. I have never seen any permanent results out of fear tactics, and it is disturbing to me. He also made several comments about not questioning your pastor, he is the one watching for your soul... that gave me cold chills, I KNOW there is no scripture for that one!
Haven't you heard one of the many tales about someone questioning their pastor, and then dying? It is sort of like the tale about "someone I know who knows someone" that once got over a 100 mpg on their car before it was "fixed" in the shop, thus bringing its mileage back to the normal 15-20 mpg range.
Another angle to discuss on the topic of fear; we had a visiting preacher (that I love and respect) yesterday and he preached one of those "get in the ark, the end is coming" messages. It has been a long time since I have heard a message like that, and it confirmed my feeling about them, I thoroughly dislike them. Very little scripture and a whole lot of hype. I have never seen any permanent results out of fear tactics, and it is disturbing to me. He also made several comments about not questioning your pastor, he is the one watching for your soul... that gave me cold chills, I KNOW there is no scripture for that one!
Yes, you can look back on this type chaos and see many of those that responded out of that fear were hardened to the urging of the Spirit. So the short term gain is a long term (very damaging) lose.
__________________ For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. (Romans 14:11- NASB)
I haven’t read much of this thread. (OneAccord’s post was great)
But this is a subject that I have spent some time thinking about.
The 1970s “rapture can happen any second” sermons left me with panic attacks as a pre-teen. I lived in fear. I would literally have panic attacks if I couldn’t find my mom (she was the only person I was sure was saved). I even had a plan in place in case the rapture came so I wouldn’t get my head cut off.
I lived in fear. It was terrible. Now I reject any of that kind of thing and it makes me angry when someone tries to walk down that road. I cannot find a way to see that as “Godly” or in keeping with sound teaching.
But the fear of God remains the beginning of wisdom. Not because I said it but because the Word of God said it.
I firmly believe that in some weird wisdomless effort to capitalize on natural fears in the culture of the 1970’s we lost scared people so badly we have lost the ability to preach and teach honest truth about the fear of God.
AND we are the losers for it. The fear of God should not lead where One Accord and I both went. In my fear of God I ran. I ran and paid the price for running. I wasn’t taught really well I suppose. I suspect most of us weren’t.
Having said that, in general I believe that the fear of God is something that while good for everyone is more important for preachers. Preachers had better fear God. NOT fearing God leads to a god complex. It leads to pride and pride will always lead to a big ole fall. I’ve seen too many preachers fall and in all the cases I am close to, I can honestly say something happened that left that guy without any fear of the All Mighty. They were able to “fake it” long enough that they began to believe that God was ok with their sin.
He isn’t. They paid….dearly.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
I haven’t read much of this thread. (OneAccord’s post was great)
But this is a subject that I have spent some time thinking about.
The 1970s “rapture can happen any second” sermons left me with panic attacks as a pre-teen. I lived in fear. I would literally have panic attacks if I couldn’t find my mom (she was the only person I was sure was saved). I even had a plan in place in case the rapture came so I wouldn’t get my head cut off.
I lived in fear. It was terrible. Now I reject any of that kind of thing and it makes me angry when someone tries to walk down that road. I cannot find a way to see that as “Godly” or in keeping with sound teaching.
But the fear of God remains the beginning of wisdom. Not because I said it but because the Word of God said it.
I firmly believe that in some weird wisdomless effort to capitalize on natural fears in the culture of the 1970’s we lost scared people so badly we have lost the ability to preach and teach honest truth about the fear of God.
AND we are the losers for it. The fear of God should not lead where One Accord and I both went. In my fear of God I ran. I ran and paid the price for running. I wasn’t taught really well I suppose. I suspect most of us weren’t.
Having said that, in general I believe that the fear of God is something that while good for everyone is more important for preachers. Preachers had better fear God. NOT fearing God leads to a god complex. It leads to pride and pride will always lead to a big ole fall. I’ve seen too many preachers fall and in all the cases I am close to, I can honestly say something happened that left that guy without any fear of the All Mighty. They were able to “fake it” long enough that they began to believe that God was ok with their sin.
He isn’t. They paid….dearly.
I understood the fear of God means "respect" not fear as being afraid. So until I learned this I was "afraid" of God and I still fear Him in many ways. When it is ingrained in you as a child you don't just change overnight.
I want to please Him and honestly fear I fail at that no matter how hard I try. I don't know that we were ever taught that was an obtainable goal.
__________________
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
I remember those hell, fire and brimstone messages...Richard Heard comes to mind...
I do believe that we should have a REVERENT fear of God...a fear that is healthy. Case in point...a body of water...it's beautiful and majestic, but it can be dangerous if not respected!!!!
__________________
"Just a sinner saved by grace!"
I remember those hell, fire and brimstone messages...Richard Heard comes to mind...
I do believe that we should have a REVERENT fear of God...a fear that is healthy. Case in point...a body of water...it's beautiful and majestic, but it can be dangerous if not respected!!!!
Yep... but screams of how you'll die if you get in the lake only stir curiosity.
Hybrid Mode
