You see friend, it isn't about having a good answer that is socially accepted by your peers. I certainly would not rely on your answer, let alone on those of my own house hold.
I agree, it's about having an answer that not only is supported by scripture but also is consistent with
the ways of God's heart.
I believe that my reverend fear of him is not separable from the blissful love I have for him. In fact my life experience is chastisement after chastisement of ridicule, rebuke, rejection, sickness, struggle, where the victories that I have had in overcoming every single one of them has made me love him more than I would love anyone in this life, including myself.
Welcome to the world. But you can't make wine by loving the juice out of a grape.
But the bottom line is, not one of your descriptors above even come close to the definition required of
chastisement/scourging/flogging. A beating which people sometimes even died from. But in Jesus' case, He was beaten and bloodied so much He only lasted a couple hours on the cross. But if God is going to '
Chastize/scourge' any of US it will only take place because God's has instituted laws into this universe which are applicable to ALL. And, in the eyes of God, you don't ever really '
break them'....they 'break you'. And if you don't break, then you don't achieve 'mature/perfect/manifested sonship', on this side of glory. If you think that makes him this mean, vindictive, thunderbolt enraged God on a throne, you don't understand God raising ALL his offspring from the perspective of His ultimate goal of timelessness,
at the end of the ages.
My reverend fear is solely vested in him, relying on him to complete me. The fear of incompletion is the measure by which I see my love for him growing and deepening day by day, this transcends my being, to the point I fear him, because I count myself as an obstacle to him and an enemy that must be crushed and defeated under his feet. Being prepared to be crushed by God is not knew to me, I see it imperative to him completing me, where there are no traces of me, but of his son that he is well pleased of.
Your saddest '
love relationship' paragraph yet, for me to read.
I truly do feel sorry for you. It truly describes the kind of heart from which your theology derives IMO.
My love relationship with Him doesn't sound like yours. Yours sounds like being lovingly raped by God? Sort of a purposeful being beat into submission. It brings to my mind the obedience of the 'battered wife syndrome'.
Scripture said I never overcame anything, in my strength/ability. But "
I can do all things through Christ in me." And that is not by the '
grace' of undeserved favor', as defined by the nominal church. But it is accomplished by the biblically defined '
grace which empowers one' to accomplish what God's truth demands. And he only gives such grace to he who is humble in personal convictions from God's Spirit. "
For God gives grace to THE HUMBLE so therefore HUMBLE YOURSELF." And that 'sin conviction' which the Holy Spirit convicts you of, is something that God wants to NOW deal with, in His patient pealing off, of the onion skins issues of my life. Issues of sin, rebellion, wickedness which He deals with because He loves ME. And wants the best for Me as well as for ALL....ultimately.
As for me, Jesus is my pattern Son, of the Father who has forgiven,
called, drawn, chosen me. He also then gave me the faith to believe, because I was
ordained to believe. I'm just humbled that he chose me in this age in order that I might attain '
especially those that believe' salvation, which is defined as being a salvation of
a greater degree. And that '
greater degree' salvation is one with a 'first fruits' potential.
My motto is to prepare to be crushed by the Lord and to be brought before his feet as a broken and contrite heart. Fear and perfect love is realised after I die and he lives in me for all eternity. Amen!
And my motto is to Love Him as He first loved me and everybody else. And don't break any of His universal laws which release fearful judgments upon all, be they sinner or saint. And WHO is going to afflict you with those
crushing chastisment judgments you say you love? The same one appointed by God for
Job to be his ,
robber,
killer,
destroyer." I love another.
To me, your position sounds like one based upon '
knowing His acts' but not '
His ways'.