Does God invoke FEAR in anyone anymore?

[Ceridwen]

In the thread title, you are mis-using the work "invoke." Invoke means "to petition for assistance." The word you meant to use is "evoke." Evoke means "to elicit or draw forth."

Please, this misuse of the English language by someone who is a native speaker evokes (not invokes) a great deal of fear in me that our educational system is broken.

 

[Ceridwen]

Divine wrath is real, and if you doubt it, God will curse you. That is why you should fear God, because he strikes back with vengeance every wrong -- this vengeance is placed upon Christ on the cross or upon you if you forget it.

 

[intricatic]

I thought the education system was dun broke already, though.

 

[intricatic]

Okay, I am going to explain this to you. Pay close and careful attention. I will put it in a way that you can easily understand.

1 John 4:16
God is love

Okay, that's what the Bible verse says.

"God is Love"

God- Greek word used is 'Theos'

Theos- God, usually refers to the one true God.

God in that sentence, means God.
God is a noun- the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.

'Theos' is the greek word used for 'God'.

Okay, understand so far? Read carefully...

"God is Love"

Is- verb (used without object)
1.to exist or live:
Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.
2.to take place; happen; occur: The wedding was last week. 3.to occupy a place or position: The book is on the table. 4.to continue or remain as before: Let things be. 5.to belong; attend; befall: May good fortune be with you. 6.(used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject): Martha is tall. John is president. This is she. 7.(used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences): Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious. –auxiliary verb 8.(used with the present participle of another verb to form the progressive tense): I am waiting. 9.(used with the present participle or infinitive of the principal verb to indicate future action): She is visiting there next week. He is to see me today. 10.(used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice): The date was fixed. It must be done. 11.(used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense): He is come. Agamemnon to the wars is gone.

That's what "is" means.

"God is Love"

Love- The word 'Love' in greek is "Agape".

Love- a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

Agape- Love, in the NT usually the active love of God for his Son, and his people, and the active love his people are to have for God, each other, and even enemies.

Okay, do you understand so far?

English- "God is Love"
Greek- "Theos is Agape"

'God' is a word.
'Theos' is a word.
'Love' is a word.
'Agape' is a word.
These are both words.

Word- a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning.

The word 'God' is (see definition of is) the word 'Love'.
'God' is a word. 'Love' is a word. Is describes that both words are each other. They are the same thing.

'Love' is the greek word 'Agape'. 'Agape' is a noun.

a‧ga‧pe2  /ɑˈgɑ

peɪ, ˈɑ

gəˌpeɪ, ˈæg

ə-/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ah-gah-pey, ah-guh-pey, ag-uh-]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun, plural -pae /-paɪ, -ˌpaɪ, -ˌpi/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-pahy, -pahy, -pee]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, -pai /-paɪ, -ˌpaɪ/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-pahy, -pahy]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciationfor 3. 1.the love of God or Christ for humankind. 2.the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind. 3.unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications; brotherly love. 4.love feast (defs. 1, 2).


Noun- noun  /naʊn/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[noun]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA PronunciationGrammar
–noun 1.any member of a class of words that are formally distinguished in many languages, as in English, typically by the plural and possessive endings and that can function as the main or only elements of subjects or objects, as cat, belief, writing, Ohio, darkness. Nouns are often thought of as referring to persons, places, things, states, or qualities.

That's what noun means.

Okay, now that I have given you the definition of 'Love', 'Theos', 'Agape', 'God', and what 'is' means as well as what a 'noun' is, and the definition of "word", do you understand?

"God" is "Love".
The noun, the word, 'God', or 'Theos' is The noun, the word, 'Love', or 'Agape'.

The noun is the noun.
The word is the word.
God is Love.
Theos is Agape.

Do you understand now?

Actually, this just made it even more confusing for me. Are you saying that God is only a noun, or that the noun 'love', or 'Agape' is all that 'Theos' or 'God' consists of? What gives meaning to any of these words, and how do we understand them if we simply look at it like this?

We've established that a verse in the New Testament says that God is love ("Theos esti agape"), but what does "Theos esti agape" mean to us?
Further, does this mean that God is not any other thing? Is He simply an emotion, a noun a verb and another noun, or is God something more?

 

[RonnyRulz]

If God himself standing in front of you wouldn't produce a type of 'fear' like that, then maybe we envision a different God or you view him alot more casually than I do!

It's both. we envision a different God and I know him a lot more casually than you do.

God is casual in my life. I have no reason to fear him. He comes into my room constantly and I'm like

I've been on my face before because the power of God was so strong, but it wasn't out of fear. It was out of "I'm not worthy to even be near you!!" and out of "You are SO powerful I can't stand up!!" but never never never out of fear.

When God shows up, unless He shows up in Super-Power where I can't stand up, then I'm fully standing, fully there, not fearing at all, but giving Him a secret special handshake and saying "Whats up God? How's it hangin?"

My God is a casual God, because we are friends. Friends are casual.

 

[savedandhappy1]

It's both. we envision a different God and I know him a lot more casually than you do.

God is casual in my life. I have no reason to fear him. He comes into my room constantly and I'm like

I've been on my face before because the power of God was so strong, but it wasn't out of fear. It was out of "I'm not worthy to even be near you!!" and out of "You are SO powerful I can't stand up!!" but never never never out of fear.

When God shows up, unless He shows up in Super-Power where I can't stand up, then I'm fully standing, fully there, not fearing at all, but giving Him a secret special handshake and saying "Whats up God? How's it hangin?"

My God is a casual God, because we are friends. Friends are casual.

I'm sorry but please tell me you don't really ask God hows it hangin?
​

 

[intricatic]

It's both. we envision a different God and I know him a lot more casually than you do.

God is casual in my life. I have no reason to fear him. He comes into my room constantly and I'm like

I've been on my face before because the power of God was so strong, but it wasn't out of fear. It was out of "I'm not worthy to even be near you!!" and out of "You are SO powerful I can't stand up!!" but never never never out of fear.

When God shows up, unless He shows up in Super-Power where I can't stand up, then I'm fully standing, fully there, not fearing at all, but giving Him a secret special handshake and saying "Whats up God? How's it hangin?"

My God is a casual God, because we are friends. Friends are casual.

So there's no thanks and quiet awe in the fact that God's wrath burned against you just as it burns against sinners everywhere, no numinous reverence or trembling before the God that created the entire universe, and yet died to individually save you from a destiny that you most certainly deserve just as much as any other sinner?

Or is that not fear?

 

[RonnyRulz]

I'm sorry but please tell me you don't really ask God hows it hangin?
​

I'm sorry, but please tell me you don't really think God is that impersonal and that you don't have a casual friendship with a Living God?

God is our friend. Of course I ask God hows it hangin. God is my friend. I talk to God, and God talks to me. Face to face. person to person. Just like friends. I know God.

All Christians should have such a relationship with God. A friendship.

God is more than just a God to those in Jesus Christ. He's a friend.

I ask God more than just "hows it hangin".

 

[Nadiine]

Okay, I am going to explain this to you. Pay close and careful attention. I will put it in a way that you can easily understand.

1 John 4:16
God is love

Okay, that's what the Bible verse says.

"God is Love"

God- Greek word used is 'Theos'

Theos- God, usually refers to the one true God.

God in that sentence, means God.
God is a noun- the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.

'Theos' is the greek word used for 'God'.

Okay, understand so far? Read carefully...

"God is Love"

Is- verb (used without object)
1.to exist or live:
Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.
2.to take place; happen; occur: The wedding was last week. 3.to occupy a place or position: The book is on the table. 4.to continue or remain as before: Let things be. 5.to belong; attend; befall: May good fortune be with you. 6.(used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject): Martha is tall. John is president. This is she. 7.(used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences): Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious. –auxiliary verb 8.(used with the present participle of another verb to form the progressive tense): I am waiting. 9.(used with the present participle or infinitive of the principal verb to indicate future action): She is visiting there next week. He is to see me today. 10.(used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice): The date was fixed. It must be done. 11.(used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense): He is come. Agamemnon to the wars is gone.

That's what "is" means.

"God is Love"

Love- The word 'Love' in greek is "Agape".

Love- a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

Agape- Love, in the NT usually the active love of God for his Son, and his people, and the active love his people are to have for God, each other, and even enemies.

Okay, do you understand so far?

English- "God is Love"
Greek- "Theos is Agape"

'God' is a word.
'Theos' is a word.
'Love' is a word.
'Agape' is a word.
These are both words.

Word- a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning.

The word 'God' is (see definition of is) the word 'Love'.
'God' is a word. 'Love' is a word. Is describes that both words are each other. They are the same thing.

'Love' is the greek word 'Agape'. 'Agape' is a noun.

a‧ga‧pe2  /ɑˈgɑ

peɪ, ˈɑ

gəˌpeɪ, ˈæg

ə-/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ah-gah-pey, ah-guh-pey, ag-uh-]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun, plural -pae /-paɪ, -ˌpaɪ, -ˌpi/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-pahy, -pahy, -pee]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, -pai /-paɪ, -ˌpaɪ/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-pahy, -pahy]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciationfor 3. 1.the love of God or Christ for humankind. 2.the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind. 3.unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications; brotherly love. 4.love feast (defs. 1, 2).


Noun- noun  /naʊn/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[noun]Pronunciation Key - Show IPA PronunciationGrammar
–noun 1.any member of a class of words that are formally distinguished in many languages, as in English, typically by the plural and possessive endings and that can function as the main or only elements of subjects or objects, as cat, belief, writing, Ohio, darkness. Nouns are often thought of as referring to persons, places, things, states, or qualities.

That's what noun means.

Okay, now that I have given you the definition of 'Love', 'Theos', 'Agape', 'God', and what 'is' means as well as what a 'noun' is, and the definition of "word", do you understand?

"God" is "Love".
The noun, the word, 'God', or 'Theos' is The noun, the word, 'Love', or 'Agape'.

The noun is the noun.
The word is the word.
God is Love.
Theos is Agape.

Do you understand now?

Are you serious? :o
I hope i'm just confused & not understanding this - but
I can do the same thing with "God is Spirit" & "God is Holy" "Holy is God" (Rev. 4), "I am the WAY" "truth" "Life".

Your view seems to be in conflict with every theologian & scholar I've ever read on God's being/divine attributes.

Instead of trying to undo all that up there with manipulation of nouns (just because they're nouns )... I'll add 2 links to some good pages that directly define this:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/8449/love2.html

Boyce's page on God's Love:
http://www.founders.org/library/boyce1/ch10.html

index: http://www.founders.org/library/boyce1/toc.html


To close using a line from a link:

But, praise God, He is holy, He is righteous, and therefore, He is love.
​

 

[Nadiine]

It's both. we envision a different God and I know him a lot more casually than you do.

God is casual in my life. I have no reason to fear him. He comes into my room constantly and I'm like

I've been on my face before because the power of God was so strong, but it wasn't out of fear. It was out of "I'm not worthy to even be near you!!" and out of "You are SO powerful I can't stand up!!" but never never never out of fear.

When God shows up, unless He shows up in Super-Power where I can't stand up, then I'm fully standing, fully there, not fearing at all, but giving Him a secret special handshake and saying "Whats up God? How's it hangin?"

My God is a casual God, because we are friends. Friends are casual.

I just read the post before mine, and this... are you saying that God LITERALLY MANIFESTS / comes to you visibly?

 

[savedandhappy1]

I'm sorry, but please tell me you don't really think God is that impersonal and that you don't have a casual friendship with a Living God?

God is our friend. Of course I ask God hows it hangin. God is my friend. I talk to God, and God talks to me. Face to face. person to person. Just like friends. I know God.​

All Christians should have such a relationship with God. A friendship.​

God is more than just a God to those in Jesus Christ. He's a friend.​

I ask God more than just "hows it hangin".​

I frankly find it very disrespectful to ask the Lord how it's hangin, considering what I believe the hangin part is. Frankly that would be right there with van babbling and profane words. So do you ask Him if he's got any lately too. Don't you see how not good this is?​

You see Him face to face? Well considering the Bible tells us you will die if you see His face, I would lean more to you standing face to face with someone that isn't anywhere close to God.​

I have a very wonderful personnal relationship with my Lord and Saviour. Yes, I talk to Him as a friend, but I don't disrespect my friends so why would I disrespect Him.?​

 

[koer]

i often fear god when i'm out in the woods camping. wait no, not god, bears.

 

[JacobHall86]

Im still trying to figure out how someone can see God Person to Person without it being the second coming.

Or Face to Face, since Moses wasnt even righteous enough to see it without being destroyed by His presence.

 

[koer]

Im still trying to figure out how someone can see God Person to Person without it being the second coming.

Or Face to Face, since Moses wasnt even righteous enough to see it without being destroyed by His presence.

it's pretty ovious that they're witches.

 

[RonnyRulz]

Im still trying to figure out how someone can see God Person to Person without it being the second coming.

Just pray and you'll understand shortly. Ask and you'll receive. Ask God to see Him, Person to Person. He will answer you, even if it takes awhile to receive the answer in fullness. Step by step we grow. I just know that I know that I know, Person to Person, best friends, best buds, intimate Lovers, Face to Face. Me and my Lovely God It always wasn't that way though, you have to ask God, seek God, knock on the door, and God will teach you, give you understanding, and give you eyes to see what you couldn't see before. It's all from God, none from us. Ask and Receive.

Or Face to Face, since Moses wasnt even righteous enough to see it without being destroyed by His presence.

Exactly, Moses wasn't righteous enough. Nor is any man...BUT JESUS CHRIST!
Hebrews 3

No one should ever underestimate the Power of the Blood of Jesus.
The Blood of Christ is powerful, VERY POWERFUL. It allows us to have Christ's Righteousness. With the Blood of Christ, we have full access to God and all He has!

There's Power in the Blood.

 

[JacobHall86]

It's something beyond our human comprehension. I don't even claim to understand it fully. I just know that I know that I know, Person to Person, best friends, best buds, intimate Lovers, Face to Face. Me and my Lovely God



Exactly, Moses wasn't righteous enough. Nor is any man...BUT JESUS CHRIST!

The Blood of Christ is powerful, VERY POWERFUL. It allows us to have Christ's Righteousness. With the Blood of Christ, we have full access to God and all He has!

There's Power in the Blood.

Yea except we still sin, and in that state of sin, Gods presence will destroy you.

 

[koer]

The Blood of Christ is powerful, VERY POWERFUL. It allows us to have Christ's Righteousness. With the Blood of Christ, we have full access to God and all He has!

There's Power in the Blood.

exactly. you can get totally bombed off jesus blood. i remember sneaking out of religion class and downing bottle after bottle of his blood, it's SO GOOD! i just couldn't stop!

 

[RonnyRulz]

Yea except we still sin, and in that state of sin, Gods presence will destroy you.

You do not understand the Power of the Blood of Jesus.

Also you die to self, crucify your flesh. Repent and be cleansed by the Blood. You walk in pure and Holy, covered in Christ's Blood and leaving your self-flesh behind on the cross.

There's Power in the Blood.

Jesus's Blood isn't so weak that our sin is greater than it!!!! Jesus's Blood is more powerful than our sin! Greater!!!

 

[intricatic]

I'm still confused. Didn't Paul say that those who believed yet did not see had greater faith than those who had seen? For that matter, didn't Christ also say this in the gospels? Wouldn't it be self-defeating for Christ to physically manifest Himself to a believer in that they would then be reduced in stature of the quality of their faith?

However, our infinite and loving God who crafted each one of us and has every hair on our heads counted, who knows when every sparrow falls, and knows every grain of sand and every star in the sky does ask a personal relationship with us. Where in scripture is this idea that you're expressing corroborated, though?

 

[RonnyRulz]

I'm still confused. Didn't Paul say that those who believed yet did not see had greater faith than those who had seen? For that matter, didn't Christ also say this in the gospels? Wouldn't it be self-defeating for Christ to physically manifest Himself to a believer in that they would then be reduced in stature of the quality of their faith?

To reach the point where you have the faith to see, you have to have the faith when you don't see.

The Bible talks about people who see God first, and then accept Him and have faith.
Then the others are those who do not see God first, but accept Him and have a stronger faith.

I accepted God when I could not and had not seen Him. This is greater faith than those who see God first and then are saved.

Seeing God after you have the faith to believe when you don't see Him doesn't decrease your faith.
All faith comes from God anyways, so God gives to each what He desires. God gives faith, man does not have anything good on his own. All good is God alone.