"Do Not Fear God"

"God fearing people", "Put the fear of God in you."

Some common things that people and preachers have said for age and ages. Scare tactics through fire and brimstone teachings to try and get God's people to live the right and straight way that they demand of you, but what Gods expects with of course less harshness if you don't get it right the first time, second time and guess what the third time, 4th, 5th, 6th and on and on and on.

A phrase on a church's sign one day really disturbed me, I felt it was misleading people in a way to make them want to run away from God rather than go to that church and seek him. The phrase was "Fear God and fear nothing else." Now, with me, dealing with simple minded people on a daily basis, this did not set well with me to the point that I could see many people getting the wrong idea about what it may be asking.

People in general are a cowardice bunch and run away from things that they are afraid of or fear. Since I read that sign I have heard many people say this similar thing, but they were meaning a totally different thing than what came from literally from their mouths.

It is so totally mis understood and misinterpreted by many people who have heard or read this type of teaching in their lives. Its no wonder that people feel like they are not good enough to seek his love or even just run from it because they are afraid of the repercussions to them if they "don't meet his standards", according to others. God doesn't have standards he has his rules that he set down in the beginning, very simple ones at that, and his love for all of us, no matter what.

I envision God as a wise grandfather type, gray hair, long beard to run your fingers through as a child while your sitting in his lap listening to his stories and tales and very wise advise. God is calm and patient speaks few words to drive a point, yet gets disappointed when we stray, but will always guide us back without judgment or punishment. We punish ourselves enough, he doesn't have to.

The teachings that we have always heard and read are mostly translations from versions of the bible where the word "fear" was chosen because it seemed to be the only one that fit to the original wording. Unfortunately when this word meant to revere or respect in the original books, when it was translated later it didn't really fit anymore once the English language got going good with its own definitions. With most people taking the readings of the bible literally and to gospel, the word fear was misinterpreted my many to actually mean to be afraid of.

This is a big way that different churches get their starts, because someone read the bible and took the meanings to mean differently than what they were being taught and they didn't agree most times and left to build their own religion.

The Bible can mean many things to many different people but to get the true truth that comes from it, everyone must agree on the basics and be open minded enough to know that what you read into a verse or chapter, might and most likely be different than someone else.

There is nothing in the bible that says we are to fear them, in contrary when they came around to the ones they spoke with, usually the first words out were "fear not".

We just all need to believe in God, and praise his holy Son. Know that they have our best interest at their hearts and that no matter what we do, we must try to do our best to do what's right by everyone and everything around us.

Do not Fear God, or Jesus. They are our father, our friends and that there is nothing to fear with them in our lives.

The sign should have said "Trust in God and fear nothing." Then maybe they might get a few more pew seats filled.

Love Him and cause He already Loves YOU!!