The Question
“Many times in the Bible we are told to fear God, and there are many more times in the Bible when we are told to fear not. Does the Bible have different definitions of the word fear? Should we fear God or not?”
https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgesonline/videos/1822046784480235/
Our first question in our Ask RD series. Watch the video above for Ray David’s response.
Further Resources
“The fear of the Lord is the fear of straying from him. Therefore it expresses itself in taking refuge in God…There is a real trembling for the saints. ‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling’ (Philippians 2:12). But it is the trembling one feels in the arms of a Father who has just plucked his child from the undertow of the ocean.”
“The fear of God is what is left of the storm when you have a safe place to watch right in the middle of it. . . . Oh, the thrill of being here in the center of the awful power of God, yet protected by God himself!” (The Pleasures of God, 186–187)
John Piper
“‘Fear’ in the Bible means to be overwhelmed, to be controlled by something. To fear the Lord is to be overwhelmed with wonder before the greatness of God and his love. It means that, because of his bright holiness and magnificent love, you find him ‘fearfully beautiful.’ That is why the more we experience God’s grace and forgiveness, the more we experience a trembling awe and wonder before the greatness of all that he is and has done for us. Fearing him means bowing before him out of amazement at his glory and beauty.”
Tim Keller
Ask a Question
Do you have questions about life and faith? Ask it here. Every week RD will take the time to answer one of these questions out of scripture, and will post his thoughts here on our website.
