by Richard Ellis

Created on: September 22, 2009

Yes, we should fear God, but to properly answer this question we should first define the meaning of the word fear. There are three basic meanings: 1) Fear can be "an unpleasant emotion caused by the nearness of danger or expectation of pain, to be afraid". 2) "The reverence or awe felt for God, to reverence God". 3)"To have an uneasy feeling". (Oxford American Dictionary) All three meanings have a place in the term "fear God" as it applies to us today.

The atheist who does not know God, or does not believe in Him, should experience fear as in the first definition. That is to say, they should fear the danger of eternal damnation and the expectation of pain for rejecting God and Jesus Christ. However, in as much as they have hardened their hearts toward God, they might never realize or fear the danger which they are in. When, and if, they ever do, then they will fear God in the proper way.

Then there are the agnostics who are not quite sure about the existence of God. Perhaps they would experience an uneasy feeling, as in the third definition of fear mentioned above. To not be sure that God exists must be a little like always looking over your shoulder to see what is gaining on you; it has to be an uneasy existence. These, too, might someday come to fear God in the proper way.

But, how does one fear God in the proper way? Look again at the second definition of fear: "The reverence or awe felt for god, to reverence God". In many places in the Bible the Hebrew and Greek words for fear can be translated either as meaning to be frightened, or as awe and reverence for God; the context is the important determining factor. In the following verse we see an example of fear as reverence for God: Malachi 3:16 "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name." (NASB) The word "reverence" could have just as easily been used in place of the word fear. This is proper fear of God.

In Exodus 3:16, when Moses turned aside to see the burning bush which was not consumed, God spoke to him: "Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." (KJV) Moses was afraid; he was overcome by awe and reverence and perhaps something akin to fright as well; after all, he had killed an Egyptian. The Hebrew word for fear in this passage means awe, reverence, honor, and/or fright and terror. So Moses hid his face out of reverence and awe as a sign of respect for God. Again, this is proper fear of God.

Much as one would "fear" their own earthly father to the extent of respecting and honoring his love and needful chastisement, we must also fear our heavenly Father. For the true Christian, fear of God means to honor, serve, obey, and worship God in reverence and awe; to respect His mighty power to watch over and protect us, and chastise us when necessary, but we should not tremble in fright. God is a loving and caring Father to those who love and obey Him.

Yes, as explained above, in whatever state we find ourselves, we should fear God!

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