fear

deerhunter1224 · 07-16-2007, 08:07 PM

With the topic of fear brought up. It got me thinking in this world if we dont like somthing or we get into trouble over something. Genally it will pass in time. One day we will die. Its scary if we do bad in this world we could be sent to hell. We all do things each day myself being young I hear and see alot of sinful things or what I would say are sinful. What happens to all these people?

Phil from Maine · 07-17-2007, 06:10 AM

First of all I feel it is important to say that I normally do not visit this area in the forums very much as I am not overly religious... I do believe in the great creator as I see fit.. I also believe I have no right to place judgement on someone if they have sinned or not. Only the creator can do that and he will make the final decision on that. With that being said why would I have anything to fear? As the saying goes I have nothing to fear but fear itself. As long as you believe in the power of all, and trust that great power then nothing else really matters as the creator will see fit for you and not I nor someone else..

TNHagies · 07-17-2007, 08:35 AM

Matthew 10:28 sums it up pretty clearly:

28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Thou I'm not going to stand toe to toe w/satan as neither wouldthe angel Michael, butI'm not going to fear something that can only harm my body. That's part of the freedom in Christ. Satan can harm my body but can't touch my soul. That's all the "safety" I need.

Venator1 · 07-17-2007, 12:16 PM

Well said.

Porter Rockwell · 07-17-2007, 12:38 PM

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. However, I think in conjunction with sin, we need to focus on overcoming sin with faith, not fear. Yes, we fear God in the sense that we love and respect him. If we love and respect him we want to keep his commandments. However, if we focus on actual fear, death and hell, I believe we lose sight of faith, hope and charity. The Spirit of the Lord would have us feel guilt when we do wrong, however, if we are feeling it all the time, we are not feeling the Spirit of God. We are feeling the Spirit of the adversary. Feeling guilt and fear all the time is NOT the way the Spirit of the Lord works.

Because of the Atonement of Christ, we can repent. Repentance is a glorious gift from God. By feeling guilt when we do something wrong, that represents the divine within us that tells us that we a bigger and better than the problem or sin that has beset us. It teaches us that we can overcome it. Guilt and a small amount of fear are positive things and should be viewed and felt as such. They should spurn us on in the repentance process which all begins with FAITH in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Such faith (and a loving fear of God) then lead us to confession of sin, righteous remorse, restitution to those we have offended and finally reconciliation with ourselves, others and with God.

Those who do NOT repent are those who will have an unrighteous, crawl away and hide fear of God. Even then, I believe the Lord will do all that he can to help them overcome their pride, arrogance and accept him as LordSavior and help them avoid the clutches of hell. He will do all that he can to redeem every human soul. However, to quote C.S. Lewis: There are only two kinds of people in the end: Those who say to God "Thy will be done" and to those whom God says "Thy will be done." All that are in hell choose it, without that self choice there could be no hell." (The Great Divorce, p.72). We all have our agency to accept or reject. Those who reject, impose hell on themselves, not God.

Hope this helps. Have faith and do not fear!

God Bless,

Porter