Biblical Answer

Should Christians fear God?

The answer is yes, Christians should fear God. The fear of the Lord is not a response to a tyrannical ruler, but rather a response to a loving and holy God who is worthy of our reverence and awe. The Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7), and that it is a response of our entire being, not just an intellectual understanding. When God teaches us to fear Him, He usually does it in a way that is utterly astonishing, and it is for good reason that the Scriptures teach the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

The fear of the Lord is not limited to a feeling of reverence and awe, but it is a response that involves our entire being. It is a response that involves our trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, and it is a response that involves our respect for God as judge. The Bible teaches that Godly fear reflects both a confidence in the saving grace of God and a solemn respect for God as judge. Acceptable service is offered to God as we receive with faith and gratitude the promise of a kingdom that cannot be shaken and is kept for you people. This means that Christians should fear God, not because they are afraid of being punished, but because they are afraid that Jesus Christ will be defeated and that the very things our Lord stood for will not win out in the end.

The fear of the Lord is not about being afraid of God's wrath, but rather about having a healthy respect for God's authority and power. As Jesus said, "Fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5). This means that Christians should fear God, not because they are afraid of being punished, but because they are afraid that they will not live up to the standards of God's holiness and that they will not reflect the character of God in their lives. The fear of the Lord is a response that involves our entire being, and it is a response that involves our trust in God's goodness and sovereignty. It is a response that involves our respect for God as judge, and it is a response that involves our desire to live a life that reflects the character of God.