To "Fear God" is to know what He is capable of doing, and who He is. It doesn't kmean that you are actually afraid of Him. If you know Him, you know that He cares for you, but you still repsect Him for who He is. It's an old term, from the King James Bible.

Don't fear God,just love him and you'll be in track.

Have you read the Old Testament? Yahweh is an angry, vengeful, homicidal maniac. According to the Old Testament, he drowned every man, woman, and child on Earth. A god which drowns millions of babies like puppies in a sack is one you should be afraid of. Likewise read what God told the Israelites to do to other tribes such as the Midianites and the Amalekites: murder the men, rape and enslave the virgins, rip open the pregnant women's bellies with swords and tear out the foetus, then smash their heads on the rocks. This God guy sounds like someone you should fear a whole lot. If he was real.

You shouldn't fear God, but you should fear the consequences of your actions if you are sinning. God is like a father and you should love him and fear him the same way a child would their own father on earth, if a child does something wrong and knows that they are going to be punished then they are afraid of what their father may think of them. When you have a relationship with God you care about disappointing him. This is just how I feel about it anyway.

The word "fear", orginally meant "respect". So when the bible says to fear God, it doesn't mean to be scared, but to respect Him.

Cause most of the wars in mankind's history started in the name of god/-

It means that was the way of keeping people in line way back in the day. They made up this story about some kind of Force who was gonna strike you down, and put you in a really bad place for the rest of eternity if you did'nt do just what it says. There is no reason to fear a fairy tale.

Your going to burn in hell if you dont!!!! (jk) Fear is reverence of God. Hebrews 12:28-29 is a good description of this, "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." This reverence and awe is exactly what the fear of God means for Christians. This is the motivating factor for us to surrender to the Creator of the Universe. Proverbs 1:7 declares, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…” Until we understand who God is, and develop a reverential fear of Him, we cannot have true wisdom. True wisdom comes only from understanding who God is – that He is holy, just, and righteous. Deuteronomy 10:12,20-21 records, "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen." The fear of God is the basis for our walking in His ways, serving Him, and yes, loving Him. Many have the tendency of minimizing the fear of God for believers to “respecting” Him. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A Biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin, and fearing His judgment on sin – even in the life of a believer. Hebrews 12:5-11 describes God’s discipline of the believer. While it is done in love (Hebrews 12:6), it is still a fearful thing. As children, the fear of discipline from our parents prevented, hopefully, some evil actions. The same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore, seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases Him.

Oh, no for the Christians that means love. Go figer! And, no, you shouldn't fear god anymore than you fear Santa Claus

God fearing is an old word and unfamiliar to modern ears. Basically it means respect/love like you would have for a good parent. You know if you do the wrong things you will get consequences, as they want you to grow up knowing the difference between right and wrong and doing the right things. No good parent lets you get away with doing things that will harm you and others, and neither does God. So if you fear God, you fear the consequences that go with doing the wrong things. That DOES NOT mean cringing in terror. God is a God that loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice Himself in order to be close to us. He is wholly Holy. So much so, so pure that, if our mortal sinful bodies were to even see Him, we would die. He can't help that. Its His nature. But we have a sin problem. He doesn't want to take away our free will, because He doesn't want worship robots. He wants children. Since He doesn't want to do that, and we aren't strong enough to live up to the standard of what He is, He had two choices, to wipe us out and start over or to cover us. He chose to cover us. He came to earth as one of us, died for our sins, and now has the option of living in us and us in Him. All you have to do is ask. If you ask Him, He will live in you. He will write His laws on your heart. He will help you to become more and more like Him. This isn't instantaneous and magical, at least not usually. It is more a living together and rubbing off rough edges, the way two marriage partners will become more like each other in a long and good marriage. You will become more and more loving, more and more Christ-like, more and more gentle and kind and generous. You will become a force for good in the world. You will become a source of Holy love that people will be attracted to. I think my best example is my step-grandmother, who is in her mid-90's. She used to exasperate me when I was younger, because she insisted on being so backward and moral and didn't seem to leave any wiggle room. As I have grown in my walk, I have seen how much she gives to others. She has almost nothing herself. But no one ever leaves her home hungry. When she has encountered kids on their way to a life of crime, she has given them honest work and pay and encouragement and often turned them around. She houses missionaries when they are home on leave. She still sits with the elderly and shut-ins and takes them meals and company and cleans their houses, even though most of them are younger than her now. She is a fountain of youth and love. She has never had a lonely day in her life, even though most of her friends have died. She has plenty of good friends in the twenties. She loves, and she is loved.

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" Matthew 10:28. ur soul is 4ever, and it is always under attack 2 be pulled away from ur creator even in the most minute ways of someone on a website telling u 2 not fear "fairy tales." 2 fear God is 2 respect God and to acknowledge that God alone saves u from damnation. Because while God is 4giving of all who have accepted him. God is still a vengeful God. Could u imagine how vengeful u would be if u had created life and it turned its back on u, then when u sent ur only begotten Son 2 sacrifice himself 4 ur created, they would just mock and ridicule u 2000 years later? And as 4 the Bible b ing a "fairy tale"....its been so on point as 2 how the past played out, it sure does seem like a great "fairy tale" to teach us about the future.

I thank you all for your input to this question which was asked in a serious manner,however we have had a troll at work on the points....obviously some readers did not like the answers or even the question ....why I cannot say...it all seemed perfectly innocent and legitimate to me...... It seems that a lot of relgious people cannot handle non believers...each to his own...

Great question! That idea comes from the pulpit... Jesus taught just the opposite: We should think of God as our loving heavenly Father. (Prodigal Son Story) This BIG error comes from drifting away from the Kingdom Gospel that Jesus was preaching. This will explain that wonderful Original Gospel: http://gospelenigma.com

The fear of God described in God's Word the Bible, brings many benefits. The psalmist sang: “Surely [Jehovah’s] salvation is near to those fearing him.” (Psalm 85:9) Another Bible proverb also stresses: “The very fear of Jehovah will add days.” (Proverbs 10:27) So we can see that fear of Jehovah God is a healthy, beneficial thing. But some do not understand how this fear can be a healthy thing. This fear of God is not the, paralyzing fear that grips people in some situations. It is the kind of fear that a child may feel for his father, even though he loves his father and knows that his father loves him. Fear of God is really a profound reverence for the Creator that stems from the realization that he is the complete embodiment of righteousness, justice, wisdom, and love. It involves a healthy dread of displeasing God because he is the Supreme Judge with the power to reward and to punish. Like Paul wrote at Hebrews 10:31 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” God’s love is not something to be taken for granted, nor is his judgment something to be downplayed. That is why the Bible reminds us: “The fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom.”—Proverbs 9:10.

I believe It's not that of fearing God that this is somewhat referring to, but it's of fearing the fact of losing your Faith in God. Especially, if you know why and how God works in your life. As we have all been told from reading the Bible of how God will tend to our every need each and everyday, if only we believe in him and know and feel this truth and can actually bear witness to this from our own testimonials, that it's this truth that is real and works from the belief and faith that we keep and cherish. That if it's ever lost, denied for any reason or from any hardship one befalls, you would never be able to get back that which was once blessed to you from God. That he would take away your contentment and your life would not be as such as it was from having and keeping the FAITH. In all actuality, you shouldn't fear God you should fear yourself and the losing of your faith in God especially if you find yourself sinning or feel that you are.

we shouldn't. Fear of God comes from hell and damnation beliefs of Religion. Keep the flock in a state of fear and the flock will follow along like sheep.

There may be no God to fear, I wouldn't worry about it.

Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15:3-4) In biblical language "fear" does not coincide with dread, but is the recognition of the mystery of the divine transcendence. Because of this, it is the basis of faith and is joined with love: "the Lord your God requires of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12). Thanks to fear of the Lord there is no fear of the evil that rages in history and one takes up again with vigor the journey of life, as the prophet Isaiah declared: "Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!'" (Isaiah 35: 3-4). Thanks to Fear of the Lord, there is no fear of evil With love in Christ.

You gotta love these answers! Fear is not fear, it's respect. Fear is not fear, it's love. Fear is not fear, it's a craving for an ice cone. Fear is not fear unless it is but in this case, it's not, of course Boy, none is so blind as he who doesn't want to see

Why should we fear God? He made Us and he can break us! Just like your Momma, might of said -"I made you, I can break you. Or Say you are PAINTING, and you messed up...I would then trash the painting and start all over again. thanks for asking this question, maybe it really is because...if we choose wrong or bad, we better fear our maker, because are maker intent is for all good. That is why he created EVE...But you see she choose bad over good and now we KNOW that we need to fear God when we do bad.

withdrawn, didn't realize I'd already answered this one.

Because since he is a "god", he is dangerous, so his followers don't want to piss him off because in their little bible, he tells them they will go to hell. I personally think we should change the phrase to "Bible fearing".

It is described as a treasure (Proverbs 15:16, Isaiah 33:6), a fountain of life, a spring of living water (Proverbs 14:27), wisdom (Job 28:28, Psalms 111:10) and life itself (Proverbs 19:23). A life with it is a good (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13), full and serene life, with no nasty surprises (Proverbs 19:23) True happiness, in part, is derived from it (Psalms 128:1,2; Proverbs 28:14). A simple life with it is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches (Proverbs 15:16). It builds up confidence and makes a world safe for our children (Proverbs 14:26). It deflects evil (Proverbs 16:16). It expands and adds years to our life and lengthens our days (Proverbs 10:27). And when we have it, we no longer have to fear what others fear or take on their worries--or fear man (Isaiah 8:12-13). What is it? Fear of God. But what does it mean to "fear" God? "The Bible repeatedly tells us to fear God: 'Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him' (Psalm 33:8)," says Billy Graham. "But what does it mean by 'fear'? We usually fear something (such as a vicious dog or a violent storm) when we expect it to harm us. In other words, we fear something that has no concern for us, and is a source of constant danger to us. "But that isn't what God is like! God created us, and He also loves us—and the proof is that He sent His only Son into the world to die for our sins. Would He have done this if He hated us? No, of course not. The Bible says, 'This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins' (1 John 4:10). Stop right now and thank God for loving you and sending His Son to die for you. "To fear God is not to shrink back from Him in terror. To fear God is to have a deep reverence for Him, and to stand in awe at His holiness and majesty and power and love. Only then will we love and serve and worship Him as we should." Fearing God is described in the Bible as living in God's presence/standing before Him in deep, joyful, holy, solemn reverence, respect, worship and (trembling) awe. (Hebrews 12:9, 28, Joshua 4:24, Psalms 2:11, Psalm 86:11). Motives to fear God include his holiness (Revelation 15:4), greatness (Deuteronomy 10:12,17), goodness (1 Samuel 12:24), forgiveness (Psalms 130:4), wondrous works (Joshua 4:23-24) and judgments (Revelation 14:7). Fear of God is necessary to worshipping (Psalms 5:7, Psalms 89:7) and serving Him (Psalms 2:11; Hebrews 12:28), avoiding sin (exodus 20:20), governing fairly and well (2 Samuel 23:3), administrating justice impartially and honestly (2 Chronicles 19:6-9), making a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us (both within and without) and making our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God (2 Corinthians 7:1). Those who fear God bring pleasure to Him (Psalms 147:11). He feels for them as parents feel for their children (2 Corinthians 7:1), opens His door to them (Acts 10:35), loves them--a love that is eternally present (Psalm 103:--) and as strong as the heaven are high above the earth (Psalms 103:11) blesses them (Psalms 112:1, Psalms 115:13) and He fulfills their desires (Psalm 145:19). Fear of God is exemplified in Abraham (Genesis 22:12), Joseph (Genesis 39:9, Genesis 42:18), Obadiah (1 Kings 18:12), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:15), Job (Job 1:1, 8) Cornelius (Acts 10:2), and Noah (Hebrews 11:7). These men were described as reverently and fearlessly fearing God, venerating Him, living worshipfully before Him and being totally devoted to Him--even from their youth. Pray now for God to develop in you that reverence, respect and awe of Him that is such a blessing to both Him and you as David did in Psalm 86:11. David said to God: "put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear." "Soak yourself in the Fear-of-God." (Proverbs 23:17) Soon. "you will learn to live in deep reverence before God, your God, as long as you live"--"all day long" (Deuteronomy 14:23, Joshua 4:24, Proverbs 23:17).