(December 2, 2014 at 4:15 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote:(December 2, 2014 at 4:13 pm)Godschild Wrote: I've never taken it as strictly a commandment, I do take it as great advice. Most of the time the word translated fear would be better translated as respect but, not always.
GC
Okay then, why would you love someone that you're "strongly advised" to fear?
Any one who doesn't fear a person with superior strength when one opposes them is being foolish. To avoid being foolish I have respect for God, it a simple choice and quite logical, don't you think so. As a child I had respect for my father most of the time, when I forgot that I should always have that respect I got into trouble doing something I shouldn't have, I then was punished I also forgot to fear that punishment, very foolish of me. My father's concern was for me to obey and stay out of trouble and the fear of punishment was there to remind me. Even though he is now gone, I still love him for all he was.
GC
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.
