Letters to the Editor
This letter is associated with the following article:
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churchspeak
"This is churchspeak. "Fear" in this context means "respect and honor." It doesn't mean "be scared of" and it's not incompatible with love.""
It is interesting that love is described as not necessarily incompatible with respect and honour, none the less it is still seperated out from the notion of respect and honour.
If love is combined with respect and honor, then it becomes clearer that the fear of God does not mean love, respect and honor God in any context.
Fear of God implies living under an authoritarian structure, where you do good and you get doggie treats, you do bad and you get the whip. You cannot love, respect and honour God (or anything or anyone else) if all you're doing is trying to get a doggie treat for the effort.