for real question:

when people say this, it's serious right?

do all christians believe they should be God fearing, or do some not think in those terms?

Seeing as how I'm a Jewish Unitarian... I'm not really sure.

Well I'm catholic so I don't think in those terms. More lke I'll say I'm sorry on sunday Christian

i'm afraid of horseshoe crabs, not god.

if you're evangelical, then yes, they literally mean it

isn't fear the standard m.o. when trying to control people?

but not all christian priests or minsters or what have you believe that?

I come from a pretty heavy RC background and I have never heard the word 'god fearing' in my life, or anything regarding fear or hell for that matter. I also think that's more of an evangelical or baptist type belief/statement.

I always associated the phrase with hardcore Southern Baptists.

me too.

naw that shit is rooted in the bible:

jer 5:22 "should you not fear me?" declares the lord. "should you not tremble in my presence?"

That's some Old Testament stuff. Only yr real hardcore haters break out the OT to justify stuff, like stoning harlots, homos and fearin' the lord.

Yeah, I think the term "good, God-fearing Christian" is heard in more of the Southern Baptist / Reformed Presbyterian circles. All evangelicals are taught to fear God, though. There are several passages from the Bible that refer to this. For example: "The first step to wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10).

If you're looking for a New Testament reference, here's one:

"His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation" (Luke 1:50)

That was my thinking as well. As bad a reputation of the Catholic church has, they don't elevate their deity as a mean old boogeyman ready to smite thee, should you beat off or listen to rock or whatever.

nope...

not just old testament:

acts 9:31 then had the churches rest throughout all judaea and galilee and samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the lord, and in the comfort of the holy ghost, were multiplied.

ph 2:12 therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

13 years of assembly of god private school has finally bore its fruit

(dana holds up her "recovering southern baptist" t-shirt)

Not all southern Baptists are that terrible, but when you get into the sticks, you do run into the weird "dancing is satanic" types. I never heard from anyone at my church, including pastor or various Sunday School teachers, to "fear God." But it is a common phrase down south. I always thought it was associated with evangelicals in general, and that can encompass everyone from Baptists to Catholics to freaky-ass Pentecostal types-- or whatever the hell they call those snake-handling, "speaking in tongues" people.

But my church wasn't totally innocent either. My sister once got told by her sunday school teacher to "pray for our Jewish and Muslim friends" since they were going to hell for not believing in Jesus. Nice, huh? I was also told by a previous sunday school teacher that Buddha and Mohammed were false idols and should not be compared to God.

Damn you know your bible! Overall though, there are many more explicit rules and reasons for condemnation and hellfire rooted in OT passages. Most of the Jesus quotes are loving thy neighbour and well meaning advice that nobody who is Christian generally takes up.

I was raised Southern Baptist and have never been told to fear god.

Then again, my Southern Baptist grandparents also openly welcome their lesbian granddaughter.

I do believe this, along with predestination, is rooted in Calvinism which followed the teachings of Martin Luther, which if my foggy memory serves is also an ancestor of the Baptists among other groups.

The thing many people don't realize is that Baptists can vary from church to church. There is no Baptist Pope.

different denominations focus on different aspects of relating to God; evangelicals, some hardcore protestants, pentecostals, ect all are taught to fear god, as it's supposed to be a healthy component of faith.
Roman Catholics, on the other hand, are taught to focus on feeling guilty that they've failed god.

Oh shit. High five, Dana!

I don't know the Bible as well when I don't have Google right in front of me

You're right about Christans focusing too much on the OT passages while ignoring the teachings of Jesus. I think that's changing a lot in Christian circles, though. You'll always have your extremists and they'll be the ones the press likes to interview on TV and whatever so they'll have a "louder voice" but not all Christians go around judging everyone they meet.

I'm really surprised the others on here that were raised in churches haven't heard they are to "fear God." I never really understood it growing up but heard it all the time.

Elvis Fu is a lesbian?

I got a tongue like a cat and can breathe out my ears.

Hear that ladies?