Quote Originally Posted by Stormhammer
for one thing - maybe southern baptists are raised in fear or something. I dunno if they still do it today. I know back in the olden day ( think 13 colonies ) when it was like God holds you over a fiery pits of hell on a silver string and he can glady cut it and let you fall ( some poem by some pastor dude - junior hs english is failing my memory hear, my apologies )

but in todays modern society its a very rare sight indeed to see anyone of any christian based ( or other as far as I'm aware of, but dont qoute me on this ) religion to be brought up in fear - I know there are the sayings to "fear God" but I never took it as the " omg he's gonna smite me dead if i dont do this" - more like just hold a respect for what I believe that He is capable of
Youre right. In the Bible its says "Fear God, give glory to Him...." The word fear usually leads us to a conclusion of being scared but the original wording used in the Bible has much more to do with RESPECT, WORSHIP, ACKOWLEGING God as our Creator.

It is also true however that many churches still employ methods of fear to entreat others to their fold. From the fabricated roman catholic teachings of hell, purgatory, limbo, the confessional etc etc to the Baptist/Pentecostal misunderstanding and subsequent focus on the "everlasting" fires of hell, and eveything in between, many (not all) churches still preach and utilize a fear approach.

The Bible/Gospel DOES contain a warning, and that is indeed PART of the picture, but not the whole of it. Gods everlasting love for all of humanity that doesnt in any way deserve any of His love should be the real focus. His willingness as Creator to work the miracle of creation within the human life, should be the focus.