X2 I want to go pulling my last beaver trap, that way I have all traps pulled and don't have to skin'um. Lol

Some have deep dived into the English definition of fear and then transitioned to a religious context. That'd shift the meaning as the theology of the term in Hebrew, and Greek in an orthodox sense would land closer to the English word; "Obey." As in fear the Lord your God meaning obeying Him. It's a whole doctrine so that's sure a 30,000 view but a secular meaning of the English word fear = phobia, was more of what I was aiming at in my OP.

Good insight from many of here.

Blessings,
Mark

Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,


Obey doesn't fit as well here. so many things lost in translation or even punctuation for that matter. Glad to able to speak on it though. "As iron sharpens iron....."

The original Koine Greek is more precise;

"obeyed" is akousate in Greek meaning "listened to" and the word fear is phobou in the Greek tense aligning very well with yirâ in Hebrew meaning "reverence."

Or godly fear or fear of displeasing.

"Wil I die in a horrible Car accident ? Will I die a long , lingering painful Death; after suffering through years of various Cancer treatments and surgeries to stop the Cancer; only to find out that it was all for nothing."


Pastor Mark, have you ever watched someone you loved dearly and have spent a life time with, suffer for several years as cancer ate away their body? Have you cared for that special someone, taking care of all their needs and watching them suffer? Have you spent hours listening to them moan guttural, painful, sorrowful sounds? Have you ever spent hours, months and years praying to have your prayers unheard and unanswered?

If you had experienced such things you might have a different perspective on a lot of things and how they actually work.

Yep sure have.My father and uncle and grandfather.

Mac,
I'm not a pastor. I'm a theology student who interns with hospice patients currently. Hospice as in: they're dying.
Curious why the harshness?
Was this thread a threat of insensitivity somehow?
Are you irritated with me or are you irritated with God? Not sure as I read your post.
I'm curious what perspective you'd inject into me to give me a different perspective?
I welcome your thoughts.

Blessings,
Mark

Neither do I fear death, or rush the coming of the event. Planning for many years here and eternity there.

Death to me is an end point of one aspect of one's life, so to me I don't fear death but the process of getting there sure can be painful, fearful, eventful for many and from my experience those closely related to the deceased or soon to be deceased more so then the dying person. Fear, like anger, joy etc. is a human behavior, how we deal with our God given human emotions and feelings to me is the important aspect.

Bryce

Little deviation if you don't mind. How is our faith tested when we cross the divide, is Satan there waiting for us to contest our right? Does our testimony overpower him? Something I've pondered from time to time.

All men die. Not all men truly live. " I think that's from " brave heart"

" God is within us. The devil is within us"! I can't remember where I read that.

We are free to act and receive either the rewards or the punishment of our actions.

"Lust of the flesh, wanting things of this earth then your heart doesn't have God in it"!

We had a scholar from the field of psychology today speak at today's chapel and she made a number of worthy statements based on research of those who are terminal and "suffering."

In a summary of what was a deep topic she said the vast >95% of friends, family, loved ones, etc. of the one diagnosed with terminal illness who was experiencing immense suffering during their illness asked one question, and usually only one question, "Why?"

The patient themselves, or at least > 60% of the sufferers never wonder about the "why?" She said that's a cultural narrative from the motion picture and entertainment industry.
In real life, in robust psychology research, the norm for these people is that they relay they have an unexplainable feeling on the clarity of life, it's place, it's value, and it's worth.
Often mentioned is the hope that they hold onto that feeling until they pass. Many worry meds will cloud it and often meds do cloud it.
Early Church Father Augustine called it "the sweetness."

Fascinating how the living worry about the what ifs, yet those who are in the actual seat called terminal illness, and who suffer, often say that matters not at all.
I can link that chapel later as it's posted if anyones interested.

Blessings,
Mark

Well said Mark

When my mother was passing from cancer. I asked her 2 ?s. Have you spoken to God. What did he say. Her answer to my first ? Was yes. The answer to my second ? Gave me peace. She told me God is not finished building my house. Until my house is finished I will have too wait. To this day I recollect that day. I smile every time I think of that moment. So no I have no fear of death. I do hope and pray that I am worthy though to enter the kingdom.