Why Should We Fear God?

Within each of us are networks of electrical and chemical channels that when stimulated, produce fear; this is a negative emotional feeling which is part instinct and part learned. We can even be scared when we are only imagining something, such as waiting for the results of a medical test or worrying about job security when called into the supervisor’s office. Fear is hardwired into our heart and brain and it doesn’t take much to set it off.¹

This troubling feeling causes us to stop what we are doing and focus on the problem; it stimulates us to make a decision. Psychologists call it the ‘fight or flight’ moment when we must decide whether to deal with the threat or work around it. If you become overwhelmed by the situation and can’t decide to fight back or flee, you will do nothing and fear develops into ‘fright’, which can progress into hopelessness or depression.² The question I’m raising in this Bible study is, if fear produces a ‘fight or flight’ emotion, why should we fear God?

Listen to this article: Click the > button to start audio – click again to pause – click the speaker icon to mute. Adjust volume on the right side.

Some academics say that it is fear that is the source of religion. Sigmund Freud³ wrote that religion is a delusion that is created by our subconscious in an attempt to deal with fear. He taught that a belief in God was only our subconscious desire for a father figure to protect us from harm.⁴

But religion can never have originated from fear alone, because humanity is commanded to draw near their object of worship, not fear it.⁵ So, does God really expect us to be afraid of him, or is a biblically-based ‘fear of God’ something else entirely? Actually, it turns out that there are two different general meanings to this term.

A popular dictionary describes ‘fear’ as having two distinct meanings. (1) It can be an unpleasant emotion caused by anticipation of danger, or (2) it can be a profound reverence and awe especially toward God.⁶ And in the Bible, the meanings are presented a bit differently in the Hebrew scriptures than it is treated in the Greek text. This is because different languages and times show subtle variations in usage. But while there are two meanings to this word ‘fear’, it is mainly the second definition of which our study is concerned.

In the Old Testament, fear of the Lord is used as a designation of true reverence (see examples: Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9). In the New Testament, fear of the Lord is used as a preventive of carelessness or as an incentive for repentance (see examples: Matthew 10:28; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 12:28-29).⁷

To fear the Lord generally means to feel awe of whom he is, instead of what he might do. That is a fear of his character, dignity, and holiness, rather than of his power or works. That kind of fear hates evil (see: Proverbs 8:13), but cherishes love.⁸ So, this one word, fear, whether in English, Hebrew, or Greek, is used to express emotions which differ widely in character. There is a bad fear and there is a good fear. It’s confusing, I know!

So, think of the idea of fear as a sliding scale with varying levels of circumstances and perceptions. At one end of the scale is the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10) and a duty of humanity (Ecclesiastes 12:13), while at the other end of the scale are fears of pain, shame, and death. Therefore, sometimes it is difficult — even impossible — to draw any sharp line between them, as the imperfect human character can cast a shadow from one into the other.⁹

The main theological meaning of fearing God is to do his will; it is an inducement to obedience and service — an inducement of proper recognition of his sovereignty. Such a healthy fear enables us to praise him (see: Revelation 14:7), enjoy his blessings (Psalm 34:9), and rest in peace and security (Psalm 112:7-8).¹⁰

Therefore the biblical conception of fear embraces a wider dimension than just some sort of dread or terror. Even so there is, of course, a legitimate place for the fear of God to be used in the sense of anxiousness or punishment. Such use has the constructive role of enabling humanity to realize they are sinful and need divine forgiveness. Anxious fear seizes the wicked (Job 15:24), surprises the hypocrite (Isaiah 33:14), and consumes evildoers (Psalm 73:19), whose faithless lives are characterized by fear (Revelation 21:8).¹¹

So, while biblical fear of God can be shown to be a positive attribute, the Bible, sometimes, also shows the other side of that fear. That is because God can also demonstrate a fear of wrath and judgement in those who do not know him or who refuse to serve him. Thus, he presents both sides — that which produces awe, reverence, and obedience, and that which causes one to cower in dread and terror in anticipation of his displeasure.¹²

 

What do others say?

Jews have a unique idea on this subject. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, ‘Fear of God’ is the Hebrew equivalent of ‘religion’. “It is the mainspring of religion, morality, and wisdom, and is productive of material prosperity and well-being.” They also state that fear of God is identical with love and service, and that it implies hatred of evil and wrong.¹³

The Catholic Church tends to fine-tune everything into tiny fragments of meaning. Basically, they say ‘fear’ is an element of uppermost reverence. Its source is in the desire not to offend one’s parents and superiors. In itself this is reputed to be but trifling, although from circumstances it may easily rise to the dignity of serious dread.¹⁴

Catholics go on to subdivide fears into minute variations, such as the following. “Attrition or sorrow for sin, even though it be the fruit of dread inspired by the thought of eternal punishment, is not in any sense involuntary.”¹⁵ In my own experience, this technical gibberish¹⁶ confuses even some priests. That is why when you ask one a question about a certain sin, he may just tell you, “Well, it’s complicated. Just pray for our Lord to sort it out.”

Pope Francis however, had a tendency to publically get right to the most important points. He said that fear of the Lord doesn’t mean being afraid of God, but rather a joyful awareness of God’s grandeur and a grateful realization that only in him do our hearts find true peace.¹⁷

One popular author, C. S. Lewis,¹⁸ used the term numinous to express the type of fear one has for God. ‘Numinous’ means “having a mysterious, holy, or spiritual quality.” So, it is not a fear that one feels when facing wild animals or other confrontations of terror, but one that is filled with awe, in which you sense an inadequacy to cope — it is a fear that comes forth out of love for the Lord.¹⁹

 

Closing Thoughts

A proper fearful attitude toward God can be said to be one of respect, reverence, or awe, in a good sense, but also dread too; the biblical terminology is the same and God’s character remains unchanged. But keep in mind that confining our attitude toward him in a narrow way may cause us to lose sight of those aspects of the divine character that compels obedience. Knowing God’s wrath has been satisfied through Christ, it relieves the Christian believer from the fear of condemnation, but does not relieve our accountability to his holiness.²⁰

We need not be afraid of what God might do if we are trying to work out our own salvation poorly, but we must fear disappointing him or disgracing his name through our own conduct.²¹ An Old Testament example is when Nehemiah confronted some of his own people who were — among other things — charging exorbitant interest rates to their own Jewish brothers.²² He said, “What you are doing is not good! You should be living in fear of our God, so that our pagan enemies won’t have grounds for deriding us,” (Nehemiah 5:9, CJB).²³ In other words, don’t do the same thing you were complaining to others about.

So, for a new Christian, the term “fear of God” may present a conundrum, they want to be rid of some aspects of fearing God, but don’t want to be rid of other aspects of fearing God!²⁴ How should they decide? John the Apostle sets us straight when he stated, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love,” (1 John 4:18, NRSV).²⁵

I believe we are near to the end of this present Age of Grace. So near, I think, that if we haven’t already entered the seven years of tribulation mentioned in the Book of Revelation, we will then enter into that time within just a year or two.

Humanity is on the brink of major change where a new heart and mind will be required to participate in the new world of love that is soon to be introduced. And all followers of Christ will be poised on the cusp of a new chapter of God’s plan, with disclosure of hidden things that are visible for those with the eyes to see them.²⁶

With this present biblical age fast closing in upon us, most people will find themselves living in a world of chaos concerning various astrological, geological, and global crises including evil human deceptions. God has told us ahead of time what must first occur before his new age begins, so don’t let fear make you lose your faith. When the earth changes and new mind-bending knowledge is presented, do not fear, for it is important for changes to be made, the truth to be told, and the record set straight, before God’s new age begins.²⁷

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” (Psalm 23:4, ESV).²⁸

The music selected fits the theme of this sermon rather well. It is “No Fear” presented by Christian artist Jon Reddick. In addition to being a musician, he is also a pastor from Memphis, Tennessee (USA). This song remained a ‘Number 1 Hit’ on Christian Airplay for 10 consecutive weeks.²⁹ Selected lyrics are below and a video link to the music performance is listed in References & Notes.³⁰

I got enemies at every side
It ain’t looking good, I ain’t gonna lie
You might think that I’d be afraid
Running scared with a shaken faith

But the God I know says it ain’t over
The mighty power of Jesus
Is fighting for me here
No fear, no fear

 

Copyright © 2025, Ray Hermann
OutlawBibleStudent.org

** The featured top photo for this article is used through Creative Commons – obtained from deepfryedmind.blogspot.com.

PHOTOS, ART, & MEDIA — FAIR USE COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976 allowance is made for “Fair Use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Non-profit, educational, and/or personal use tilts the legal balance in favor of Fair Use. For more information, see “Legal Stuff” on the top menu bar. If a copyright holder finds their creative work on this web site and did not give permission for its use, it will be immediately removed upon proper notice with the copyright registration numbers. We do not intentionally use copyright material that cannot be used for such purposes.

→ Leave comments at the end, after ‘References & Notes’.
You can see our basic rules for comments by clicking “Legal Stuff” on the top menu bar.

 

Reference & Notes

1. Tsaousides, Theo, “7 Things You Need to Know About Fear”, (Psychology Today Magazine, 19 November 2015), https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smashing-the-brainblocks/201511/7-things-you-need-know-about-fear
2. Ibid.
3. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939): Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis.
   “Sigmund Freud”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 September 2025), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud
4. “Fear and Religion”, (History of Christian Theology, retrieved 8 September 2025), https://historyofchristiantheology.com/commentary/preliminary-overview/fear-and-religion/
5. Walker, W. L., in The International Standard Bible Encyclopædia, (Ed.) James Orr, (Chicago: the Howard-Severance Company, 1915), vol. 2, p. 1102.
6. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
7. Easton, M. G., Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature, (New York: Thomas Nelson, 1893), p. 254.
8. Burrows, W. O., A Dictionary of the Bible: Dealing with Its Language, Literature, and Contents Including the Biblical Theology, (Ed.) James Hastings, (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1911–1912), vol. 1, p. 857.
9. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 858.
10. Elwell, Walter A. (Ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (Ada, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 1996), p. 249.
11. Sacks, S. D. in, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, (Ed.), Walter A. Elwell, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), vol. 1, p. 782.
12. Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (see above).
13. Singer, Isidore, (Ed.), The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, (New York and London: Funk & Wagnalls, 1901–1906 [now reprinted by KTAV Publishing House]), vol. 5, p. 354.
14. Delany, J., in The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church, (Eds.) Charles G. Herbermann, et al., (New York: The Encyclopedia Press, Inc., [15 volumes] 1907-1912), “Fear” in volume 6.
15. Ibid.
16. gibberish: speech or writing that is difficult to understand or nonsensical and sometimes consists of specialized jargon confusing to outsiders.
17. Harris, Elise, “Pope: Fear of the Lord an alarm reminding us of what’s right”, (Catholic News Agency, 11 June 2014), https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/29835/pope-fear-of-the-lord-an-alarm-reminding-us-of-whats-right
18. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963): was an Irish scholar, author, and fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and professor of medieval and Renaissance English at University of Cambridge.
    “C. S. Lewis” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008), https://www.britannica.com/biography/C-S-Lewis/additional-info#history
19. “Fear of God”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 May 2025), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_God
20. Clendenen, E. R., in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Eds.) Chad Brand, et al., (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), p. 563.
21. Kurth, Ricky, “Why Should We Fear God?” (The Berean Bible Society, retrieved 6 September 2025), https://bereanbiblesociety.org/why-should-we-fear-god/
22. Walvoord, John F. and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), vol. 1, p. 683.
23. Stern, D. H., Complete Jewish Bible: an English version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B’rit Hadashah (New Testament), (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications,1998), Nehemiah 5:9.
24. Piper, John, “What Does It Mean for the Christian to Fear God?” (Desiring God, 1 April 2014), https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-does-it-mean-for-the-christian-to-fear-god
25. The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989).
26. Esse, Doug, “Cosmic Christ: Christianity and the Law of One”, (Cosmic Christ, 21 February 2021), https://cosmicchrist.net/2020/02/21/cosmic-christ-christianity-and-the-law-of-one/
27. Hermann, Ray, “Coming: An Awakening to a New Reality”, (The Outlaw Bible Student, OBS, 3 May 2022), https://outlawbiblestudent.org/coming-an-awakening-to-a-new-reality/
28. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016).
29. “Jon Reddick”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 September 2025), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Reddick
30. “No Fear”, Artist: Jon Reddick; Songwriters: J. Reddick, M. West, J. Pardo; Album: No Fear, May 2025; Publisher: Gotee Records, (© B Reddi Music (BMI), BrentHood Music (BMI), Story House IV (ASCAP), others). Used under ‘fair use copyright’ for comment, teaching, scholarship, and research under Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act of 1976 — MUSIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GYtUec8mzak