Fear of the Lord

JMJ

While I understand that no one enters Heaven walking backwards, away from Hell, I don't hold with the following:

Pope Francis on Sunday cautioned against having a “mistaken” idea of God as harsh and punishing, saying this fear will end up paralyzing us and preventing us from doing good, rather than spreading his love and mercy.
“Fear always immobilizes and often leads us to make bad choices,” the Pope said Nov. 19. “Fear discourages us from taking the initiative, and encourages us to seek refuge in safe and guaranteed solutions, and so we end up doing nothing good.”
To go forward and grow on the path of life, he said, “we must not be afraid, but we have to trust.”
Source: EWTN

Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but fear of offending God is not a bad thing.

I did a quick search on Google - Douay-Rheims Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Book of Proverbs - Ch 1

Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
Book of Proverbs - Ch 3

The fear of the Lord hateth evil
Book of Proverbs - Ch 8

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content,
Book of Proverbs - Ch 15

By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Book of Proverbs - Ch 16

The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
Book of Proverbs - Ch 22

Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him.
Book of Psalms - Psalm 32

The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them. [9] O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him. [10] Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them ...
Book of Psalms - Psalm 33

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Book of Psalms - Psalm 110

All wisdom is from God, and is given to them that fear and love God.
Ecclesiasticus - Ch 1

Then we have the following:

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Epistle Of Saint Paul To The Hebrews - Ch 10

Still think that fear is always a bad thing?

Fear for the Pope, because if he does not fear the Lord, then he is personally in great peril and will wreak even greater havoc on the Church.

P^3

Comments

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