It's certainly your prerogative to choose to be afraid of God if that's what floats your boat, but it's legalism, plain and simple to demand that others share in your opinion of what God is all about and bring them into the bondage of fear also.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
“Well, if you want to serve a vengeful, intolerant, impatient God who you never know what you are going to push to far, go right ahead.”
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You mean the God who said this, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
....yeah, I think I’ll fear and serve Him.
Our preacher preached on the Ten Commandments awhile ago. Did one every week, maybe a couple of sermons on a few of them?
But each Sunday he would sort-of set things up (which is why I remember) by saying how the Hebrews had just been in slavery for hundreds of years. And the Ten Commandments were given to them so they would not be enslaved to their sins, but would instead be free and have a great relationship with God.
His sermons changed my views a bit as I always thought of them as “rules to get into Heaven” to a certain degree. (Well - I guess I still sort of do.) But they were provided by God so that we could have a great, loving relationship with Him (Righteousness means strong relationship or similar). They are provided so that we can have a great life here on Earth!
And no - not one without any pain or loss and one with lots of money - but one that can have Joy no matter what because we are Righteous with God. Again - easy enough words for me to write - living it all the time is another matter.