People Mistakenly Misrepresent God

I was having a conversation with a Pastor and he asked me something's about my growing up and how my guardians (Grandparents) taught me about the Lord. I explained to him that my grandparents, in their ignorance, misrepresented things of God. Some things that I was told about God I later found out weren't quite true. As a young child I was in ways afraid of God but not in reverence or respect but literal fear like you'd fear a monster or ghost. The bible teaches that "God has not given us the spirit of fear but, power, love, and a sound mind." He told me that by teaching me the ways of God my grandparents did me a favor, never mind the fact that I really didn't understand Gods love by their teaching. Needless to say I was so taken a back and disgusted by what this preacher was saying because of my experience and how a lot of inner healing took place when I decided to learn from God for myself. I gained a totally different perspective of God. I was also told that some need to be scared into salvation. For an ignorant child, scaring someone into salvation is already the false view of the gospel. If I were committing crimes in the street and searing my own conscience then yes, I need to be saved with fear. If, I'm a 7 year old child with minimal understanding I should be sat down and explained the Gospel of Christ. People mistakenly misrepresent God for a few reasons one of them is that they do not understand his love or their value. God is love and when we're headed down a dangerous path He warns us but He also lets us know of His love and that he wants us to be in unity with Him. We're His children, and what loving Father doesn't want unity with his kids?



I'll add more to this in a few days but first I'd like to ask; has God ever been misrepresented to you? In what way and how did regain true revelation of His nature?

Choices

Before my job, I went 7 months with out any work or unemployment income. That time was very hard for me but since I have a job now seems so far in the distances. I was so very thankful for this job once it was offered to me and I was excited to see how the store was ran exactly. 3 months later I'm in a bit of a conflict. I already mapped out how i was going to approach this job, quiet, cordial and professional. The store didn't match my expectations at all, often I'm talked down to because I'm quiet on the job, most people that know me know that when I'm comfortable I'm definitely a talker and opinionated but that's among friends and in a more comfortable situation. The people that I work with aren't my friends, they're my co-workers so there's a level of respect that has to go with the job. I've also noticed the amount of back bitting that occurs. I remember being in high school and doing it and i still make that mistake but I recognize what I do so i don't want to add fire to the flames with it. What bothers me most though is just the way I'm treated as an employee. it's not cause for a bigger complaint I just need to decided what I'm going to do with the situation that's been given to me.

A soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stir up anger so says the biblical proverb. When you are striving to be one with the creator adversity will most definitely come your way, not because you deserve it but because the 'world' hates good, hates security. For example In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were mad by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:1-5

Also ....

He that believeth on him is not condenmed: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:18-21

No one person is perfect and when we have accepted Christ as Lord of our lives and God as a Father and Creator, in this dark world we are going to be subject to a lot of things we may not desire to be. No matter what I face on my job my integrity is always going to be at the forefront , I believe, because I'm doing something different than what everyone else is doing and I'm in Christ. And in the condition that this world is in morally we got to strive for God and keep the faith in Him