fear

[Classik]

Should Christians instil fear in unbelievers in order to bring them to Christ?

 

[Classik]

I remember in those days, 500yrs ago, when they told us: it may be your last day on earth... And people flooded the altar

 

[Kathi]

Should Christians instil fear in unbelievers in order to bring them to Christ?

What was alot of our reasons or motives for coming to Christ in the first place?

 

[Mike S]

Should Christians instil fear in unbelievers in order to bring them to Christ?

"There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God."

Jonathan Edwards - Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Preached just a few miles from here in Enfield, Connecticut, July 8, 1741

 

[KevinK]

Well, there's an interesting question. Arguably it's better to be scared toward God than not go to Him at all. On the other hand, is that really a good reason? Shouldn't we be attracted to God rather than scared from Hell?

I heard that fear is not from God at all, it is from Satan. So maybe using fear for salvation is turning the tables on the enemy. Yikes, this is getting awfully convoluted.

On yet another hand (how many hands am I up to?) Jesus spoke more of Hell than of Heaven. It must be working to some degree; I am very afraid of Hell.

 

[Blain]

No fear will not work because you will obey him out of fear you will not love him you will fear him and no relationship will be built so you will never get to know him or experience grace. What you will have is a zealous preacher preaching to a crowd pointing to each person yelling Your going to hell your going to hell your going to hell

you think following god out of fear will give you hope? you will read ezekiel or jeremaiah and about his anger and the horrible judgement and wrath and because you never knew his love and only see yourself as a disgusting sinner your gonna wet your pasnt run into your closet bawling just begging god toforgive while expect him to lash out at you in his wrath

 

[th1b.taylor]

I came to the LORD out of fear of Hell but three hundred and sixty-five times, in the Bible, God commands us to fear not. Before I was saved two months my fear had turned to respect for God and before the first year was complete I loved God more than I love my wife and children.

Fear will not sustain faith but it is a good motivator.

 

[Classik]

No fear will not work because you will obey him out of fear you will not love him you will fear him and no relationship will be built so you will never get to know him or experience grace. What you will have is a zealous preacher preaching to a crowd pointing to each person yelling Your going to hell your going to hell your going to hell

you think following god out of fear will give you hope? you will read ezekiel or jeremaiah and about his anger and the horrible judgement and wrath and because you never knew his love and only see yourself as a disgusting sinner your gonna wet your pasnt run into your closet bawling just begging god toforgive while expect him to lash out at you in his wrath

Interesting. However it seemed to work in the OT days...or was the order of the day

 

[Blain]

Interesting. However it seemed to work in the OT days...or was the order of the day

lol i wonder why u dont see that in th New testament? jesus came and changed everythin he came about grace and love. plus ppl these days appear to be more emotionally unstable than way back then

 

[Classik]

lol i wonder why u dont see that in th New testament? jesus came and changed everythin he came about grace and love. plus ppl these days appear to be more emotionally unstable than way back then

Yea. Judgement during the OT days was instant.

 

[th1b.taylor]

lol i wonder why u dont see that in th New testament? jesus came and changed everythin he came about grace and love. plus ppl these days appear to be more emotionally unstable than way back then

Blain,
The Old Testament, sometimes called the Jewish Bible is the Bible and the New Testament of the Christian Bible is the only God inspired Life Application Commentary on the Bible that Jesus and all the Disciples, including Paul, taught from. And remembering to use Hermeneutics to understand, not interpret, the Bible, it is essential we remember that no single, group nor collection of scriptures can ever be correctly and fully understood without thee light of all scripture shinning on them. The entire Christian Bible, from "In the beginning..." through the last "Amen" of Revelation 22 is of one context. Keeping this in mind, Mal. 3:6a declares that God/Jesus never has and never will change.

 

[Blain]

Yea. Judgement during the OT days was instant.

still though I think here is a good kind of fear of the Lord not one of terror but such awesome respect to the creator of everything. I have always imaged going before his thron bowing down not even looking up have such joy of trembling because of the force of his might glory and power.

 

[Blain]

Blain,
The Old Testament, sometimes called the Jewish Bible is the Bible and the New Testament of the Christian Bible is the only God inspired Life Application Commentary on the Bible that Jesus and all the Disciples, including Paul, taught from. And remembering to use Hermeneutics to understand, not interpret, the Bible, it is essential we remember that no single, group nor collection of scriptures can ever be correctly and fully understood without thee light of all scripture shinning on them. The entire Christian Bible, from "In the beginning..." through the last "Amen" of Revelation 22 is of one context. Keeping this in mind, Mal. 3:6a declares that God/Jesus never has and never will change.

I agree ppl seperate the old and new testament not realizing the every scripture is connected to the rest of the bible. while God deals with ppl differently sometimes from the old to the new testament he himself remains unchanged. He is still the almighty god that u dont want to tangle with he is still patient and merciful he is still the very being of love and he is still I AM

 

[th1b.taylor]

I agree ppl seperate the old and new testament not realizing the every scripture is connected to the rest of the bible. while God deals with ppl differently sometimes from the old to the new testament he himself remains unchanged. He is still the almighty god that u dont want to tangle with he is still patient and merciful he is still the very being of love and he is still I AM

I really don't see that He deals with folks differently than He has in the past and if He did he must, not probably but must, have changed but the scripture assures us He never changes. Even in the case of Pharaoh, God did not actually change His mind. god knew before He created the Earth what He would do to magnify His glory in the eyes of men. God was and still is teaching men in the terms and with tools that bring understanding to lesser beings.

I get this resistance when I teach the relevance of the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments, to the lives of the Christians. Take the salvation of Abraham, he was saved because of his faith and nothing else. Then look at David, He murdered the man, whose wife he partied with and got her pregnant. He was saved because of his faith. God never meant for anyone to be saved by the Ten Commandments. The Law was and still is our teacher to lead us to repentance and salvation through the Son.

I don't see the differance.

 

[Kathi]

I came to the LORD out of fear of Hell but three hundred and sixty-five times, in the Bible, God commands us to fear not. Before I was saved two months my fear had turned to respect for God and before the first year was complete I loved God more than I love my wife and children.

Fear will not sustain faith but it is a good motivator.

You know the saying.You will never find an athiest in a foxhole.

 

[Deborah13]

Should Christians instil fear in unbelievers in order to bring them to Christ?

Christians should speak truth and if that brings fear along with the Good News of salvation maybe they should be fearful.
Different people respond to different things, Jesus spoke the truth and it brought about fear, joy, and anger.

 

[Kathi]

Christians should speak truth and if that brings fear along with the Good News of salvation maybe they should be fearful.
Different people respond to different things, Jesus spoke the truth and it brought about fear, joy, and anger.

I agree people have something to fear.Maybe they should do a research on what hell is all about.If they believe in hell.That is just another deception from Satan.There are alot of people out there who do not believe in hell.

 

[Willie T]

"There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God."

Jonathan Edwards - Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Preached just a few miles from here in Enfield, Connecticut, July 8, 1741

Interesting that you posted this. It was the first thing that came to my mind when I read the OP. And, not only is this man credited with being a very positive leader in The First Awakening movement, but countless churches still employ the very same tactics of intimidation and fear..... though not to the extremes he did.

BTW, have you read the excellent book by Jeff Turner in answer to this kind of rather depressive evangelism, entitled Saints In The Arms of a Happy God? If you aren't fairly open-minded, I honestly would suggest you stay as far away from this book as you can. That being said, I loved the book, and just couldn't put it down. Jeff certainly does not see his Father the way many preachers show us God. (Thank God!)

 

[Classik]

Interesting that you posted this. It was the first thing that came to my mind when I read the OP. And, not only is this man credited with being a very positive leader in The First Awakening movement, but countless churches still employ the very same tactics of intimidation and fear..... though not to the extremes he did.

BTW, have you read the excellent book by Jeff Turner in answer to this kind of rather depressive evangelism, entitled Saints In The Arms of a Happy God? If you aren't fairly open-minded, I honestly would suggest you stay as far away from this book as you can. That being said, I loved the book, and just couldn't put it down. Jeff certainly does not see his Father the way many preachers show us God. (Thank God!)

Fear? That would mean the WBC guys are right too? Welcome to cf.net

 

[Willie T]

Fear? That would mean the WBC guys are right too? Welcome to cf.net

WBC? Wouldn't someone have to know Christ before trying to lead anyone to him?