Evangelism and Hellfire [Archive]

MrJim

1st April 2006, 12:00 PM

I EDITED THIS POST BECAUSE IT IS BEING MISUNDERSTOOD

From Leonard Ravenhill's Why Revival Tarries:

"William Booth of the Salvation Army is quoted as saying that if he could do it, he would have finalized the training of his soldiers with twenty-four hours hanging over hell, to see its eternal torment."

Would it make a difference in how we prioritize our lives AS CHRISTIANS?

In our theological jousting it seems we focus upon our views more and the condition of the lost less.

What is you and your church's evangelical efforts and what more can be done?

Is your first thought upon meeting someone "Is he saved-does she know the Lord?"?

WesWoodell

1st April 2006, 05:50 PM

I bet 30 seconds would make all the difference in the world ...

PapaLandShark

1st April 2006, 09:53 PM

It took 30 years for me. The Lord's timing is always perfect.

MrJim

2nd April 2006, 12:50 AM

OP edited 'cause I don't think I communicated my point clearly enough.

constance

2nd April 2006, 01:03 PM

Menno, that's awesome. I was just mentioning the other day that it's been 15 years since I've heard a good fire & brimstone sermon - and I miss them.

Constance

Frame1520

3rd April 2006, 02:48 PM

Too many churches are afraidto offend anyone with a biblical hellfire & brimstone sermon anymore. People want to go to church and feel good instead of hearing the truth of the bible. I'm sick and tired of weak sermon topics about how you can be a success if you put your mind to it! There are too many Joel Osteens out there....

jturpin4

3rd April 2006, 04:23 PM

Too many churches are afraidto offend anyone with a biblical hellfire & brimstone sermon anymore. People want to go to church and feel good instead of hearing the truth of the bible. I'm sick and tired of weak sermon topics about how you can be a success if you put your mind to it! There are too many Joel Osteens out there....

I agree

MrJim

3rd April 2006, 04:37 PM

Yeah, not enough hell sermons...

But that is not the point I am trying to get across.

It's ok, I posted the same in the baptist/anabaptists and 99% of them didn't understand it either.

Frame1520

3rd April 2006, 04:40 PM

I got your point. I think that waaaaaaaay too much time is spent worrying about who believes what, and bickering about doctrine...Meanwhile people are dying and going to hell daily. Priorities are somewhat skewed as to what we should be concerned with.

How do we make people understand this? I don't know. People have become so desensitized to things nowadays that they underestimate the seriousness of the situation we are in.

GK

3rd April 2006, 05:02 PM

Frankly, my neighbors aren't concerned about hell. They don't believe in it and it means nothing to them if I say that's where they're going. Getting louder and more insistent that they "Convert now!" isn't the best answer. Giving up on them isn't the right answer, either.

MrJim

3rd April 2006, 08:49 PM

Frankly, my neighbors aren't concerned about hell. They don't believe in it and it means nothing to them if I say that's where they're going. Getting louder and more insistent that they "Convert now!" isn't the best answer. Giving up on them isn't the right answer, either.

The question doesn't have to do with preaching hell.

It has to do with us seeing the reality of hell and that being motivation toward reaching the lost.

Then the question is how you and/or your church are doing evangelism.

GK

3rd April 2006, 09:00 PM

Right. I get that. I was agreeing with you. :)

Except that hell isn't my only motivation. It's part of the motivation, but "right here and now" is also part of it. Evangelism isn't just about ensuring my neighbors don't go to hell, but helping them find a life right now that doesn't have to be so hellish.

Frame1520

3rd April 2006, 10:04 PM

Right. I get that. I was agreeing with you. :)

Except that hell isn't my only motivation. It's part of the motivation, but "right here and now" is also part of it. Evangelism isn't just about ensuring my neighbors don't go to hell, but helping them find a life right now that doesn't have to be so hellish.

Too right! :thumbsup:

WesWoodell

4th April 2006, 06:51 PM

Here's a little tidbit of dirt:

85% of the Churches of Christ are in a state of decline.

I wonder how that number would change if people pondered the reality we face.

constance

4th April 2006, 07:44 PM

Membership in DoC churches has dropped by 50% in 20 years.

Athanasian Creed

14th April 2006, 03:02 PM

Frankly, my neighbors aren't concerned about hell. They don't believe in it and it means nothing to them if I say that's where they're going. Getting louder and more insistent that they "Convert now!" isn't the best answer. Giving up on them isn't the right answer, either.

Oftentimes, what one says for public consumption isn't always what one truly feels and believes in their hearts - the Holy Spirit takes the Truth and illuminates those open to hear it! ;)

The Gospel is the 'Good News' - unfortunately, without the preaching of the Biblical reality and truth of Hell a.k.a the Lake of Fire, how can one know what makes the Good News good without knowing what the bad news is first! Christ died to save us from eternal seperation from God and the torment that results from willful rejection of Christ.:bow:

Ray :wave: