Hi dms1972,
I, too, am a Gen Xer, and there probably isn't a clear division line as to where social experts will continue to define the line, or maintain the age range between Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millenials, and the next generation. In general, if a person in the English speaking world is around 40 years of age or younger, then they're in a demographic sector that is finding it increasingly more difficult to identify with traditional religious (Christian) institutions and ideals. Of course, I'm sure you know this already.
I respect Dallas Willard's point of view, although I can't say for sure that the 'Bar cod faith' type of teaching definitely leads to a disjunction between faith and ordinary life, but it is something many younger people who are more oriented toward the "Information Age/Education" feel makes a huge difference in whether they can believe or not.
Probably, direct teaching about Hell isn't what is chasing the younger ages away, but their growing intolerance for what is perceived as "judgementalism" in the Church. And I can vouch for some of that; I have a family member who was the 'victim,' so to speak, of a Christian pastor who was neither a very insightful man, nor a helpful one, nor one who understood that "pushing" people toward the faith with guilt-trips wasn't a good way to help immature Christians grow.
Peace,
2PhiloVoid
I have a book called Generating Hope by Jimmy Long, about reaching 'Gen Xers'. Not really sure about sociological analysis of these things. I would guess there are a variety of attitudes towards preaching on hell amongst members of each generation. Does anyone like hearing it?
A question to be considered is:
How should it be preached, and to whom?
Like Johnathan Edward's famous sermon? Although he preached that and I have heard that there was a revival in the congregation and surrounding area following. He don't think he preached like that every week. The congregation he had moved to had been largely unaffected by the Great Awakening he must if felt that sermon was appropriate on that occasion He done it out of concern.
On the other hand there are those who seemed to almost enjoy in preaching with vivid descriptions of the pains of hell (even describing infants being tormented). I read once Os Guinness telling of someone famous whom had attended church on Sunday, as a proud father, his wife having recently given birth to a son. The minister began to get into his sermon describing the pains of infants in hell, and this man stood up and shouted 'if that be your God, and that be your religion' I want none of it, and left and never returned. Very sad.
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