This is the scariest verse in the bible for believers

1Tonne · Sunday at 5:30 PM

There are a number of verses that people call the scariest in the Bible. But there’s one verse that many overlook, yet, when read from a believer’s perspective, it can be deeply unsettling.

Before I share that verse, let me set the scene.
If we look back to WW1, when a soldier was commanded to go over the parapet, if he refused because he was afraid, then there were consequences. He was court-martialled and then put to death for being a coward.
We, too, have been given a command: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
Yet a survey once conducted by Campus Crusade revealed that only about 2% of Christians regularly share the gospel. That’s shockingly low. And why? Because most believers are afraid. Even Paul admitted that he was afraid, “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). But Paul did not let fear silence him. He was bold. He was faithful. He was like those men who charged over the parapet; he was not cowardly.

Now here is the verse that makes me pause:
Revelation 21:8 – “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
We know who the unbelieving are. The abominable are those who are morally filthy; we know who the murderers are. The sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, we know who they are. But who are the cowardly? Are they people who have been given a command and know what they should be doing, but instead, they choose not to do it because they let fear rule them?
I believe cowardice is when someone has a purpose to fulfil, and yet they refuse to do it because they let fear stop them. Fear itself is not sin; it’s natural. But when we let fear stop us from obeying God’s command, that’s cowardice. Just as those soldiers faced fear in the trenches yet pressed forward, we are called to press forward in sharing Christ.

And here’s where it becomes even more serious. If we believe in God, in heaven and hell, in judgment, and we know the Saviour, then it is wrong not to tell others about Him. It’s like seeing a house on fire with people inside and choosing to do nothing. You simply allow them to die. This would be morally outrageous. In human law, such deliberate inaction is called “Depraved Indifference.”
If human courts recognise this injustice, how much more would a holy and just God recognise the injustice of our not warning others about eternal death?
There is also a biblical example of Depraved Indifference in the Old Testament. God says to Ezekiel that if he does not warn the wicked of their deeds, their blood is on his hands. In Ezekiel 3:18-19, God says, "When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul."
So, failure to warn others of danger is condemned in Scripture, just as being cowardly is condemned.

James 4:17 says: “Anyone who knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
We know the good we ought to do. If we truly believe eternity is at stake, then failing to warn and to share the hope of Christ is not just neglect, it’s sin.

Now, I want to be very clear: I am not promoting a works-based salvation. I am not saying that you must go and tell people the Gospel in order to be saved. Salvation comes by faith in Christ alone, through His grace.
What I am saying is this: true faith naturally produces action. If you genuinely believe in the reality of God, heaven, hell, judgment, and the salvation offered through Jesus, that belief will move you. It will compel you to act, to speak, to warn, to love, and to share the hope you have. Faith without action may still be faith, but genuine belief shows itself in obedience and courage. Our actions flow out of our convictions; they are the evidence of a heart transformed by God.

So, ask yourself: Who are the cowardly in Revelation 21:8? Has your faith truly transformed your heart so that you are willing to obey God’s command to share the Gospel, or are you, like many believers, remaining silent out of fear?

Gregory Thompson · Sunday at 7:34 PM

If the cowardly cannot be saved, what of the fearmongers?

God bless.

Hentenza · Sunday at 8:29 PM

1Tonne said:
There are a number of verses that people call the scariest in the Bible. But there’s one verse that many overlook, yet, when read from a believer’s perspective, it can be deeply unsettling.

Before I share that verse, let me set the scene.
If we look back to WW1, when a soldier was commanded to go over the parapet, if he refused because he was afraid, then there were consequences. He was court-martialled and then put to death for being a coward.
We, too, have been given a command: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
Yet a survey once conducted by Campus Crusade revealed that only about 2% of Christians regularly share the gospel. That’s shockingly low. And why? Because most believers are afraid. Even Paul admitted that he was afraid, “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). But Paul did not let fear silence him. He was bold. He was faithful. He was like those men who charged over the parapet; he was not cowardly.

Now here is the verse that makes me pause:
Revelation 21:8 – “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
We know who the unbelieving are. The abominable are those who are morally filthy; we know who the murderers are. The sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, we know who they are. But who are the cowardly? Are they people who have been given a command and know what they should be doing, but instead, they choose not to do it because they let fear rule them?
I believe cowardice is when someone has a purpose to fulfil, and yet they refuse to do it because they let fear stop them. Fear itself is not sin; it’s natural. But when we let fear stop us from obeying God’s command, that’s cowardice. Just as those soldiers faced fear in the trenches yet pressed forward, we are called to press forward in sharing Christ.

And here’s where it becomes even more serious. If we believe in God, in heaven and hell, in judgment, and we know the Saviour, then it is wrong not to tell others about Him. It’s like seeing a house on fire with people inside and choosing to do nothing. You simply allow them to die. This would be morally outrageous. In human law, such deliberate inaction is called “Depraved Indifference.”
If human courts recognise this injustice, how much more would a holy and just God recognise the injustice of our not warning others about eternal death?
There is also a biblical example of Depraved Indifference in the Old Testament. God says to Ezekiel that if he does not warn the wicked of their deeds, their blood is on his hands. In Ezekiel 3:18-19, God says, "When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul."
So, failure to warn others of danger is condemned in Scripture, just as being cowardly is condemned.

James 4:17 says: “Anyone who knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
We know the good we ought to do. If we truly believe eternity is at stake, then failing to warn and to share the hope of Christ is not just neglect, it’s sin.

Now, I want to be very clear: I am not promoting a works-based salvation. I am not saying that you must go and tell people the Gospel in order to be saved. Salvation comes by faith in Christ alone, through His grace.
What I am saying is this: true faith naturally produces action. If you genuinely believe in the reality of God, heaven, hell, judgment, and the salvation offered through Jesus, that belief will move you. It will compel you to act, to speak, to warn, to love, and to share the hope you have. Faith without action may still be faith, but genuine belief shows itself in obedience and courage. Our actions flow out of our convictions; they are the evidence of a heart transformed by God.

So, ask yourself: Who are the cowardly in Revelation 21:8? Has your faith truly transformed your heart so that you are willing to obey God’s command to share the Gospel, or are you, like many believers, remaining silent out of fear?

Ephesians 2 also teaches that:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. | New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020) | Download The Bible App Now

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

bible.com

God prepared works for us to do. To each his own. To generalize that all are the same by claiming that spreading the gospel is it then you missed the point. Paul also teaches that each has unique gifts given by God. I believe that people spread the gospel in different ways, some by words and some by actions.

1Tonne · Sunday at 9:03 PM

Gregory Thompson said:
If the cowardly cannot be saved, what of the fearmongers?

God bless.

I understand why you might feel that way. But there’s a big difference between fearmongering and giving a loving warning. Fearmongering is about manipulation, but warning people of real danger is about care and responsibility.
Even Jesus gave strong warnings that were not fearmongering. He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). He also said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out” (Mark 9:43).

So yes, these words are sobering, but they’re meant to wake us up, not to manipulate us. If my post caused reflection, then that was its purpose.

Hentenza said:
Ephesians 2 also teaches that:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. | New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020) | Download The Bible App Now

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

bible.com

God prepared works for us to do. To each his own. To generalize that all are the same by claiming that spreading the gospel is it then you missed the point. Paul also teaches that each has unique gifts given by God. I believe that people spread the gospel in different ways, some by words and some by actions.

You raise a really good point, Ephesians 2:10 does show that God has prepared unique works for each of us, and Paul is clear that the body of Christ has many different gifts. Not everyone is called to preach from a pulpit or be a missionary.
But at the same time, Jesus’ command in Mark 16:15. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”, was given to all believers, not just to those with a specific gift. Evangelism may look different depending on our gifts: some are bold street preachers, some share one-on-one, some show Christ through hospitality or acts of service that open the door to conversations. But at some point, the gospel message has to be shared in words, because “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

We are all different parts of the body of Christ, and we don’t all have the same giftings, but we have all been called to tell as many people the Gospel as possible.
-If you are an ear, listen to people’s problems; then tell them the Gospel.
-If you are a hand, serve others practically; then tell them the Gospel.
-If you are a mouth, teach; then tell the Gospel.
-If you are feet, go out into the streets or parks; and tell the Gospel.

Our gifts are not an excuse to avoid sharing Christ; they are tools to bring Him glory. Personally, I’m often a “foot”, going into the parks to share the Gospel. Sometimes I serve like a hand, or listen like an ear. But whatever role I’m in, the end goal is the same: to make Christ known - the spoken message.
We are not all called to be street preachers, but we should all have the desire to share the Gospel with as many people as possible.

I do want to be clear, though: hospitality or good deeds are not the Gospel. The Gospel is always a spoken message, the good news about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Acts of service and hospitality give us opportunities to share that message, and they can strengthen our witness by showing that our lives line up with what we say. But without the spoken word, people won’t know the saving truth, because “faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

NBB · Sunday at 9:45 PM

I don't believe being coward is a sin, the problem it doesn't let you obey God if you are coward.
When i was a teen, i was weak maybe coward, but the harshness of trials and what not, made me more brave.

NBB · Sunday at 9:53 PM

My dad and sister are unbelievers, your post made me think, i have the courage to preach to them no problem, the thing is am trying to find the opportune moment, also myself, even when i don't sin much, i am not an example, so i fear they would just say 'you preach but your life is a disaster'

1Tonne · Sunday at 10:03 PM

NBB said:
I don't believe being coward is a sin

From the viewpoint of Revelation 21:8 it seems to be. But fear itself is not a sin. Each of us can have fear. But letting that fear stop us from doing what it right it not good.

NBB said:
My dad and sister are unbelievers, your post made me think, i have the courage to preach to them no problem, the thing is am trying to find the opportune moment, also myself, even when i don't sin much, i am not an example, so i fear they would just say 'you preach but your life is a disaster'

Our lives must reflect what we believe. If not, then when we speak our word can be tainted.
Also, when speaking to those closest to us, we do need to be careful. If we try to tell them the Gospel too often, they may think that we are like a dripping tap and it could get really annoying. So, in this instance, tell them the Gospel, then after this, don't continue but be a blessing to them and let your life reflect love and truth. This way, they will see your good deeds and wonder why you so adamantly believe.

Mark Quayle · Sunday at 10:28 PM

1Tonne said:
There are a number of verses that people call the scariest in the Bible. But there’s one verse that many overlook, yet, when read from a believer’s perspective, it can be deeply unsettling.

Before I share that verse, let me set the scene.
If we look back to WW1, when a soldier was commanded to go over the parapet, if he refused because he was afraid, then there were consequences. He was court-martialled and then put to death for being a coward.
We, too, have been given a command: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
Yet a survey once conducted by Campus Crusade revealed that only about 2% of Christians regularly share the gospel. That’s shockingly low. And why? Because most believers are afraid. Even Paul admitted that he was afraid, “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). But Paul did not let fear silence him. He was bold. He was faithful. He was like those men who charged over the parapet; he was not cowardly.

Now here is the verse that makes me pause:
Revelation 21:8 – “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
We know who the unbelieving are. The abominable are those who are morally filthy; we know who the murderers are. The sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars, we know who they are. But who are the cowardly? Are they people who have been given a command and know what they should be doing, but instead, they choose not to do it because they let fear rule them?
I believe cowardice is when someone has a purpose to fulfil, and yet they refuse to do it because they let fear stop them. Fear itself is not sin; it’s natural. But when we let fear stop us from obeying God’s command, that’s cowardice. Just as those soldiers faced fear in the trenches yet pressed forward, we are called to press forward in sharing Christ.

And here’s where it becomes even more serious. If we believe in God, in heaven and hell, in judgment, and we know the Saviour, then it is wrong not to tell others about Him. It’s like seeing a house on fire with people inside and choosing to do nothing. You simply allow them to die. This would be morally outrageous. In human law, such deliberate inaction is called “Depraved Indifference.”
If human courts recognise this injustice, how much more would a holy and just God recognise the injustice of our not warning others about eternal death?
There is also a biblical example of Depraved Indifference in the Old Testament. God says to Ezekiel that if he does not warn the wicked of their deeds, their blood is on his hands. In Ezekiel 3:18-19, God says, "When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul."
So, failure to warn others of danger is condemned in Scripture, just as being cowardly is condemned.

James 4:17 says: “Anyone who knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
We know the good we ought to do. If we truly believe eternity is at stake, then failing to warn and to share the hope of Christ is not just neglect, it’s sin.

Now, I want to be very clear: I am not promoting a works-based salvation. I am not saying that you must go and tell people the Gospel in order to be saved. Salvation comes by faith in Christ alone, through His grace.
What I am saying is this: true faith naturally produces action. If you genuinely believe in the reality of God, heaven, hell, judgment, and the salvation offered through Jesus, that belief will move you. It will compel you to act, to speak, to warn, to love, and to share the hope you have. Faith without action may still be faith, but genuine belief shows itself in obedience and courage. Our actions flow out of our convictions; they are the evidence of a heart transformed by God.

So, ask yourself: Who are the cowardly in Revelation 21:8? Has your faith truly transformed your heart so that you are willing to obey God’s command to share the Gospel, or are you, like many believers, remaining silent out of fear?

Don't get me wrong. I thank God for those who think our whole reason for being on this earth is to induct others into the Body of Christ. But your passion does not give you valid remonstrance toward others whose passion may be, for example, doctrine. Without a valid concept of just who/what God is, the church would have a corrupt gospel. And it too often does.

Don't lather guilt over those who don't think like you do.

1Tonne · Sunday at 10:39 PM

Mark Quayle said:
Don't get me wrong. I thank God for those who think our whole reason for being on this earth is to induct others into the Body of Christ. But your passion does not give you valid remonstrance toward others whose passion may be, for example, doctrine. Without a valid concept of just who/what God is, the church would have a corrupt gospel. And it too often does.

Don't lather guilt over those who don't think like you do.

You’re right that without sound teaching, the church can drift into a corrupt gospel. Paul constantly warned about false teaching, and holding fast to the truth is vital.
But at the same time, the right doctrine should always lead to the right action. If we believe the truth about God, sin, judgment, and Christ’s saving work, that doctrine will compel us to share it. Paul himself was both a teacher of doctrine and a tireless evangelist. He told Timothy: ‘Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season’ (2 Tim. 4:2).
I’m not trying to lay guilt, but I do want to stir up reflection. If we say we believe the gospel, but never share it, do we really grasp its weight? Sound doctrine and bold witness are not rivals; they’re two sides of the same coin.

NBB · Sunday at 11:33 PM

You may not be called to evangelize, but what about your close ones, is not our responsability somehow to tell them and pray for them?

1Tonne · Sunday at 11:39 PM

Servus said:
Keep this in mind. When you look at the churches in Acts, relatively few members were sent out to evangelize. The church of Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas, and later Paul and Silas and then Barnabas and Mark. So that's three small teams out of a large church, that's considered to be the main missionary church in the book of Acts. We don't read of the 3000 coverts going out and preaching the gospel to every creature. Scripture records that the Holy Spirit sent out relatively few. The rest carried out the other gifts they had been given, while those given the gift of evangelizing went out into the mission field. So the idea that Mark 16:15 applies to everyone, each individual, doesn't sound biblically accurate. Now if one feels called by the Holy Spirit to go out and evangelize like Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Mark were, and they resist that calling then that's a problem. Is someone not called to be an evangelist not going out and evangelizing a problem? I don't see why it should be.

Acts shows certain individuals being specifically sent out as missionaries (Paul, Barnabas, Silas, etc.). Not everyone in the early church was called to leave their city and travel abroad.
But we also see clearly that the gospel was spread by ordinary believers in their everyday lives. Acts 8:1–4 says that after the persecution in Jerusalem, all except the apostles were scattered, and those who were scattered went about preaching the word. It wasn’t just missionaries or apostles; it was the believers themselves who shared Christ wherever they went.

Also, the gift of evangelism is not the ability to share the gospel; we are all called to do that. The gift of evangelism is an ability given to a person to equip and train others in the church in evangelism, so that the whole church can be effective in witnessing and increase.
"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, so the body of Christ may be built up." Ephesians 4:11

So yes, the Spirit gives different gifts, but the command to make disciples applies to the body as a whole. Those with the gift of evangelism will teach others to share the Gospel, and some may go far; most of us will go near, but all of us are called to go.

1Tonne · Monday at 1:18 AM

Servus said:
Probably the most prolific complain against Christians among unbelievers is them "always ramming their religion down people's throats". When atheists are asked why they focus so much on Christians compared to other religions, the reason given is because of all the evangelizing Christians do trying to convert people. So based on what I've heard from a lot of unbelievers, and atheists in particular, is that Christians do way too much evangelizing, rather than not enough. So the saying that only 2% of Christians share the gospel seems a little hard to believe.

If we let the fear of criticism or dislike by atheists guide whether we obey Christ, we’re letting the world dictate our obedience.

Jesus warned that following Him would bring opposition: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). He also said, “Blessed are you when people hate you… on account of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22). Opposition, rejection, or even ridicule is inevitable when we share the gospel, but that doesn’t remove the command to go and make disciples (Mark 16:15).

Sharing the gospel will sometimes be uncomfortable and unpopular — that’s exactly why fear or worldly opinion shouldn’t stop us. Obedience to Christ comes before the approval of men.

Charles Spurgeon once said: “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!” The desire to tell people of God’s great love comes from being born again and Him giving us a new heart and new desires.

Servus · Monday at 2:29 AM

1Tonne said:
If we let the fear of criticism or dislike by atheists guide whether we obey Christ, we’re letting the world dictate our obedience.

Jesus warned that following Him would bring opposition: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). He also said, “Blessed are you when people hate you… on account of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22). Opposition, rejection, or even ridicule is inevitable when we share the gospel, but that doesn’t remove the command to go and make disciples (Mark 16:15).

Sharing the gospel will sometimes be uncomfortable and unpopular — that’s exactly why fear or worldly opinion shouldn’t stop us. Obedience to Christ comes before the approval of men.

Charles Spurgeon once said: “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!” The desire to tell people of God’s great love comes from being born again and Him giving us a new heart and new desires.

You're missing the point. The point is they've all heard it before. Supposedly 98% of us are afraid to talk to them, yet somehow they've all already been witnessed to. Often multiple times based on what I've heard from them. Therefore the we're all too afraid to witness claim doesn't add up. So I don't think accusations, browbeating, shaming and admonishing the body of Christ as a whole is called for.

1Tonne · Monday at 4:20 AM

Servus said:
I've been involved in evangelizing going back 40+ years. And one thing I've learned is that practically no one doesn't know about Jesus being the savior and about his death and resurrection and that believing in him means being saved.

Virtually all of those I've ever approached or seen approached, have already been witnessed to before. I often used a more passive approach and would get told how I do it differently. That usually someone is just telling them they're going to hell. My point being is they've heard it before.

So these days at least in North and South America and I'd imagine in New Zealand, most everyone is aware of the gospel. So really it's a matter of trying to get them to accept what they've already heard.

Everyone has heard of the Good News, and it just goes over their heads. It makes no sense to them. If we continue to preach a passive Gospel and only say the Good News without the bad news, then the Gospel will continue to go over the unbeliever's head.
That is because most unbelievers already think that they are good, and they think that they will make it to heaven because of their goodness. The bible even says that on the day of Judgement, many will confess their own goodness. Since these people already think that they are good, they do not see the point in a saviour.
These people need to see that they have already fallen short of God’s standards, the 10 commandments, and that the punishment for breaking God's law is death. Without understanding this, they will never see their need for the saviour.
Biblical evangelism is to preach Law to the proud and grace to the humble. If someone comes to you and says, "Oh, what should I do? I've sinned against God. I'm an adulterer. I'm a liar. Oh, what should I do?" Give them grace. Tell them of the cross. But those sorts of people are about as rare as hen's teeth. For others who have not come to this place of understanding, we need to show them their sin by using the Law. By using the Law they will realise that they are in trouble and that they need a saviour.

Think of it like this.
A doctor has a patient in front of him who believes he is healthy because he’s young, fit and has a great physique. The doctor has seen X-rays and knows that the man has just two weeks to live. He has a cure on his desk, but should he give the patient the cure immediately, or should he first show him the X-rays? If he knows what he’s doing and cares for the well-being of the patient, he will hold back from giving him the cure. This is because the patient will understandably reject it if he believes he is healthy. Instead, the doctor should show him the X-rays and deliberately point out the poison seeping through his system. He should do this until his patient becomes deeply concerned and even fearful about his condition. Once that happens, you will only have to mention the cure and he will jump at it. He will now appreciate it and accept it—because he has been made aware of his disease. Our disease is sin.

When we tell the lost that Jesus died on the cross without telling them why, it’s foolishness to them. It doesn’t make sense because we’re giving them the cure without first convincing them of the disease. So, show them the law first.

Romans 3:20 “Through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”
Psalms 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul…” If the law is perfect at converting the soul, then why would we not use it? There is no other better tool.
1 Cor 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Servus said:
What I object to is this method of browbeating Christians. Shaming them by calling them cowards and suggesting their salvation is in question per Rev 21:8. One can only imagine what kind of evanelizing is going on when fellow Christians are being castigated. A hyper-evangelist will reprimand them telling them none of them do anything, while having no idea of what they are doing. It's just taken for granted that they're all lazy and and cowardly.

I simply think that you have reflected on what was said, and it has hit a nerve in you. That is what the thread was for: to reflect.
Sadly, I shouldn't even need to write a thread like this for you to reflect on evangelism. Our love for the lost should drive us to share with them. In fact, "it is a sad testament to our lack of love that Jesus had to command us to go and share the Gospel."

Servus said:
Since most Christians don't keep tally sheets like Mormon missionaries and Jehovah's witness might, there's no way to know whether or not they're sharing their faith. Again the worst is just automatically assumed.

We do not need to keep a tally of who we evangelise to. God sees our hearts by what we say and do.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So, if you have had a heart change and you have seen your sin for what it is, and you know the great sacrifice that was made for you, then that overwhelming joy within you will want to come out and tell everyone.

Servus said:
You're missing the point. The point is they've all heard it before. Supposedly 98% of us are afraid to talk to them, yet somehow they've all already been witnessed to. Often multiple times based on what I've heard from them. Therefore the we're all too afraid to witness claim doesn't add up. So I don't think accusations, browbeating, shaming and admonishing the body of Christ as a whole is called for.

Maybe most believers do not go out sharing because they do not have the Holy Spirit, or if they do, they suppress it. The Holy Spirit was given so that we would go out and share. Acts 1:8 says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Here is a great quote from Brother Yun
-"The church today lacks this. The Holy Spirit descended as a tongue, and it is the Spirit that transforms our tongues. The disciples received a message, and those who couldn’t talk became preachers. They received power, clarity and boldness, and they started preaching the Gospel."

More good quotes:
-The world is not so much hardened to the gospel as it is ignorant of the gospel because the gospel is not being preached. Paul Washer

-"People do not see the beauty of the gospel until they understand the infinite holiness of God and the depth of their sin, as revealed by His law." Paul Washer

-Often, individuals will say, “I am willing to go, should God call me to go, in the meantime, I am going to stay.” What we need to do is go, but be willing to stay if God calls us to stay. God has already called us to go. Mark Spence

-If the stars in the heavens that do not have a mouth will speak of His greatness night after night. How much more should we who have the gift of a mouth tell others of His great love?

Gregory Thompson · Monday at 1:46 PM

1Tonne said:
I understand why you might feel that way. But there’s a big difference between fearmongering and giving a loving warning. Fearmongering is about manipulation, but warning people of real danger is about care and responsibility.
Even Jesus gave strong warnings that were not fearmongering. He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). He also said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out” (Mark 9:43).

So yes, these words are sobering, but they’re meant to wake us up, not to manipulate us. If my post caused reflection, then that was its purpose.

You raise a really good point, Ephesians 2:10 does show that God has prepared unique works for each of us, and Paul is clear that the body of Christ has many different gifts. Not everyone is called to preach from a pulpit or be a missionary.
But at the same time, Jesus’ command in Mark 16:15. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”, was given to all believers, not just to those with a specific gift. Evangelism may look different depending on our gifts: some are bold street preachers, some share one-on-one, some show Christ through hospitality or acts of service that open the door to conversations. But at some point, the gospel message has to be shared in words, because “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

We are all different parts of the body of Christ, and we don’t all have the same giftings, but we have all been called to tell as many people the Gospel as possible.
-If you are an ear, listen to people’s problems; then tell them the Gospel.
-If you are a hand, serve others practically; then tell them the Gospel.
-If you are a mouth, teach; then tell the Gospel.
-If you are feet, go out into the streets or parks; and tell the Gospel.

Our gifts are not an excuse to avoid sharing Christ; they are tools to bring Him glory. Personally, I’m often a “foot”, going into the parks to share the Gospel. Sometimes I serve like a hand, or listen like an ear. But whatever role I’m in, the end goal is the same: to make Christ known - the spoken message.
We are not all called to be street preachers, but we should all have the desire to share the Gospel with as many people as possible.

I do want to be clear, though: hospitality or good deeds are not the Gospel. The Gospel is always a spoken message, the good news about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Acts of service and hospitality give us opportunities to share that message, and they can strengthen our witness by showing that our lives line up with what we say. But without the spoken word, people won’t know the saving truth, because “faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

End product bottom line from 1st John: Maturing Love.
Why? Confidence on the day of Judgment.
Fear's role: There is no fear in love.

By cultivating fear in the hearts of churchpeople, it restricts them from God's will in their life, that is to become an embodiment of love just like God is.

Since fear is the seed of cowardice, encouraging churchpeople to be afraid of God like the Hebrews at the mountain with Moses, illustrates that said church does not understand or demonstrate what Jesus did for us. "not to become a slave of fear again"

This is also irresponsible since the cowards will not be admitted into the kingdom, then why is there all these scare tactics?

jacks · Monday at 2:12 PM

Actually this is the scariest verse in the Bible.

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Luke 6:37

Gregory Thompson · Monday at 2:36 PM

jacks said:
Actually this is the scariest verse in the Bible.

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Luke 6:37

Yes, it seems to be treated as a repressed memory for sure nowadays.

1Tonne · Monday at 3:01 PM

Servus said:
Even using the Ray Comfort method

The method was not Ray Comfort's. He simply copied it from Jesus. But in the bible, there were many preachers of righteousness. In 2 Peter 2:5, it says Noah was a “preacher of righteousness”. Then we have Isaiah, Amos, and Jeremiah. And we have Jonah, who was sent to Nineveh to tell them to turn from their evil ways. We also have Paul and Timothy. In 2 Corinthians, it says that they “Commended themselves to every man’s conscience”. So, they too copied Jesus. And just like these men address people's conscience to show them that they are sinners, I too do this.

Servus said:
A key to evangelizing is going out in pairs or small groups. If anyone asks me "hey do you want to go out and witness?" The answer is going to be "yes!".

So that's what churches should do. Set up an evangelism group that gets together, has meetings, plans, and then goes out in pairs. Just like the early church sent out evangelists in pairs. Just telling Christians they need to run around town by themselves and save people really isn't practical.

There's strength in numbers.

Going out in pairs is good for the fact that there is safety in numbers. But we should want to share the Gospel if we are in groups, pairs or by ourselves. We are to be ready all the time to give a defence for our faith, and we should be ready in season and out of season.

Gregory Thompson said:
End product bottom line from 1st John: Maturing Love.
Why? Confidence on the day of Judgment.
Fear's role: There is no fear in love.

By cultivating fear in the hearts of churchpeople, it restricts them from God's will in their life, that is to become an embodiment of love just like God is.

Since fear is the seed of cowardice, encouraging churchpeople to be afraid of God like the Hebrews at the mountain with Moses, illustrates that said church does not understand or demonstrate what Jesus did for us. "not to become a slave of fear again"

This is also irresponsible since the cowards will not be admitted into the kingdom, then why is there all these scare tactics?

1 John 4:18 does say “perfect love casts out fear.” And the end goal of the Christian life is certainly to be perfected in love so that we have confidence on the Day of Judgment. But Scripture also shows that fear has a place. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Paul said, “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others” (2 Corinthians 5:11). Even Jesus warned His disciples: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

So, there’s a difference between unhealthy fear that paralyses (cowardice), and healthy fear that motivates obedience (reverence and awe). The passage in Revelation 21:8 isn’t there to scare people for the sake of it; it’s there as a sober warning. God doesn’t use “scare tactics”; He speaks truth. Ignoring verses that make us uncomfortable doesn’t make them go away.
And here’s the balance: God’s love frees us from terror, but His holiness still calls us to seriousness. As John also wrote, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). Love and reverent fear work together, not against each other.

Many people do not understand what Godly fear is. Godly fear” isn’t merely respect; it’s a holy fear. The kind that keeps you from treating God casually. It’s the fear that says, “I dare not play games in His presence.”
This echoes what Mr. Beaver says about the lion Aslan in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe":
“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”
We’ve lost that in many churches. People want God to be safe so that they can be casual in church. But He is holy, and holiness is not tame.

Another thought that may help some to understand the fear of God.
We all love to be around a nice warm heater. But a heater has rules, and if you break the rules, you can get hurt. So, we are afraid to break those rules. In the same way, we love our God. But God also has rules, and if we choose to break those rules, we can get burned. The fear of the Lord motivates us to righteousness.

jacks said:
Actually this is the scariest verse in the Bible.

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Luke 6:37

That’s an important verse, and I agree with it completely. But we also need to read it in context (People always take that verse out of context). Jesus isn’t saying we should never make any judgments at all. In fact, in John 7:24 He says, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
The point of Luke 6:37 is that we should not be harsh, self-righteous, or hypocritical in our judgments. We don’t condemn others as if we are the final authority; only God judges in that way. But we are called to discern right from wrong, to warn of sin, and to hold up God’s Word as truth.
So when I quote Revelation 21:8, I’m not condemning anyone, I’m simply repeating what God has already said. His Word does the judging, not me. If people feel condemnation from His word, then maybe they need to evaluate what they are doing in their lives.
So please, when using scripture, do not take it out of context to make your point.

1Tonne · Monday at 4:03 PM

This video only came up about 5 hours ago, and it is appropriate for this thread.

Gregory Thompson · Monday at 5:11 PM

1Tonne said:
1 John 4:18 does say “perfect love casts out fear.” And the end goal of the Christian life is certainly to be perfected in love so that we have confidence on the Day of Judgment. But Scripture also shows that fear has a place. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Paul said, “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others” (2 Corinthians 5:11). Even Jesus warned His disciples: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

So, there’s a difference between unhealthy fear that paralyses (cowardice), and healthy fear that motivates obedience (reverence and awe). The passage in Revelation 21:8 isn’t there to scare people for the sake of it; it’s there as a sober warning. God doesn’t use “scare tactics”; He speaks truth. Ignoring verses that make us uncomfortable doesn’t make them go away.
And here’s the balance: God’s love frees us from terror, but His holiness still calls us to seriousness. As John also wrote, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). Love and reverent fear work together, not against each other.

Many people do not understand what Godly fear is. Godly fear” isn’t merely respect; it’s a holy fear. The kind that keeps you from treating God casually. It’s the fear that says, “I dare not play games in His presence.”
This echoes what Mr. Beaver says about the lion Aslan in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe":
“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”
We’ve lost that in many churches. People want God to be safe so that they can be casual in church. But He is holy, and holiness is not tame.

Another thought that may help some to understand the fear of God.
We all love to be around a nice warm heater. But a heater has rules, and if you break the rules, you can get hurt. So, we are afraid to break those rules. In the same way, we love our God. But God also has rules, and if we choose to break those rules, we can get burned. The fear of the Lord motivates us to righteousness.

Interesting story.

Righteousness motivated by fear is self righteousness, the opposite to the righteousness of living by faith.

The bible does not say that being afraid of God results in confidence on the day of judgment.

At the mountain with Moses the people said that they didn't want to be afraid anymore, and God says "this is good" and then talked about Jesus who they would need to listen to.

Since fear is a carnal reaction to God, and the flesh is at animosity towards all God related things ... being fearful is not a reasonable goal.

This is the scariest verse in the bible for believers

Well-Known Member

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

I will fear no evil for You are with me

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

<><

Well-Known Member

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

Er Victus

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

Similar threads