Hell-fire

[Goodbook]

Well there are two sides so present both.

There is heaven and there is hell. You can make a choice. Jesus way leads to heaven, and God loves you and sent his only son to save us so we wont perish.

Focus on who Jesus is and what a wonderful saviour He is...i remember David wilkerson saying to nicky Cruz and he wasnt threatening him with hell because when people sin they mostly know they already going there anyway. What he said was about Gods love that if you cut him into a million pieces every piece would still love Nicky.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Matthew 13:1-23 Look for the fertile soil.

 

[Greg Merrill]

If you die without Jesus, you will go to Hell.

As Christians, isn't there a better way to evangelize to non-Christians?

Isn't there a gentler way to evangelize to non-Christians?

For example (just an example):

"Heaven is a real place. God is real. Jesus loves you."

What are your thoughts on "hell-fire and brimstone" evangelism?

Similar to a doctor telling a patient they have cancer. He shouldn't avoid telling them altogether, but should be sensitive, give them the truth, and give them what hope he can.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Well look at West Boro Baptist church. They are SUPER hellfire and brimstone and as you can see they have brought no one to salvation. All they did was disgust nonbelievers and those people now have shields up that are impossible to take down.

Theres a right way and a wrong way to go about leading someone to salvation. Meeting them and screaming "Your a sinner and going to hell!" isn't going to open a connection. It will just put up a barrier. We should always go about talking about Jesus in a good way to get one foot in the door. And then as nice as we can talk about hell. Sadly even in those situation some people give up on the person and will be like "Fine if you don't care enough then enjoy hell!". Which also solves nothing. Trying to get someone saved can be a really short thing or it can take years. And how you approach them is what determines (usually) how much they will be willing to hear from you.

Do you think the people West Boro attacked are ever going to be open to hearing from any christian now? I very much doubt it. I mean nothing is impossible of course, but the hatred they faced will leave very long lasting damage on trying to get them saved.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

If you die without Jesus, you will go to Hell.

As Christians, isn't there a better way to evangelize to non-Christians?

Isn't there a gentler way to evangelize to non-Christians?

For example (just an example):

"Heaven is a real place. God is real. Jesus loves you."

What are your thoughts on "hell-fire and brimstone" evangelism?

Every heart is different, Jesus as an example at the well, when speaking to the woman , did not tell her about hell. He prophesied to her, then told her He had living water. What he did was also show her worth, she was at the well in the heat of the day to avoid the other towns folk, due to her life style. Jesus did not condemn her, but showed her he knew those things, but gave her an invitation to life. we should give people an invitation to life, sure we can point out hell, but not make people feel like they deserve it. Rather God loves us so much he has rescued us from it.

 

[Greg Merrill]

Every heart is different, Jesus as an example at the well, when speaking to the woman , did not tell her about hell. He prophesied to her, then told her He had living water. What he did was also show her worth, she was at the well in the heat of the day to avoid the other towns folk, due to her life style. Jesus did not condemn her, but showed her he knew those things, but gave her an invitation to life. we should give people an invitation to life, sure we can point out hell, but not make people feel like they deserve it. Rather God loves us so much he has rescued us from it.

Knowing and feeling that we deserve hell has helped many to see how much God does love them to rescue them for it. But I see what you are saying as well, and like it.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Knowing and feeling that we deserve hell has helped many to see how much God does love them to rescue them for it. But I see what you are saying as well, and like it.

Yeah ... I had a dream about hell ... and that made me become a Christian ... so there is certainly a place for it.

 

[Radrook]

I met two people who evangelized in that threatening fashion and both belonged to a charismatic denomination. One would visit us every week and bombard my parents with threats of being stung by the Chimeras mentioned in Revelation and then suffer eternal agony via being submerged in a lake of fire unless we attended her church. After approx. 20 minutes during which she would turn beet-red from furious exertion, she would finally conclude her sermon with:

"So will you come to church now?"

Whereupon my father would always calmly respond with:

"Ï will have to give it some thought."

Even though I was ignorant of biblical things her manner seemed strange and her threats seemed somehow ungodly.

BTW
When confronted by a Christian who believed that God doesn't send people to be roasted alive forever because they choose not to do as he wishes, she finally asked:

"Well, if no one is going to roast forever-then why have I been depriving myself all these years of all the things I could have been doing? No! It can't be that easy. Those people are going to burn!"

 

[Greg Merrill]

I met two people who evangelized in that threatening fashion and both belonged to a charismatic denomination. One would visit us every week and bombard my parents with threats of being stung by the Chimeras mentioned in Revelation and then suffer eternal agony via being submerged in a lake of fire unless we attended her church. After approx. 20 minutes during which she would turn beet-red from furious exertion, she would finally conclude her sermon with:

"So will you come to church now?"

Whereupon my father would always calmly respond with:

"Ï will have to give it some thought."

Even though I was ignorant of biblical things her manner seemed strange and her threats seemed somehow ungodly.

BTW
When confronted by a Christian who believed that God doesn't send people to be roasted alive forever because they choose not to do as he wishes, she finally asked:

"Well, if no one is going to roast forever-then why have I been depriving myself all these years of all the things I could have been doing? No! It can't be that easy. Those people are going to burn!"

I agree, her method of evangelism is not effective, not wise, and not Christ-like. I don't see Jesus acting like her with the woman at the well, Nicodemus, or anyone else. Her reasoning of depriving herself is also sadly erroneous. If people don't go to hell, is she then going to live like the sinful world? That is not what God would have either. Thought her evangelistic style and her reasoning for it stinks, that doesn't mean that people are not going to hell and that Christians shouldn't tell them about it in a more Christ-like way.

 

[Radrook]

I agree, her method of evangelism is not effective, not wise, and not Christ-like. I don't see Jesus acting like her with the woman at the well, Nicodemus, or anyone else. Her reasoning of depriving herself is also sadly erroneous. If people don't go to hell, is she then going to live like the sinful world? That is not what God would have either. Thought her evangelistic style and her reasoning for it stinks, that doesn't mean that people are not going to hell and that Christians shouldn't tell them about it in a more Christ-like way.

So you feel comfortable worshipping and admiring and an entity that establishes roasting people alive forever as punishment? I find that unimaginable. Being terrified? Yes. Admiration and worship? Never!

 

[Greg Merrill]

So you feel comfortable worshipping and admiring and an entity that establishes roasting people alive forever as punishment? I find that unimaginable. Being terrified? Yes. Admiration and worship? Never!

I feel comfortable worshipping the God that created man to share in His glory forever, and though many reject that God, He still became a man Himself, took unimaginable punishment upon Himself in their place so they could have the opportunity to receive forgiveness of all their sins, not just the sin or rejecting such a precious Savior. This God also has an adversary (Satan) who would twist the facts as much as he can to put the God he tried to replace (Isa 14:12-17; Eze 28:11-19) in a bad light, as is seen in what you have posted.

 

[Radrook]

I feel comfortable worshipping the God that created man to share in His glory forever, and though many reject that God, He still became a man Himself, took unimaginable punishment upon Himself in their place so they could have the opportunity to receive forgiveness of all their sins, not just the sin or rejecting such a precious Savior. This God also has an adversary (Satan) who would twist the facts as much as he can to put the God he tried to replace (Isa 14:12-17; Eze 28:11-19) in a bad light, as is seen in what you have posted.

Placing God's character in a bad light has indeed been a satanic goal ever since Eden.

John 8:44 ►
New International Version
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Describing God as a criminally insane sadistic being who chooses to punish via roasting people who disagree with him alive forever is one sure-fire way to do it. It is justifiably considered morally offensive and is one reason why many are stumbled and reject the Christian faith when presented in that gruesome, maniacal context.

BTW
Your list of things such as forgiveness of sins, sending his son to die, having an adversary is completely devalued by your accusation that he nevertheless roasts people alive forever. In short, your premise is flawed. I am not the one who just posted that defamatory description of the creator.

Hell: Biblically Dispelling the Myth of Eternal Torment
Since the Bible doesn’t teach that unredeemed people possess immortality or that they will suffer eternal torment in the lake of fire, the only way adherents of these beliefs can defend their position is by milking a small number of passages for details that the entire rest of the Bible refutes. This chapter is devoted to honestly examining these passages. Ironically, as you shall see, a close examination of these texts actually gives further support for literal everlasting destruction.

 

[Greg Merrill]

Placing God's character in a bad light has indeed been a satanic goal ever since Eden.



Describing God as a criminally insane sadistic being who chooses to punish via roasting people who disagree with him alive forever is one sure-fire way to do it. It is justifiably considered morally offensive and is one reason why many are stumbled and reject the Christian faith when presented in that gruesome, maniacal context.

BTW
Your list of things such as forgiveness of sins, sending his son to die, having an adversary is completely devalued by your accusation that he nevertheless roasts people alive forever. In short, your premise is flawed. I am not the one who just posted that defamatory description of the creator.

Imagine yourself standing in judgment before this God hearing Him say "It was never my choice or desire to send anyone to Hell. I made the determining guideline that those that would have to go to Hell would be those that made their own choice to reject the way not to go to Hell. I did not go against their choice to not believe the revelation of my existence, and love for them, and plan to have them rejoice with Me in glory. They chose to believe the Devil's lies, and to ignore all my attempts to help them. They may have felt satisfaction in all their arguments against trusting Me, but in the end none of those arguments will help them, and I am so sadden by that.

 

[LoricaLady]

If you die without Jesus, you will go to Hell.

As Christians, isn't there a better way to evangelize to non-Christians?

Isn't there a gentler way to evangelize to non-Christians?

For example (just an example):

"Heaven is a real place. God is real. Jesus loves you."

What are your thoughts on "hell-fire and brimstone" evangelism?

Generally speaking I agree with you. However, we must be Holy Spirit led and He does not try to communicate with everyone in the same way. I have a relative I have been in conflict with many times. She is always in conflict with others and has admitted to liking to upset people. Currently the only relative who wants to have contact with her is a half sister.

Now the point is that she admitted something to me. I had said many things in the past, to try to get her to act nicer, but she admitted that she ignored it all, except for when I told her she was going to hell. She said that did make her pay attention. (Though she has not currently changed a bit.) Why did I tell her that? Because I felt the Lord told me to warn her. Otherwise I would have never said that as I would expect it to only offend and get no results.