Paul Washer -

[Beanieboy]

A poster posted this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYsClDclvf0&mode=related&search=

"The greatest heresy in the evangelical Protestant church is that if you pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart, he will definitely come in."


Response to the message?

(It was posted in the Non-Christian Questions, and I couldn't comment, some I am starting a thread here.)

 

[TheFathersDaughter]

It sounded like he was saying that anything you watch or do that isn't directly related to God then you're "rebelling against God". Of course, the visuals (which showed Harry Potter, geez) didn't help.

I disagree completely. WE don't do things that concern God, we concern God with us. We put God with us. A strong Christian doesn't need to be in a 24/7 church setting to be in the presence of God. He should always be with Him. Christ promises that "if you profess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you...will surely be saved" (Romans 10:9).

 

[clarksided]

lol wow

 

[selfinflikted]

You know what? I'm so sick to death of this type of fear mongering. If people want to come to christianity, they should do so because they're heart calls them there. NOT because of some fire and brimstone SINNER FILTHY RAGS! speech. This is rediculous. This man knows exactly what he's doing, and it's wrong. I completely detest this brand of christianity, and preachers who preach it.

 

[Pwnerer]

You know what? I'm so sick to death of this type of fear mongering. If people want to come to christianity, they should do so because they're heart calls them there. NOT because of some fire and brimstone SINNER FILTHY RAGS! speech. This is rediculous. This man knows exactly what he's doing, and it's wrong. I completely detest this brand of christianity, and preachers who preach it.

I see. So now it's a hate-on-judgment fest. I can feel the rage and condemnation.

 

[selfinflikted]

I see. So now it's a hate-on-judgment fest. I can feel the rage and condemnation.

No, you don't see. I find this brand of christianity detrimental to the psychological well-being of a person. To think that one is a "filthy rag" and doesn't deserve salvation and can do no better than your common gutter trash is just wrong and isn't healthy. In my world-view, christianity is supposed to be about brotherly love, inclusion, doing unto others. It is NOT supposed to scare you into believing by force- that's a despicable tactic and one that I'm personally against.

 

[Pwnerer]

No, you don't see. I find this brand of christianity detrimental to the psychological well-being of a person. To think that one is a "filthy rag" and doesn't deserve salvation and can do no better than your common gutter trash is just wrong and isn't healthy. In my world-view, christianity is supposed to be about brotherly love, inclusion, doing unto others. It is NOT supposed to scare you into believing by force- that's a despicable tactic and one that I'm personally against.

So if someone doesn't subscribe to your personal worldview you condemn them?

 

[selfinflikted]

So if someone doesn't subscribe to your personal worldview you condemn them?

If I believe it's against the well-being of people, and fear mongering to boot - you bet I do.

 

[Pwnerer]

If I believe it's against the well-being of people, and fear mongering to boot - you bet I do.

Not everyone believes the same as you. Some might disagree that it is fear mongering. It would be very narrow minded to condemn them, wouldn't it? Why aren't you more accepting of people with different views?

 

[TheManeki]

No, you don't see. I find this brand of christianity detrimental to the psychological well-being of a person. To think that one is a "filthy rag" and doesn't deserve salvation and can do no better than your common gutter trash is just wrong and isn't healthy. In my world-view, christianity is supposed to be about brotherly love, inclusion, doing unto others. It is NOT supposed to scare you into believing by force- that's a despicable tactic and one that I'm personally against.

I agree. I've seen too many Christians take this message that "your inherent sinful nature makes you pond scum in God's eyes" and be driven into some heavy depression because of it.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

Last I checked pwnerer, Jesus wasn't out to depress the world and turn away others through malice.

 

[clarksided]

Not everyone believes the same as you. Some might disagree that it is fear mongering. It would be very narrow minded to condemn them, wouldn't it? Why aren't you more accepting of people with different views?

He is narrow-minded toward views that harm others.

For example, I am highly intolerable of christians who are homophobic. I am highly intolerable of muslims who think women should "know their place."

And how is this NOT fear mongering? He's telling them they're going to hell. If that's not scary to someone who believes then I don't know what is.

 

[TheFathersDaughter]

If people are accepting Christ ONLY because they're afraid of hell they they aren't really accepting Christ. There is no relationship. Any preacher that ONLY preaches fear is in a way condemning WORSE because they're setting a false sense of security that selfishly believing in God to save oneself from hell will save someone the same way as believing out of pure faith.

 

[selfinflikted]

Not everyone believes the same as you. Some might disagree that it is fear mongering. It would be very narrow minded to condemn them, wouldn't it? Why aren't you more accepting of people with different views?

I agree. I've seen too many Christians take this message that "your inherent sinful nature makes you pond scum in God's eyes" and be driven into some heavy depression because of it.

He is narrow-minded toward views that harm others.

For example, I am highly intolerable of christians who are homophobic. I am highly intolerable of muslims who think women should "know their place."

And how is this NOT fear mongering? He's telling them they're going to hell. If that's not scary to someone who believes then I don't know what is.

If people are accepting Christ ONLY because they're afraid of hell they they aren't really accepting Christ. There is no relationship. Any preacher that ONLY preaches fear is in a way condemning WORSE because they're setting a false sense of security that selfishly believing in God to save oneself from hell will save someone the same way as believing out of pure faith.

Wow, thanks you guys

These posts pretty much sum up the way I feel about it.

 

[WatersMoon110]

I think he's wrong. And what I've learned from my New Testament class agrees with me.

He talks about Paul's assertion that humans are saved through faith alone (in Romans 4, I believe). But he disregards James 3.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

There is a disagreement between James and Paul, are humans saved through faith? Or through both faith and works?

Also, he says that accepting Jesus doesn't make one a Christian, because one must also repent, constantly. But Paul disagrees. All one needs is faith that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.

Paul Washer actually managed to contradict the very Biblical author that he used to justify needing faith and not works. Amazing.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

Thanks much Watermoon, I'll remember that

 

[Beanieboy]

What I found a little "shocking" about this new Johnny Come Lately Shock Preacher of Truth is now, not only is a Christian telling sinners they are going to hell, he's telling Christians.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

It think that's just how he gets his kicks

 

[Beanieboy]

I listened to the long version. It's completely targeted at a teen audience, and when he says that Christians are headed for hell because they are living worldly, they applaud, and he says, "I don't know why you're applauding. I'm talking about you."

Kids have a hard enough time without putting one more pressure on them. However, I think it sends a double message.

He is telling the kids not to expose their body (I'm guessing he means clevage, belly shirts, etc), but then mom will wear a dress with clevage. They will talk about kids needing to separate themselves from the world and stop looking like the world, when their parents look like most people "of the world", wearing Dockers, etc., or worse, focusing mostly on wealth.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Well, I thought it brought some good things up. We may be in the world, but we're not of the world. (Non-Christians probably can get this.. since many "were" Christians.) Rejecting worldly things does have some benefit..