Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins........

[Tim Myers]

Just a quick question............

Would you say that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have done more to help the biblical teachings of Christianity or have the two done more to harm them?

 

[oneofchrists]

Just a quick question............

Would you say that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have done more to help the biblical teachings of Christianity or have the two done more to harm them?

All I can say Tim is that The "left Behind" Series and all books to "His Glorious Appearing" I have read and I have enjoyed, for Me it made an exciting read but..............The exetological theme given in the books don't quite match mine as they push a Pre Millenial Rapture doctrine....and all what the Pre Tribulation Saints endured I feel that perhaps all of Christs own will have to endure these things and more before He comes......Just MO...... I don't feel that Tim LeHaye has harmed or been a stumbleing block to Biblical teaching it is just His brand and there are others that would disaggree with Me but they are welcome to as I don't feel that it will affect My walk with Christ one Iota........ Thanks for putting up this thread though..............God Bless You and all Who contribute to this thread.....Dave

 

[Yarddog]

Just a quick question............

Would you say that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have done more to help the biblical teachings of Christianity or have the two done more to harm them?

I think that any conspiracy theorist does more harm than good.

 

[brightmorningstar]

Absolutely agree with oneofchrists, the books are based on a valid interpretation, (whether its right or not is why it is an interpretation) .. and the first was a good read.


So they have not hindered in any way, how much they have done to help I dont know.

 

[Brak]

I have differing opinions of Jerry Jenkins vs. Tim Lahaye. I personally spoke to Jerry Jenkins before. He's just an author; that's all. He believed pre-trib, he wrote a series. You don't want to be left behind, you know? I think he meant well.

Tim Lahaye, though, I don't think is up to any good. He's got his "pre-trib research center", well-funded...he's pretty intent on furthering dispensationalism. And he did not write Left Behind, really. His name is on it mostly to give the series clout. His pre-trib research center might have done some editing, and writing snippets here-and-there. But it's really Jerry Jenkins' brainchild.

Lahaye strikes me as more the televangelist type. All that effort he's spending furthering pre-trib dispensationalism, he could instead be preaching the Gospel. Somehow, though, I doubt he would have gotten his funding if he did that. There is a Post-Trib Research Center as well, and they are composed primarily of volunteers and academicians; hardly funded at all.

 

[brightmorningstar]

Again, dispensationalism is a valid interpretation. Certainly there are different covenants.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

Insofar as I think a lot of Christians bought/buy into the Left Behind hype I think it's been damaging and I've had a lot of conversations where I've had to explain to non-Christian friends that those books do not represent mainstream, traditional Christianity in any way at all.

I'm sure there have been people who became Christians under the circumstances while reading those books, my fear though is that if they became Christians "because" of the Left Behind series then they have a faith based upon a certain eschatological position, rather than the Gospel itself. When the wind and the waves crash upon a house built on sand, I pray it doesn't topple over upon itself.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[brightmorningstar]

Well the series is fiction based on certain interpretations. The basis is ok, Jesus describes some being taken and some being left etc. One cant say what the basis premise is, is not maintream Christianity or a part of the gospel itself.

I'm sure there have been people who became Christians under the circumstances while reading those books, my fear though is that if they became Christians "because" of the Left Behind series then they have a faith based upon a certain eschatological position, rather than the Gospel itself. When the wind and the waves crash upon a house built on sand, I pray it doesn't topple over upon itself.

Wise words and I agree.

 

[56Bluesman]

I wasn't impressed with the series of books as works of fiction, which they are, let alone as books from which to learn sound biblical teaching in the field of Christian eschatology and Bible prophecy.

With that said, they did introduce a Christian view point through the medium of fiction to a good segment of non-christian society, and it did open up the door for sharing the Gospel of Christ with many.

 

[Jazer]

Just a quick question............

Would you say that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have done more to help the biblical teachings of Christianity or have the two done more to harm them?

Darby is the father of dispensationalism and a lot of people seem to be teaching it. I can not tell were any one person is teaching it any different than anyone else is.

 

[Brak]

There is progressive dispensationalism vs. traditional dispensationalism. While I don't espouse dispensationalism of any form, at least progressive dispensationalism makes an honest attempt to formulate it out of Scripture. Traditional dispensationalism makes for a good story, but I just don't see how anyone taking a hard, honest look at the Bible itself could possibly justify it. And that's my issue with Tim Lahaye: he knows better. Just like Darby and Scofield knew better--they just wanted to advance this dual covenantal belief in an attempt to make Jews "saved", when they're not.

 

[Hairy Tic]

Just a quick question............

Would you say that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have done more to help the biblical teachings of Christianity or have the two done more to harm them?

## They are up there with Jack Chick, Fred Phelps, Pat Robertson, & other enemies of Christianity, IMO.

These explain why:

​

http://archives.wittenburgdoor.com/archives/rossing.html

 

[GitRDunn]

Just a quick question............

Would you say that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have done more to help the biblical teachings of Christianity or have the two done more to harm them?

I can only speak to what they have written as far as the Left Behind series goes. I have read (and own) all of the books and thought they were great. Whether you agree with their interpretation of how the end times will occur or not should be beside the point. Their fictional works have expressed a certain view, which many Christians hold to. There are different views on this, just as there are different views on many topics within Christianity, however none of them are the one key doctrine that matters the most. These books agree with every other Christian in the most important of ways, and that is that there is only one way to get to Heaven to spend an eternity with God, and that is through Christ. The rest is all interesting to discuss, but has no bearing on our salvation. I know for a fact that many people have come to faith in Christ because they read the Left Behind series, and I don't know of anyone who has lost their faith due to reading these books (I'm not sure how reading them could lead to someone losing their faith anyway). I think that simple evaluation shows that they have done a lot to help and nothing to hurt.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

Obfuscating the Gospel through a sensationalized vision of Dispensationalist fantasy does just that, it obfuscates the Gospel, or worse covers the Gospel completely with a dark cloud completely hiding it from view.

My chief issues with [pop]-Dispensationalism, actually, aren't merely quibbles with esoteric eschatological concepts such as the Millennium or the rapture (though, I do have my quibbles with those too), it's instead the broader practical, ethical and theological ramifications the relationship between Church and Israel in Classic Dispensationalism I certainly find troubling from an ecclesiological, soteriological and eschatological perspective; but rather I find most troubling is what it ultimately says about God and Jesus Christ.

Do we believe in a God who, as revealed in Jesus, is so passionately in love with His world and we human beings that He will go to the incredible depths to condescend to assume human nature, live among us, suffer and die a shameful death to rise and liberate us from the power of sin, death and hell--all because He loves us so much that He desires to save us...only to eventually say, "I'm done playing around, it's too late, turn or burn."?

In which case, even if lots of people became Christians after reading the Left Behind books, it's rather disconcerting that their Christianity is at the expense of the Gospel, and that a view of God has been presented that clouds a true vision of God as presented in the Gospel.

That disturbs me and I find that unsettling as a Christian.

“If we truly believe that Christ is our Savior…then we have a God of love, and to see God in faith is to look upon His friendly heart.” - Martin Luther (from Luther, the movie)

"What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for all that exists. By the recollection of them the eyes of a merciful person pour forth tears in abundance. By the strong and vehement mercy that grips such a person’s heart, and by such great compassion, the heart is humbled and one cannot bear to hear or to see any injury or slight sorrow in any in creation. For this reason, such a person offers up tearful prayer continually even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth, and for those who harm her or him, that they be protected and receive mercy. And in like manner such a person prays for the family of reptiles because of the great compassion that burns without measure in a heart that is in the likeness of God." - St. Isaac the Syrian

"But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." - Luke 6:35-36

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Tim Myers]

"Obfuscating the Gospel through a sensationalized vision of Dispensationalist fantasy does just that, it obfuscates the Gospel, or worse covers the Gospel completely with a dark cloud completely hiding it from view."

While I would not necessarily have said it like that......
.......That is exactly what I would have said.......

 

[brightmorningstar]

Do we believe in a God who, as revealed in Jesus, is so passionately in love with His world and we human beings that He will go to the incredible depths to condescend to assume human nature, live among us, suffer and die a shameful death to rise and liberate us from the power of sin, death and hell--all because He loves us so much that He desires to save us...only to eventually say, "I'm done playing around, it's too late, turn or burn."?

Yes. Well all except the last bit. He never says 'I am done with playing', it is finished and done, (John 19:30) He wishes that none should perish but all to come to repentance 2 Peter 2:9
He already said if we eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil we will surely die. Jesus said to people "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
The stories are fiction but based on scripture and a valid interpretation of a possible rapture.... thats how I see them.
Your point, remember God so loved the world, the John 3:16 verse follows Jesus describing how Moses was told to hold up the bronze snake so that all who were bitten and looked on it lived. Those who did not and were bitten, died. But it was not God who allowed them to die, God was allowing them to live.
God so loved the world that He sent His Son so that who ever believes shall not perish but have eternal life. God loved the world enough to save it through faith, not to save it regardless.

Your argument seems like a liberal theology to me where God cant allow people to die or God is to blame.

 

[GaryLee]

Scare, all the way to the bank.