Is hell-fire preaching good or bad?

[Joseph M. Smith]

At one point in my life I would have argued against "hell-fire" preaching, saying that people are not motivated by negatives and need to hear the Good News as really good.

But these days, with almost daily reports of shootings in which there is either a random or a calculated effort to take others' lives, I find myself wondering if anyone trembles any longer at the thought that they may spend eternity in whatever the vision of hell might be (and whatever that vision is, it is not pleasant). I would think we do need to speak of the consequences of disobedience and alienation more than has become popular.

After all, Luther pointed out that before one can hear the Gospel one must have preparation for the Gospel ... why would I be interested in justification if I do not think that it matters whether I am justified? Whereas in earlier days people may have worried about how to be justified, it seems to me today that for most people that is not even an issue. And it needs to be!

 

[Inquiring Mind]

It's great that a soul is won for christ.

But if the winning of the soul comes about from FEAR introduced by the preaching of fire and brimstone, is it really a genuine acceptance of Jesus?

To me there is something disturbing about someone coming to Christ thru the path of FEAR.

The path should be of genuine love.

 

[Hope of Glory]

While I think that hellfire preachiing should be the role of the evangelist and not used within the church (by the definition that most use), what's wrong with using fear and negative motivators? The Bible is very negative, telling us repeatedly what not to do and the consequences for doing it. Even the positives are defined by negatives.

But, what about in a saved person's life? In 2 Corinthians 5:11, Paul said, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” We use the terror of the Lord to persuade saved men and women not to live in sin. These are the words of Scripture! They’re given to us to help us to fear God and change our wicked ways.

Are we in fear of losing our everlasting salvation?

 

[Inquiring Mind]

I don't believe in bringing people to Christ by scare tactics.

I've met too many people that were brought to Christ via this method, who end up turning away from Christ after a while.

When Jesus talked to the masses he did not preach Hellfire and Brimstone, he preached love, passion, forgiveness, and mercy.

The Apostles and the Disciples did not follow him because he preached Hellfire and Brimstone, they followed him for other reasons. They followed him because Jesus loved people. They followed him because he cared for people. They followed him because Jesus healed people.

 

[Hope of Glory]

When Jesus talked to the masses he did not preach Hellfire and Brimstone, he preached love, passion, forgiveness, and mercy.

Well, is not warning someone of the dangers of a specific action an act of love? Is it not a passion to warn them? Is it not merciful to warn them?

After all, by today's standards (and it would seem yours), Jesus certainly was no nice guy! After all, he gave many warnings and exhortations, and according to modern psychologists was very negative. "If you don't do this, watch out!"

 

[gekko]

When Jesus talked to the masses he did not preach Hellfire and Brimstone, he preached love, passion, forgiveness, and mercy.

you are missing a very vital part of what Jesus also used to preach to them.
Jesus did it.
Paul did it.
Peter did it.
etc etc.

its the use of the moral law. and in using that law would convict the sinner. the consequences were laid out before them -- that of going to the lake of fire.

 

[LeBuick]

I don't believe in bringing people to Christ by scare tactics. .

I don't see it as a scare tactic since we are preaching from the word of God. We are simply pointing out the truth of their future if they don't repent and take the masters hand.

What about when Paul wrote woe unto me if I preach not the Gospel?

 

[LeBuick]

LeBuick -- before I went to bed, I thought about commenting on the fact that your tongue was sticking out. Now I'm up to find out that you've changed! Again! :tongue3:.

Yep, I was having an Al day yesterday but I couldn't find Gore so I had to settle.

 

[Brother Bob]

I believe in preaching the truth, the whole truth and that does mean to preach there is a Heaven to gain and a hell to shun. John the Baptist said: "who hath warned ye to flee the wrath of God which is to come".

 

[BobRyan]

For those who prefer to imagine that Christ did not talk about this subject --

Matt 10
28 ""Do not fear [b]those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.[/b]

Luke 12
4 ""I say to you, My friends, [b]do not be afraid of those who kill the body[/b] and after that have no more that they can do.
5 ""But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell[/b]; yes, I tell you, fear Him!

 

[BobRyan]

For those who prefer to imagine that Christ did not speak about the final payment for our debt of sin --

Matt 18

23 ""For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
24 ""When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25 ""But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.
26 ""So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, "Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'
27 ""And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
28 ""But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, "Pay back what you owe.'
[/quote]

Matt 18
29 ""So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, "Have patience with me and I will repay you.'
30 ""But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.
31 ""So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.
32 ""Then summoning him, his lord said to him, "You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33 " Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'
34 ""And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
35 "" My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.''

 

[John of Japan]

I've read this thread with great interest, and would like to add a historical note. Until recent decades, Hell was a very important, even a fundamental doctrine, and those who did not believe in it were considered liberals. With the advent some years ago of evangelicals teaching annihilationism, that seems to have changed, unfortunately. As several have pointed out, there are plenty of Biblical passages teaching Hell, and Christ Himself mentioned it often.

Having said that, I also agree with just a couple who have urged compassion. My grandfather, evangelist John R. Rice, taught that any preacher who could preach on Hell without weeping was backslidden. And he himself often wept when he preached. He wrote in his booklet on the subject, "Yes, if men are going to such a Hell that is so terrible, bonds of kinship and family ought not to be the limit of our prayers and efforts. If there is one man on this earth, even a total stranger, even an unknown savage, who may go to Hell, then every person who has yet any of the milk of human kindness, any any care for neighbor, any love for his fellow man, ought to have a consuming passion to rescue that poor soul!" (Hell, What the Bible Says About It, p. 4).

To go back further into history, it is said that when famed Scottish preacher Andrew Bonar met his friend Robert Murray McCheyne one Monday and said that he had preached on Hell, McCheyne replied, "Were you able to preach it with tears?" (Church History Biographies, by Herbert Lockyer, p. 64). Enough said!

John R. Rice's life's passage was Psalm 126:5-6, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." When was the last time we wept over sinners?

 

[John of Japan]

Oh, and by the way, my own beloved wife was "scared into Heaven" by a sermon on Hell. And guess what--far from abandoning the faith later as some have suggested on the thread, she became a wonderful missionary (in her husband's judgment!) Thank God for compassionate preaching on Hell! :jesus:

 

[LeBuick]

John, how can I get some of your Grandfathers sermons? Wow, he sounds like a very deep and interesting messanger of truth.

 

[John of Japan]

John, how can I get some of your Grandfathers sermons? Wow, he sounds like a very deep and interesting messanger of truth.

There are many of his books still in print at www.swordofthelord.com including The Bible Garden, a book of outlines of his sermons which I had the honor of editing years ago before coming to Japan.

You can also read some of his sermons and books online at: http://www.gotothebible.com/HTML/RiceJohn.html

 

[Claudia_T]

eternal torment

Matthew 18:
34 ""And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

thats interesting, it goes along with the biblical truth that Hell doesnt last forever. UNTIL HE SHOULD REPAY all that was owed him.

 

[John of Japan]

Matthew 18:
34 ""And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.


thats interesting, it goes along with the biblical truth that Hell doesnt last forever. UNTIL HE SHOULD REPAY all that was owed him.

This is from a parable, and parables should not be used to teach or learn doctrine from, only to confirm it.

Alas, there is no place in Scripture that makes Hell some kind of purgatory where our sins are washed away without the blood of Jesus Christ. Hell is eternal. "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Rev. 14:11)

The truth is, those who go to Hell have no desire to get saved. They go there because of their rebellion against God, and that doesn't change simply because of their punishment. Their hearts are full of sin and Hell is full of sin, since no one goes there but unsaved sinners. If they did not get saved on Earth with all of the wonderful influence of Christians and the Holy Spirit and natural revelation, they certainly will not get saved in that cesspool of sin that is called Hell. :tear:

 

[LeBuick]

The truth is, those who go to Hell have no desire to get saved. They go there because of their rebellion against God, and that doesn't change simply because of their punishment. Their hearts are full of sin and Hell is full of sin, since no one goes there but unsaved sinners. If they did not get saved on Earth with all of the wonderful influence of Christians and the Holy Spirit and natural revelation, they certainly will not get saved in that cesspool of sin that is called Hell. :tear:

I agree, that's why I always say anyone who goes to hell goes on their own. No one is sending out invitations to hell. Nobody is preaching hell. You get there by not accepting the gospel.

 

[LeBuick]

You can also read some of his sermons and books online at: http://www.gotothebible.com/HTML/RiceJohn.html

John, do you know who runs the site? I can't get the links to When Skeletons Come Out of Their Closets or Paul Rejoices Over Preaching by Enemies to work.

 

[BobRyan]

Hear now the words of Christ --

Matt 18
29 ""So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, "Have patience with me and I will repay you.'
30 ""But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.
31 ""So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.
32 ""Then summoning him, his lord said to him, "You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33 " Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'
34 ""And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
35 "" My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.''

So now -- hmmm the best way to ignore what Christ is saying here about forgiveness revoked. Oh wait! I have it - pay no attention to the details -- or better yet selectively pick and choose.

Yep - that would do it!