Review of "Hell's Best Kept Secret"

[InTheLight]

When you lead someone to the Lord and baptize them, you will instantly teleport to another dimension! Don't you know that????

I guess I'm not worthy.

 

[JonShaff]

When you lead someone to the Lord and baptize them, you will instantly teleport to another dimension! Don't you know that????

You mean that's never happened to you?

LOL whoops i quoted the wrong post...She clearly knows the Doctrine of Exponentialsubtransportation.

 

[Yeshua1]

One last post today in this review. (Got a lot of grading to do.) I was quite surprised to learn that Ray Comfort was a Charismatic at the time of this writing. Since the book was copyright 1989, he may have changed since then, to be fair. But this is a deal breaker for me. I oppose that movement with all of my heart, having suffered three times from Charismatic interference in my church.

Notice that on p. 137 he wrote, "Don't be afraid of the gifts of the Spirit, particularly 'speaking in tongues....' Keep in mind that tongues have a public and private use. Speaking in tongues in a public church service must have an interpretation; private use of tongues is to enhance the prayer life of the individual believer and does not require understanding. This gift is to strengthen and edify the believer. Read Luke 11:9-13."

Again, on p. 179 Comfort endorses John Wimber's "Power Evangelism," a Charismatic theory. Furthermore, according to Wikipedia (often not a reliable source, I must admit), his first stint as a pastor, an assistant actually, was in a Calvary Chapel, which is a Charismatic denomination.

Hell's best kept secret could very well be Satan using Charasmatic Chaos such as WOF to destroy lives/churches!

 

[evangelist6589]

This book by Ray Comfort has been mentioned quite a few times here on the BB, so I decided to read it and give my thoughts. I bought it second hand on Amazon, and read it through. Some things about the WOTM have become clear to me.

First of all, note that the book is copyright 1989, meaning that the author may have changed his views on some things. I certainly hope so, because in 1989 he held some very problematic views.

First of all, the good points. Comfort is an excellent writer, and keeps your attention. His logic is somewhat disjointed, but he keeps you reading. He is an extremely talented and engaging person, and that shows in this book.

Secondly, he is writing about personal evangelism and encouraging folks to witness for Christ. This is almost always good, unless poor theology is wrapped up in the presentation. (I'll comment more on that later.) Comfort has seen some blessings in the harvest, so he mentions several souls saved in the book.

Now to my observations. First of all, Comfort is untrained theologically, and it shows. According to Wikipedia (not always accurate), he did not even pursue a secular college education, much less a Bible college degree, so he lacks the basic skills of composition and rhetoric taught in English 102, in spite of his great talent. I would loved to have taught him as a freshman and helped develop some of that talent.

Yes I agree that he commits plagiarism sometimes. But besides that I like his books.

 

[evangelist6589]

One place in this book that is theologically suspect is his pneumatology, which is very poor. One would expect a Charismatic to be strong in this area, but that is often not so.

(1) One area he gets right is that according to Scripture it is the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin. Comfort notes this several times in his book (p. 109, etc.), but then actually is teaching the opposite when insisting so much on using the Law in witnessing. He writes, "The way to produce conviction in the heart of a sinner is to take him through the Ten Commandments" (p. 119). However, if it is the Holy Spirit Who convicts of sin, then we ourselves cannot produce conviction of sin no matter what Scriptures we use.

(2) I must apologize to evangelist6589 at this point. I looked at part of Ch. 6, "No Anointing--No Results," of this book on Amazon and told him it was about the Holy Spirit, which he denied. However, he was correct. Anything about the anointing of God ought to be about the Holy Spirit, but this chapter only mentions Him twice in the whole chapter, and even then not as the Anointer. This is very problematic, and shows that Comfort's pneumatology is very lacking.

I'll have to take a break here and get back to this tomorrow.

Comfort is no theologian I agree. He is an effective motivator and evangelist. No I would not use his books in a college environment (but some colleges do) but rather for personal study. In a SS environment I would have people watch the basic training videos.

For a better treatment on the Calvinist way to evangelize checkout the Books.

Nothing but the truth by Mac
The gospel and personal evangelism by Dever

 

[annsni]

Evan - You were staunchly supporting this book, telling others that they had to read the book. Now that it has been read and critiqued, can you address some of the issues? Why is this a book you so highly regarded?

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I thought you were starting to minister to the Slavic Evangelical Christian-Baptist community.

Do you like my beard? I was Balthazar in our church play.
Snip

 

[Yeshua1]

Evan - You were staunchly supporting this book, telling others that they had to read the book. Now that it has been read and critiqued, can you address some of the issues? Why is this a book you so highly regarded?

Especialy since it does not really explain the Cross/Gospel well, and the author steals from others?

 

[Yeshua1]

Hell's best kept secret could very well be Satan using Charasmatic Chaos such as WOF to destroy lives/churches!

Not against all in that Movement, as was an AOG Elder/teacher, and see them as Christians, just wrong in areas on Holy Spirit for today, but do see WOF/Health/wealth/Modern day Apostles/Prophets as doctrines of demons!

 

[John of Japan]

Yes I agree that he commits plagiarism sometimes. But besides that I like his books.

I haven't accused him of plagiarism, just of not properly sourcing. He usually tells who the quote is from, just not where.

However, there is an apparently valid accusation of plagiarism out there against Comfort: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unreasonablefaith/2009/12/ray-comfort-the-plagiarist/

 

[John of Japan]

Comfort is no theologian I agree. He is an effective motivator and evangelist. No I would not use his books in a college environment (but some colleges do) but rather for personal study. In a SS environment I would have people watch the basic training videos.

For a better treatment on the Calvinist way to evangelize checkout the Books.

Nothing but the truth by Mac
The gospel and personal evangelism by Dever

So, you still want to depend a book by a Charismatic (please tell me if he has changed) who practices proof texting and allegorical interpretation, is that correct?

 

[evangelist6589]

I haven't accused him of plagiarism, just of not properly sourcing. He usually tells who the quote is from, just not where.

However, there is an apparently valid accusation of plagiarism out there against Comfort: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unreasonablefaith/2009/12/ray-comfort-the-plagiarist/

Hmm did not know this. Well no one is perfect.

 

[evangelist6589]

John of Japan enjoys nitpicking Comfort so perhaps someone can nitpick John of Japan. Lets start by talking about John of Japan's view on alcohol, music, dancing, and tithing.

 

[annsni]

How about we stay on topic, OK?

 

[Don]

John of Japan enjoys nitpicking Comfort so perhaps someone can nitpick John of Japan. Lets start by talking about John of Japan's view on alcohol, music, dancing, and tithing.

And how would that change what JoJ has critiqued about one of your favorite books?

Either JoJ's right, or he's wrong. If he's wrong, then show his errors.

If he's right, then be intellectually honest and change your thinking.

 

[evangelist6589]

And how would that change what JoJ has critiqued about one of your favorite books?

Either JoJ's right, or he's wrong. If he's wrong, then show his errors.

If he's right, then be intellectually honest and change your thinking.

I do not have the time to refute what he has said working 60-70 hours a week. I also do not have the desire. I believe what I believe and JOJ is not going to change that.

 

[InTheLight]

"I believe what I believe and nobody and nothing is going to change that."

I'll take, Why it is futile to have a conversation with Evan6589, for $1,000, Alex.


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Don]

I do not have the time to refute what he has said working 60-70 hours a week. I also do not have the desire. I believe what I believe and JOJ is not going to change that.

You spent many posts telling people to read the book; JoJ did, and also took the time to use critical thinking skills to examine it. When he did what you spent so many posts telling people to do, you respond with "I believe what I believe."

For someone who supposedly puts so much stock in books and "college level" intellectuality, you're the most intellectually dishonest person I've come across in a long time.

 

[JonShaff]

Hmm did not know this. Well no one is perfect.

"No one is perfect" but you FOLLOW this guy

Get back to following the one who IS Perfect, Jesus Christ the Lord.

 

[HeDied4U]

I do not have the time to refute what he has said. Working 60-70 hours a week. I also do not have the desire. I believe what I believe and JOJ is not going to change that.

But yet you find the time to post here....