Tim Lahaye

Dear window wax,

A good idea would be to read his footnotes and check his sources first. Then you may be able to make a decision yourself.

I don't particularly like Tim Lehaye because of his left behind series.

Bro. Dallas

 

Tim Lahaye writes at length about the end times and Bible prophesy having very little knowledge about any of it but he has very little respect for scholars of these subjects and ignores their scholarship. If you want to know about the end times and Bible prophesy, why not study the works of scholars who have devoted their lives to studying these subjects rather than writing a lot junk.

 

Or you could read what the Bible says about it.

 

A simple comparison of Scripture with history will reveal much, but remember to read his books with an open mind and don't take everything he writes as automatically correct.

 

I like his work. Just finished 'Merciful God of Prophesy'.
Don't let anyone here influence you. Read it and keep and open mind and heart. Most mid and post tribbies can't stand the work of someone who is pre-trib and it reflects in their hostility towards those authors.

 

If you believe in a pre-trib dispensational rapture, then you will love his books.

But Frogman was right. When reading anyone's works, read the footnotes and check the sources yourself.

There is alot of dishonesty in the writing industry, unfortunately, even with "Christian" writers. When checking footnotes, you will often find that the source quoted doesn't actualy support the author's assertion. In many cases, the source contradicts the author's point.

Also, citing a source that agrees with you still doesn't necessarliy validate your argument. It looks scholarly, but it isn't. It's like quoting Tom, Dick, and Harry, and then saying, "See, what I wrote is true."

 

Well, I do, and I do. And if somebody gets saved because of his work, isn't it worth it?

 

Not exactly sure about Lahayes scholarship but I do know I have seen more amill's and post-tribulationists here than I ever dreamed would be on a baptist board.Amill's and post-tribi's are naturally repulsed by any pretrib,premill teaching.

 

Lahaye's Left Behind books are fiction. If they are taken as anything more than that, the fault lies with the reader.

Funny story about Lahaye -- when I was a seminary student in NC, I was in charge of picking up chapel speakers for the seminary. One day I picked up Lahaye and during our 30 minute journey back to the seminary, he told me about this fiction book he was about to release on the end times. He said he was unsure how well it would go over. In appreciation for my chauffering him around, he sent me an autographed first edition of Left Behind. The rest is history.

From what I hear, the book has sold a few copies.

 

As a writer, he is adequate at best. His Left Behind series, imo, isn't very good writing at all. I suspect that the reason many have clung to the series is because they're buying into the unintended doctrine, not because of the writing.

It's not him I disagree with. It's those who have turned his writings into cultlike doctrine, as though he were the next L Ron Hubbard, that I disagree with.

 

I am both Pre-Mil and Pre-Trib. Still, I disagree with Tim Lehaye.

If anyone 'gets' saved it won't be BY CAUSE
of reading his books, nor any of MINE.

Bro. Dallas

 

Didn't Jerry Jenkins actually do the writing of the Left Behind series?

 

It is my sincere hope that Tim LaHaye soes not see himself as a prophet.

 

Read his book. Then pick up "Last Days Madness" by Gary DeMar. If you have an open mind, you'll know who the scholar is and who is not.

 

I agree. His characterization is superficial and predictable.

 

Tim LaHaye was on Larry King about a year ago and he must have said You must be Born Again and only threw the Blood Of Christ a million times .He talked more about Jesus then his book. And also said not all Christians agree on the end times .I have never read any of his books .

 

I have heard LaHaye speak in person twice. I have tried to read the Left Behind books and I have read several of his "issue" books. What do I think?

1. He is not a good public speaker.

2. The Left Behind books are weak and poorly written. The story line is often unrealistic (etc...how many people are going to be focusing on daily love issues when the end of the age is at hand?).

3. His doctrine/theology is basically correct and Biblical. However I think there are alot of points where he throws in his opionion (ie...people disappearing, etc).

4. Alot of people don't like him, why? Several reasons I suspect: (1) Now that Walvoord has gone home LaHaye is probably the major "mover" in the pre-trib camp and that will certainly make him the target of the other camps. (2) He has made alot of money and had alot of success with the Left Behind novels. This will automatically draw criticism from some (I have heard it so don't say this is not a reason!). (3) He is very high-profile. (4) The pre-trib position is not popular among the "academic" types. Therefore there are many "scholars" who take aim at LaHaye's position. Academic types seem to like the preterist viewpoint better (probably because most of them don't believe in predictive prophecy). (5) The majority of the professing church today, and for many, many years, is post-tribulational and amillennial. (6) His position is popular among the evangelical movement and with the general public at large.


Martin.

 

Huh?