What has happened to preaching God's Wrath?

[webdog]

The modern day western church is run like a business, you can't step on the toes of the shareholders!!

 

[Deacon]

Back in the 60's our church sponsored the Awana Shipmate program. The study guides for the teens demanded dedication to the study of Gods Word. The study requirements were age appropriate (16-18). We had Shipmates for two years - by that time - most of the kids were tired of the extra work required. I was virtually the only one who thrived on this program. At the end of the two years the church decided to drop Shipmates, (they did retain AWANA for grades 3-8) and replaced it with a weekly Fri night fellowship - of just games, fun and lounging around. I may have went once or twice - but stop going after that.

I was drawn to church by one of those Friday night game fellowships.
No preaching was done. Just games - I met a few new people - one guy that lived near me even took me home.
He asked me a few questions about what I believed and invited me to a Young Life meeting.
Not long after that I came to know the Lord.
That game night opened the door for a young man to witness of God's grace.

Learning AWANA verses is fine but you may have missed out on an opportunity to meet other people and apply what you learned in a real world setting.

Rob

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Amongst a lot of "political" conservatives who go to church, the problem isn't so much preaching about it as it is LIVING it.

And then with a lot of "political" liberals who go to church, the problem is preaching of nothing BUT God's love and not acknowledging that He has a wrath that goes with that love.

The FULL of Scripture balances things the way they are supposed to be presented. If people would just preach the word.

Excellent:thumbs:

 

[evangelist6589]

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness..." Romans 1:18 (NIV)



Besides "hell" another term or word that is not often used to build a message around is "God's wrath!"



I can see why the "Tickle my ear's Pastor Elmo" church refuses to preach on hell, or wrath, or even judgement, but has the evangelical Baptist church ceased to speak such negative verbiage for fear of emptying the pews?



What is your stance on preaching about His wrath, pastors? And for those who are members of a church, when was the last time your pastor spoke about His wrath? And if your pastor does step out an emphasize His wrath and hell, how often does that happen in, let's say a year?



Here are a few of the times "wrath" is mentioned in the NT [link from http://www.net-burst.net/god/wrath-nt.htm]:



John 2:15-17 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.



Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness



Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.



Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.



Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.



1 Corinthians 10:22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?



Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.



Hebrews 10:26-31 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.



Hebrews 12:28.29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”



Revelation 6:16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!”



Revelation 14:10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.



Revelation 19:15-16 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

I am not a pastor but a Way of the master evangelist and I am all for preaching Gods wrath.

 

[Rolfe]

I am not a pastor but a Way of the master evangelist and I am all for preaching Gods wrath.

How does a Way of the Master evangelist differ from a typical evangelist?

 

[Zaac]

If ALL he hears from you is how wonderful he is - then he will keep beating that 8 yo up.

And as I've said that you provide the balance of God's love and His wrath as presented with the GOSPEL, there's no reason for you to ASSUME that I would only tell him how wonderful he is.

The Problem with many of our churches is that all we hear is God Loves you. Preaching against Sin appears to be a lost cause in many churches today.

Sin is preached in the church all the time. The problem in churches is what many on this board display: the preaching of sin without love.

 

[evangelist6589]

How does a Way of the Master evangelist differ from a typical evangelist?

Lots of professing evangelist these days minimize and dodge the hard topics and undermine repentance. I knew a professional evangelist that went on missions trips and hired missionaries for the field. We disagreed on much. Her way to do evangelism was just social work. My way was preaching on sin, hell, judgment, and repentance not excluding the cross, Christ, justification, etc.

 

[Salty]

...Sin is preached in the church all the time. The problem in churches is what many on this board display: the preaching of sin without love.

I guess you got me there - Every church in the USA preaches on sin so much every Sunday.......
Yea, when Pigs fly.......

 

[Rolfe]

Lots of professing evangelist these days minimize and dodge the hard topics and undermine repentance. I knew a professional evangelist that went on missions trips and hired missionaries for the field. We disagreed on much. Her way to do evangelism was just social work. My way was preaching on sin, hell, judgment, and repentance not excluding the cross, Christ, justification, etc.

I cannot think of any evangelists who have preached as guests at churches (my limited experience with them) that I have attended over the years who have been soft on repentance. That is not to say that you may be correct that there are many who are more focused on social needs than the spiritual, though (and I cannot think of the verse) there is something to the idea of giving bread before telling about the One Who is the Bread of Life.

 

[Rolfe]

The problem in churches is what many on this board display: the preaching of sin without love.

Zaac, you are in a rut.

 

[JonC]

The modern day western church is run like a business, you can't step on the toes of the shareholders!!

Most of the shareholders love it when the CEO steps on toes...as long as it is not their toes. For many, a good sermon is a "you tell them preacher" sermon...never a "I guess you told me" sermon. I think this is part of the reason many enjoy sermons on Hell, homosexuality, etc....they don't find it applicable to themselves.

 

[evangelist6589]

I cannot think of any evangelists who have preached as guests at churches (my limited experience with them) that I have attended over the years who have been soft on repentance. That is not to say that you may be correct that there are many who are more focused on social needs than the spiritual, though (and I cannot think of the verse) there is something to the idea of giving bread before telling about the One Who is the Bread of Life.

Not always professional evangelists, but also individual evangelists as well.

 

[webdog]

Most of the shareholders love it when the CEO steps on toes...as long as it is not their toes. For many, a good sermon is a "you tell them preacher" sermon...never a "I guess you told me" sermon. I think this is part of the reason many enjoy sermons on Hell, homosexuality, etc....they don't find it applicable to themselves.

I find just the opposite true. People don't like those subjects because the 21st century tells us we are not to judge or be 'phobic' concerning anything.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Or God's Rath...

 

[righteousdude2]

Or God's Rath...

I guess His wrath isn't that serious of a thing in your life? :wavey: