Quote:
Originally Posted by PsyOps  In other words telling someone they are going to hell if they don’t believe.
I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t use the Bible to convey the message. I’m just not one to throw it in someone’s face while telling them they are going to hell if they don’t believe in it. When the rich man approached Jesus and asked how to get into heaven Jesus gave him His answer. When the rich man rejected it, Jesus didn’t go chasing him down, with a more stern tone. He simply said to others how hard it is for a rich man to enter into heaven and left it at that. |
I see what you're saying but how is that any different than what Jesus said?
"telling someone they're going to hell if they don't believe" is exactly what He did
at times and is the truth. It's somewhat harsh but it's still the truth. Why would anyone not use that
if it applies? I would, if the "love & forgiveness" method didn't work. He made it clear that unbelievers will not enter the kingdom of Heaven and told them lots about hell. John 8 from verse 12 to the end is one example.
I know a few people that have often told me that they are scared to death of the thought of going to hell. They don't talk much about God's love (that I conveyed to them) so, if being scared of hell helps them come to Christ, I'm all for it. I don't know where people get the notion that Christians always have to be soft and passive.
When Jesus returns, we will all see a side of Him that we've never seen and it won't be pretty this time.
And I understand about the rich young ruler but he walked away, not Jesus. If someone walks away from me in a conversation or on this forum, I don't go chasing him either but I will tell people what awaits them (unlike Oprah's lie about "many ways to Heaven").