Against Scaring People into Heaven
Against Scare Tactic Evangelism
"Hell House" was a popular church outreach in the 1990s and early 2000s. It was a haunted house-like experience that graphically depicted human depravity in order to scare people into believing in Jesus.
This is terrifying.
Here believing in Jesus is an emergency exit, an escape from hell. Or more commonly expressed by the phrase “believe in Jesus so you won’t go to hell.”
A better method of evangelism is this: salvation is both an escape from death and an invitation to life and a forever relationship with God through repentance.
God is serious about administering justice and punishing sin. Yet He is equally committed to showing His love, grace, and healing to those who turn to Him.
Our evangelistic method should capture this balance.
Excellent.
O think it was Mark Cahill who said, "Every time you share the gospel it is a winning situation." I couldn't agree with you more.
God does not need us to scare, convince, or somehow coerce someone to turn to Christ. He has just invited us to participate in the blessing of what He is doing in the lives of others.
We need to stop waiting for a certain level of friendship, or that magical word or clarity, or that perfect moment and simply share with everyone we talk with.
Yes, live them with our actions, but if we never open our lips to share, we will have saved them in this life only to see them lost in the next.
Thanks for starting the conversation Aaron.