Fundalmentalism vs Neo Evangelicalism

Hell has been out of the vocabulary for years and years. When I preached on hell 25 years ago I constantly had folks tell me they hadn't heard hell mentioned for years.

In all the years I've been saved I've never heard a message/lesson on hell.

Kind of negative you know. :thumbsup:

 

Which is strange considering the Bible speaks more on hell than it does heaven. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. What did He come to save them from if not an eternity in hell? That was what got me to call on Him for forgiveness and salvation--not preaching about the love of God, but the realization that if I died I would be in hell. That realization terrified me. Actually, I didn't believe in love with a dad who was not loving.

I've heard people say that if you call on the Lord for salvation out of fear of hell, then that salvation isn't real. If people aren't afraid of damnation, then why would they turn to the Lord? The reason so many don't turn to the Lord is because too many preachers preach only on the love of God, "God loves you", and because of that "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:18.

It is believed that God wouldn't send anyone to hell. Actually, He doesn't, people go there by not repenting and turning to the Lord. God does not want any to perish, but they do because they are too proud to humble themselves before God.

 

Much as I hate to, I agree with your statement.

I send my son a small book by Randy Alcorn, "In Light of Eternity" and he brought up how the author didn't hide the word hell. He had heard a messege on it in a while. I believe Alcorn brought up in the book that Jesus had more to say about hell than heaven, but we keep it under the bed today.

 

I quit a church a few years ago because sin was not preached against.

Believers need to be "fed" the Word. All of it.

I asked the Lord to save me in 1972 and been attending church ever since. Do you realize how many times I've been preached to about the need to be saved? Every sermon since 1972!

Some preachers are so good at making you feel guilty that one can easily begin to "question" their own salvation. Especially the younger Christian.

 

There's balance in everything. I don't believe the lack of preaching on the reality of the Cross or hell is because of "neo-evangelicalism."

Jesus' method of preaching focused on taking the Scriptures and showing people how to live God's ways. The Sermon on the Mount is a great example of that.

In our teaching and preaching we try to practice this balance by speaking honestly about the afterlife and how God's way purchases us out of that death. We also try to example Scriptural exposition and not speak down to people.

One of the great dangers so many in my and the younger generation have experienced is the over emphasis on these matters that leads so many to question God's plan and their previous commitments. While we should never remove the reality of failing to accept God's free gift, we should also speak and search earnestly with those who struggle with that commitment.

We also must constantly return to the message of the Cross. One of the things that I have noticed is there is a lot of misunderstood preachers on this issue. Often when you ask for a list of guys who don't speak on these issues the produced list contains guys who actually do speak about them, but they do so in a way that isn't what the list maker expects...or the list maker just honestly is going off someone else's word and hasn't checked their data.

We need balance, we need earnestness, we need Scriptural based honesty, we don't need to be jerks about it.

 

Churches should be less concerned about what others are preaching and more concerned with what they're preaching. It seems that so many churches are complaining about hell not being preached, that if those churches just preached on hell, that the problem would be resolved.

It sounds like the old adage of the average driver claiming to be an above average driver. If the average driver drives above average, that means above average is average. Likewise, if the average church preaches on hell out of a complaint that hell not being preached, then the average church is preaching on hell.

 

Every Baptist Church I have ever attended goes like this on every Sunday morning.

A Congregational song.
The pastor reads the announcements.
Another Congregational song.
Opportunity for tithes and offerings.
Another Congregational song.
Special singing if any and then a third Congregational song.

It's now 11:30 and the pastor speaks for 30 minutes.
Come back tonight for another sermon.

Wednesday night after prayer the pastor engages in a study of the Word that lasts for 30 minutes.
See you Sunday.

Now I'm not complaining..., really I'm not. What I'm saying is that nothing ever changes. Our church services become routine. Members sleep in the pews. Should the Lord desire to lead in another direction during Church Services it must first be approved by the Deacon Board.

When do members have an opportunity to open up? To share their fears and concerns and heart breaks and angers and frustrations? They don't! There is no opportunity available.

No, we don't want to become involved with vain babbling but where do these church members end up? Watching Dr. Phil on TV.

Church members/believers are suffering all across this land and the Bible Colleges continue to turn out men to preach who offer nothing more than you must be saved.

Yes, we must be saved. We must come to know the Lord but what about the parents and grand parents who's kids have turned into baby making machines after being raised under the gospel?

There is a tremendous need today and those needs are not being dealt with nor addressed in Church.

 

I can't speak about other churches, but the church we're at now and the church we came from both had plenty of preaching about the Cross, Hell, the Blood and the Resurrection.

 

I'm not sure what your issue is. A corporate worship setting isn't a place for people to be doing this. It seems you're talking apples and oranges.

You make a good point there. When I came to the Lord, it was exactly like that. The church I attended was all about getting saved, but after that, nothing. I ended up getting involved with a church that was good at supporting newly saved people in their post-salvation walk.

 

If you can't identify with my issue than you have never been where I am. Of course there is a time and place for Corporate Worship. That being said, when and where is the time and place for Christians to be fed? To share? To find help and insights?

As for getting involved in a church that's good in their support, may I ask where that might be? I haven't found one!

I'm certainly not trying to be adversarial here but when it comes to talking apples and oranges, you must realize both are fruit. It seems to me that too many churches are missing the mark.

Too many churches are involved in nothing more than, as you say, Corporate Worship Services and those who need help are not finding it in that setting. Hence, they leave the church with an attitude. Hopefully you understand what I'm saying here.

Churches are sometimes their own worst enemy and wonder why their membership isn't growing or why the members they do have, are leaving.


Let me add one tid-bit here. The church "we" belong to is a country church. The pastor is a great preacher. Fabulous preacher. Tells it like it is! However, every member is somehow related to the family that laid the corner stone to the original "old" church back in 1952. With the exception of about 14 people all the members are over 65 and retired, maintain control and not a bit interested in out reach?
It's sad.