Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximilian
StuffApostolicsLike posted a new humorous topic on the altar call which took a tangent point into scare tactics being used at the altar appeal. One poster said this:
****If emotionalism works to get some people to lower their defenses and have honest conversations with God in the altar/pew/car/wherever, then I suppose it isn't in my place or anyone else's to criticize it too heavily---that is, until it becomes institutionalized as the only means by which one can have an experience and, further, that that experience, and not the overall orientation toward God, is sought after as an ends. Then there is a problem.*****
This sums up perfectly how I feel.
Whatever works. Compel them. Scare them. Love them. Woo them. Shame them. Guilt them. Whatever it takes. Hell is real. Jesus is God. He is worthy of our utter and complete surrender. Period. Jesus knows how to twist our arms and speak our language. Its His specialty to (seemingly) hurt and skeer us into obedience.  Ask Jonah, David, Peter and Paul.
Interesting discussion thus far.
http://stuffapostolicslike.blogspot.....html#comments |
I tend to agree with your assessment and that poster's thoughts...
however:
Can one be truly said to be having an "honest conversation(s) with God" just because they were
duped into "lowering their defenses?"
I seems to me that this process will simply lead to problems later, like the cited issue concerning one's "orientation" toward God. It's best to build on a firm foundation, IMHO. This will certainly involve the emotions of the seeker and all concerned, but the emotions are not the goal.