Preaching about hell is a manipulation. It’s the tactic of fear, it’s psychological harassment. Isn’t that what people say?
For most of your history? C. Grayling?Was Christianity a generally violent and always oppressive ideology?Think of the Crusades; torture; among those burned at the stake; between women who are constantly enslaved countless times in childbirth and their husbands, without being able to divorce; distortion of female sexuality; in the use of fear (the torments of hell) as an instrument of control; and the terrible results of his slander against Judaism. But today Christians are more conscious consumers. They know how to sell the market, get rid of repressions, as if they were a new product or a politician.
The shadow continues
Today, on the other hand, Christianity specializes in poignant and diffuse music. Your threats to hell; their demand for poverty and chastity; His doctrine that only a few will be saved and many will be condemned has been discarded and replaced by guitar scrapes and sweet smiles. Christianity has often reinvented itself, with overwhelming hypocrisy, in order to maintain its dominance over the unwary. The medieval monk awoke today from his dream, as in Wood Allen’s Sleeper, he would not be able to recognize the faith that bears the same name as his. [I]
In any case, it is the transformation that has observed a disbeliever among Christians, reflecting our modern malaise, our revulsion to publicly affirm one of Jesus’ unpopular teachings, such as the terrifying image of the future painted by Jesus. Do they also reflect how believers quickly abandoned the ourselves to cultural norms?
WHY are we making fun of fear?
Our society is not happy to be motivated by fear. Sorry. After all, fear is not a reliable guide, it seems unworthy of us. This looks primitive and even animal, sounds more instinctive than rational.
? Phobias are what we call irrational fears, so we refer to hydrophobia as irrational fear of water or arachnophobia, as irrational fear of spiders, we must complain about phobias and reject them. If you call my way of thinking about sexuality “homophobia,” then you shouldn’t consider what I’m saying. It’s not worth taking phobias seriously.
Fear is powerful, we recognize it, but it is also irrational and leaves us prone to manipulation, vulnerable, which is why we do not like it.
FEAR WORKS
Ironically, everyone knows that fear is useful, so we take advantage of it.
We’ve been doing this since the dawn of time. That’s why Aesop’s fables have warned against the fate of the sloths. The proverbs and maxims of Confucius and Benjamin Franklin contrast the prosperity of those who walk directly into poverty with those who do evil. Parents tell their children not to do this. or that so you don’t get hurt or have these friends because they’re going to take you to what’s not right. Teachers tell Joozinho that if he doesn’t read he won’t be able to work; and if you can’t work, you can’t have the things you want and the life you want. We pretend not to believe in terrifying statements, but the great truth is that fear sells!
You want the safety of your children, so you buy a certain car, you want your health protected, then you buy insurance and you buy vitamins, you want to look good, so buy an abdominal machine, you want financial security, then you make investments. You want to sleep soundly, which means you have to sleep safely, so you buy an alarm for your home.
And it’s not just Madison Avenue that knows. The city where I live, Washington, D. C. , knows the value of fear. Can fear be censored?” There’s nothing to be afraid of, but fear your own fear!?However, it is used all the time.
Imagine a dark television screen. Then a nasty black and white photo appears and a deep, haunting voice says, “What?” Once in power, the murderous prisoners will be released; Jobs will evaporate; our country will be defenseless; The elderly will be hungry; the sun will not shine; Will it always be winter and there will be no more Christmas? Then the screen turns into a color photo of a smiling candidate, warmly welcomed by happy people. The voice goes from a haunting voice to a warm and confident voice. candidate End.
WHAT IF THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE AFRAID OF?
It makes sense that it’s good to teach our children not to be afraid of shadows and to be careful with those who use fear to sell us something, but what if there’s anything to be afraid of?
What if our actions have consequences and all the consequences are not good?What if there was a relationship between what we do and what we collect?Are we allowed to talk about it?
Our society tolerates warnings about real dangers: Bridge down. Go back to the right ?. We appreciate the educational medical warnings: “If you don’t quit smoking, you’ll kill him. “We speculate on how an action will affect our environment or our economy. We quickly warn of terrorist threats.
But what about spiritual problems? When it comes to God, our soul, and beyond, is fear an appropriate motivator in these areas?
We may feel such an idea, however, our resentments have never been a foolproof guide against what is wrong, have we?Just because we don’t approve of something doesn’t mean it’s not true!
Jesus showed us what to fear: hell
Jesus knew that there was something to fear: to spend eternity in hell and he said to his disciples:
And if your hand makes you stumble, cut it off; because it is better to enter with one hand to life than with both hands go to hell, to the inextinguishable fire where the worm does not die, nor does the fire go out; and if your foot makes you stumble, cut it off. ; It is better to enter the crippled life than, having both feet, to be cast into hell where the worm does not die and where the fire does not go out. And if one of your eyes makes you stumble, take it out; It is better to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to cause the two beings to be cast into hell, where the worm does not die and the fire does not go out (Mark 9:43-48).
In another passage, Jesus said
That’s why I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that, you can’t do anything, but I’ll show you who you’re afraid of: fear the one who, after killing, has the power to throw into hell. Yes, I tell you, you must fear it (Lk 12:4 to 5).
Jesus urged us to fear hell. And he warned us to fear God, who has the power to throw us into hell.
PASTORS, THEY’RE NOT AFRAID
It’s an illusion to think that we can live without fear in this cursed and fallen world. Everybody’s afraid of something, it’s just a matter of what.
Pastors, do not be fooled by cultural norms about what we should and should not fear. Don’t be fooled by the irony of our culture about fear. They’re afraid, too. Instead, follow Jesus, warning others about the terrifying future that awaits those who do not repent of their sins and trust in Christ.
[i] GRAYLING, A. C. Against All Gods, London: Oberon Books, 2007. p. 24