"I think that LeHaye is making a mistake in a way that hasn't been identified yet. He is discussing eschatology with unbelievers. Why?? A Christian needs to [co]nfront the unbelieving world with soteriology, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.""
Yes, but there are many people who see no need to be saved. So, what do you tell them? For some, the reality of Hell, or of the end times, may be the only thing that moves them.
Adrian Rogers used to say, "I'd rather scare you into Heaven than love you into Hell." Don't take that out of context, now - Dr. Rogers preached the love and grace of God for decades. That quote was just one way of saying that fear may be a motivator for those who don't respond to love.
Agree that the sometimes the "bridge" method of evangelism can be the most effective. Take the current scene and "bridge" it into the gospel message...similar to Paul's method in Ephasus with the "unknown god".
I think that with the LB series, the intent was initially different. It seemed to me that the authors wanted to share the gospel message while relating it to the times in which we live, as it related to end times prophecy. Let's face it, most Christian novels are not best sellers and I can't think of a production by which Jenkins/Lahaye had noteriety before publishing their books. I imagine that they never dreamed it would be so successful.
The book shelves are repleat with novels that are good stories...and that's all. But the LB books allowed believers the opportunity to share the gospel in a manner that they personally were not confident/equipped to do...by simply sharing a good book. I know many of the LB books were read by unbelievers who then began asking questions..."is this realy what the Bible says is gonna happen?...and then leading into discussions that would probably never take place. Additionally, the books provided something that inspired believers. Here was a what-if scenario played out in dramatic form...what would a pre-trib rapture mean to the unbelieving world, to luke-warm believers and to society in general. For the believer, it bolstered hope in the very simple form of a novel.
Paul used the unknown god to point to Jesus. A Christian in a godless workplace lives a life that points to God. A funeral is attended by an unbeliever and he/she begins seeking God. A drug addict hits bottom only to receive the love of Christ and end up seeking Him. Each case, a worldly event or a tragdey is redeemed by the Creator for His glory. It is well within His MO to use the lowly things of this world and the foolish things of this world to glorify Himself. And a novel, by two unknowns in an arena where the Christian message is not often successful...well...look what He did! And I cannot count how many unbelievers read those books...and only He knows how many were redeemed.
I don't believe it was an excersize in exploitation by the authors. Motive...well...can't say...that's b/t them and the Lord.
But I am reluctant to bash the authors simply based upon the GUESS, the false accusation, that their MO was purely FILTHY LUCRE.
As a matter of fact, b/c of the LB series, I've been reading more and more Chrisitan novels.
So there!
So, what do you tell them? For some, the reality of Hell, or of the end times, may be the only thing that moves them.
Adrian Rogers used to say, "I'd rather scare you into Heaven than love you into Hell." Don't take that out of context, now - Dr. Rogers preached the love and grace of God for decades. That quote was just one way of saying that fear may be a motivator for those who don't respond to love.
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Great points, imho.