What a statement! Could you imagine this as a marriage proposal? Picture a beautiful candlelight dinner on 
a balcony, the woman’s face silhouetted by the setting sun on the horizon, her long hair flowing in the gentle breeze. The man fidgets in his pocket and brings forth a small black velvet box, opens it up to reveal an elegant diamond ring, then looks into the soft eyes of his beloved and says, “Marry me, or go to hell.”
How about this scenario: You and a friend are meeting for lunch. You’ve been thinking about sharing the gospel with him for quite some time. The two of you are sitting at the local sub shop, patrons are noisily chatting at nearby tables, and the smell of deli meats and cheeses permeate the air. You fidget with the words in your mind, nervously take a tract out of your pocket, place it on the table next to the half-eaten pickle on his plate and say, “Accept Jesus, or you will go to hell.”
No one has ever threatened me to do something wonderful. If we were going to Disney World, my parents didn’t have to force me to get into the car. Usually the threat of punishment was used to manipulate me to endure an unpleasant experience, not a good one. So why should we threaten people with hell if what we’re offering them is so great?
What if the gospel was presented more as a surrender to love, rather than a fear of hell? How can we ever grow in intimacy—between us and the Lord, or any other person—if the beginning of our relationship is based in fear?
Excellent Point, God is Love and He has drawn me to Him with that patient, unconditional, super natural love.
Amen. His Love is so much more compelling, revealing, healing and drawing. Thank you Cyndi!
Changing fear bonds to love bonds is essential. How to do it? The “Life Model” is the best way I’ve found. http://www.lifemodel.org. Tons of free an most authoritative info on recovering our life and THRIVING. Love you guys. Steve
Beautiful word and an good analogy! Thank you for sharing that great insight!
Bless you richly!
Darla Rennick
Right on. It reminds me of a quote attributed to Mark Twain: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Well, the answer is to stop being religious and actually seek to know…like know…really know….the Person you are representing. And stop being religious! We should all have finished with the religious rubbish like you describe regarding the tormented, sad and useless mindset of the (religious) person in the article here. Multitudes do not and will not respond to religion in the guise of churchianity rather than true reality in and of Christ, and quite rightly so. If you haven’t got the relationship where you know, really know the Lord, and if He isn’t doing anything to make your friend aware of Himself, shut up and enjoy your dinner with your friend!