Quote of the Week: Appalled and Offended!

This is an anonymous email I received from a person who was not impressed with the Million Dollar Bill Gospel tract:

I was leaving the pier after dinner with a friend when I was handed the million dollar bill. We were laughing and joking when we were approached by a young man who thrusted two of the million dollar bills into our hands and said, without smiling or making any eye contact, “Read this, you might find it interesting.”
null After reading the back of the bill, I was appalled and incredibly offended.

I am new to the area and I thought I had found a home at Hope Chapel, but I will now begin the search for a new church to attend on Sundays. I thought your church reflected the Christian ideals of love, compassion, acceptance, and humility, and I was incredibly disappointed to discover that you are allowing these messages of judgment and hatred to be spread in our community.
null Please, for the sake of Christians everywhere, stop giving these bills out. All that your scare tactics are accomplishing is to offend and alienate non-believers. I’m no Bible scholar, but from what I recall Jesus never once gave out pamphlets to strangers telling them they are going to hell. Perhaps we should, literally, practice what we preach and spread God’s message through love instead of fear. Please consider what I’ve said, and thank you for your time.

What would you say to this person?

Comments (0)

  1. Reply

    If people are offended and run off alienated, where are they running off to? Hell #2?

    Scare tactics worked in the 1980’s when crash-test dummies were shown on commericals to show what happens when people don’t wear seat belts . . .

  2. Reply

    I would say this: “I’m sorry you were offended at this message. Please understand a couple things. First, I’ve handed out hundreds of these and the overwhelming response is positive, especially among other Christians. Second, please consider giving me a call at (phone #) and letting me fully explain why we hand these out and what our purpose is. I am interested in your opinion and it will help me to do what I do more effectively in the future.
    Thanks for taking the time to email with your concern.

  3. Amy

    Reply

    “…from what I recall Jesus never once gave out pamphlets to strangers telling them they are going to hell. Perhaps we should, literally, practice what we preach and spread God’s message through love instead of fear.”

    Jesus said:

    “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:5

    “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-44

    It IS loving and IS Christ-like to warn people of the coming judgment, of God’s holiness, and of the consequences of sin. I suggest that the person who sent you these comments read through the Gospels again and see what Jesus actually taught and how He taught it.

  4. Reply

    I really like Rob’s response, especially towards one who is a professing Christian. For others, I liked the following response when I saw it:

    If his judgments upset you, here is a verse for you to think about. “The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” – Psa 19:9

  5. Reply

    My response; yes, Jesus lived 1400 years before Gutenberg, so tracts were obviously out of the question for Him. That said, He certainly warned people of Hell–repeatedly and in “no uncertain terms”; your argument is not with me as much as it is with Him.

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