Before we get started, I realize I may be wrong about my impression, so feel free to rip it to shreds. Secondly, the fact that this quote comes from a post by Wade is nothing towards Wade or his position- it simply jogged my memory to write this post.Christ proclaimed the reason He was sent in Luke 4:23 - the kingdom of God. Obviously that was not His only reason as yes He died for our transgressions, but I also believe that if someone accepts Christ so they can be saved - they actually may not be according to Christ's words
As I've read various pieces by those who identify with "Kingdom Christianity" (Bercot and the like), I'm disturbed by the light cast on those who claim salvation and new birth without an understand of the kingdom movement.
Here's what I mean: The way these texts are written, it seems to treat a solid understanding of and an adherence to Kingdom Christianity as a prerequisite for true salvation and preservation. The idea seems to be that if someone claims to come to salvation through, say, hellfire for example,that they are being selfish and loving themselves; not God. Therefore, they really are not saved. This seems to be a real picking-point against others; I've heard multiple Mennonite speakers speak out against the hymn "I'll Fly Away" because it is deemed selfish escapism.
So I'm wondering, is a salvation experience that comes from a degree of fear anti-Biblical? Is it valid? The desire to be loosed of a punishment is pretty natural, and we're often convinced of such by a degree of fear, so can it be used to further Godliness?
Matt 5:29-30 seems to use the possibility of hell as a motivator.
Matt 13:42-43 is pretty explicit, and quite frightening, about punishment.
... I could point to a few others, but I think these 2 examples will suffice for now.
My point is that we do see Jesus and the apostles using, what appears to me, words that should convey a fear of impending and due punishment for wickedness. We even see early Anabaptists using harsh language that clearly were said to incite a degree of fear. Menno warned the princes that God's wrath would "pour over [them] like water". If you were in the crowd of any of these speakers, you just may have thought "Hey, I sure don't want that.. I should probably follow this guy!".
What do you think?