cmbl wrote:
I think a degree of fear can be OK. Also, I'm not a fan of the "salvation experience."
If you are referring to an emotional experience sometimes brought on through emotional means and it is not the beginning of a new life in Christ, neither am I. One can be emotional over their sins and not turn away from sin, repent. I was raised in a church where there often was quite a pull on the emotions through things such as sad stories just before an 'altar call' and some would respond to these emotions. The next day, life went on as usual.
However, I have witnessed many 'salvation experiences' where the believing and repenting made an obvious initial change to an individual and began them on a road to seek more of God. My family, aunts and uncles, all unchurched had these immediate born again experiences and went on to serve the Lord in various ministries. Radical, 'damascus road experiences' as we used to call them (like the apostle Paul had) was quite common with the unchurched especially when I was younger.
I think some who have grown up in churches where the unchurched are not reached with the Gospel don't know first hand what 'getting saved' does to these people. It is truly a stepping out of darkness into the light. Does it affect the whole person and often the emotions ? It sure does. Being set free from the bondage of sin and the initial peace and joy, etc, etc. is an experience millions of the unchurched have shared in their personal testimonies.
I hope everyone here has seen this occur in someone's life even if their own experience might have been from a churched background and not so radical of a new beginning.