At some large revivals (think 'Billy Graham' style revivals) there are plants in the audience that are used to get other attendees motivated: they shout AMEN, they 'come down to the front to confess their sins' or 'pray for forgiveness', etc.
At some churches (which I have personally experienced) preachers/pastors use onion juice to induce crying to get their audience to emote (one pracher had a glass in the pulpit with onion juice in it, would dip his pencil erase into it, then touch his face with it while preaching in order to 'start tears' - then look back at the other leadership and wink to show them it works).
So it seems, at least in some instances, church leaders are being 'less than sincere' in an effort to 'get the holy spirit moving' through the crowd.
Is this appropiate? Why or why not?
Is this any different than using guilt and fear to motivate?
Is This Deception?
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Re: Is This Deception?
Post #2I don’t think it is appropriate. In my opinion it is dishonest and Bible is against lies.connermt wrote: Is this appropiate? Why or why not?
Also it is not what Jesus commanded his disciples to do.
What do you mean with that?connermt wrote:Is this any different than using guilt and fear to motivate?
I think fear should not be used, it is method that fascistic politicians use, not what disciples of Jesus should use. And as Yoda said: "Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.".
I think Jesus also preached not to be cowards.
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Post #3
Yes, it is just as bad as those who use tears and hash tag messages to get others to do things that they themselves will not do.
Re: Is This Deception?
Post #4[Replying to post 2 by 1213]
I would be careful mentioning politics as religion is simply a form of politics itself and conclusion can be accurately drown between the two.
Some churches use fear & guilt of hell to bring in the people to god. You see this a lot during revivals in the USA - often times called 'tent revivals' and popular in the southern states.What do you mean with that?
I agree it's not a good thing to use, however, can't god make the best of a bad situation? Can't god use fear to its advantage?I think fear should not be used, it is method that fascistic politicians use, not what disciples of Jesus should use.
I would be careful mentioning politics as religion is simply a form of politics itself and conclusion can be accurately drown between the two.
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Re: Is This Deception?
Post #5I believe God can make best of bad situation. However I don’t think God would use fear.connermt wrote: I agree it's not a good thing to use, however, can't god make the best of a bad situation? Can't god use fear to its advantage?
Re: Is This Deception?
Post #6Why not?
God can kill unborn babies, but god can't use fear to get what it wants? Now we are to believe god has morals about its actions?