Question for everyone - topic: Left Behind Series of books?

Question

Agnostic here, don't want to change anyone's religion.

So I'm at the bookstore last night and I grabbed the first Left Behind series off the shelf and started reading. This sold 60 million copies. Its ridiculous. Do fundamentalist Christians think thats how non-Christians think?

I make some assumptions about people who believe in a literal coming back of Jesus. One, that they are intelligent. Two, that they believe what they do because of what they have learned and expirienced and for them its an authentic conclusion.

Do fundamentalist Christians make the same assumptions about non-Christians?

Or, as I am led to believe from a lot of what I see and read on yahoo and in the Left Behind, do fundamentalist Christians see everyone as "lost" and "poor souls" and "searching for the truth" and "in the darkness" and incapable of making moral decisions.

Hold up a mirror. No one is perfect. If fundamentalist Christianity is so good, why are they still sinning every day?

Answer 1

No one could possibly uphold every moral rule there is which is why everyone even believers 'sin' if you want to use that term; I do loosely because I actually don't like the term.

People who believe such aren't dynamic people.. they are static. They are not willing to change their world view because it would make them question if what they believe has total merit.

Answer 2

I am a "Fundamentalist" Christian, so I guess I'm qualified to answer.

We believe God tells us that only those Born Again can fully understand the things of God and His truths (see John 3:8), which is the Light of the world (John 1:4-5). All others are not capable of understanding God. Yes, there are some "fundies" who make non-believers feel like fools, but I do not believe this is our purpose. Now that Jesus is in Heaven, believers are to shine His light into the world (Matthew 5:14). By talking down to an unbeliever and obfuscating the truth, how can a believer shine that light into the world? It's just not possible.

Believers understand non-believers have intellects. But it is important for them to understand we are (supposed) to use a different means of reasoning: God's truth. The Bible explains numerous times that God's ways are higher than the ways of the world. So while we acknowledge your intellect, we believe your conclusions are based on incomplete information.

Christians still sin today because they are either: 1) not true Christians; or 2) because they permit themselves to be tempted by and enslaved to sin. Being Born Again doesn't make us perfect, although there are many of my fellow Christians who seem to think so.

Peace.

p.s. -- My personal belief about the Left Behind series is that there are several very glaring scriptural errors; also, the writing style, in places, is too old fashioned. Overall, a good read, but not a replacement for personal Bible study.

Answer 3

Glad you're reading those Jim, I've read them all and loved the story as fiction, but I do not believe that the end times will happen that way, because the Bible clearly states that nobody knows the date or hour, etc. Nobody can know for sure.

I think fundamentalist Christians are going about their message all wrong, because I believe that the most important thing I am supposed to be doing as a Christian is living for God, and to let that Love reflect in my everyday actions and decisions. You are very right, nobody is perfect, and I will be the first one to admit that I am not.

I think more Christians need to have an open mind and see that most non-Christians are wonderful people who are trying to do the best with this life, just like they are. I see this as being true for all of the non-Christians I know, which is quite a few because I love everyone for exactly who they are :)

Answer 4

I am a Christian who believes in the literal 2nd coming of Jesus Christ, in the flesh, here on earth. I also believe that there will be a pre-rapture, or gathering up of, of those saved, the Church if you will. Definition of the Church is not pinned to one particular church or denomination. The Biblical meaning of "The Church" is those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Messiah and have asked for forgiveness.

Yes, I have search and concluded this to be truth. I have examined other denominations and have made the choice to fellowship with a non-denominational church home.

Biblical truth tells us, a born again Christian (born again meaning dead to my old way of life, now committed to living for Jesus Christ and in the way the bible commands), that those who are not saved by Jesus, this is a choice made by an individual, are lost. They have not been found by the shepherd who is Christ. Does that mean that those who are not saved have no morals, no, I believe that there are some very nice good people out there with very very good morals, sometimes better than those who claimed christianity. So , yes they are capable of having good morals. The problem is that no matter how much of a good doer you are, you can not be saved by deeds. Salvation is a gifted given to us by Jesus, all we have to do is ask (and be sincere) and receive it. The nature of a Christian, meaning Christ like, will then come about, the good doings, etc. That is for a Christian who is truly a Christian. A person who calls themselves a Christian but was not sincere or delibertly continues to live a sinful life, well, they are even more so lost, in my opinion, than the one who is not even claiming to be a Christian. All humans are full of sin, just by nature, and becoming a Christian doesn't just wipe that nature out, yes Christians do sin. A Christian should be truly striving to change their ways and repent and ask for forgiveness when they fail.

The Left Behind series are a nice collection of books, and are the authors perspective on how end days will come about. I have seen the 1st two movies, but have never read the books, so I am not sure how your impression was formed really. I stated my beliefs above. I don't think non-Christians as all with bad morals or horrible, but according to my faith, yes, the lack of salvation given by Christ but not accepted by a non-believer would make me believe that that individual is a lost person who has not been enlightened about the word of God. I would not have hatefulness toward that person though, as I love my fellow human. Hatefulness would not lead anyone to Christ, love, patience, understanding, prayer and faith are better.

Good Question, makes people look at themselves.

Answer 5

I don't agree with the Left Behind books or theology either. But there are other Christians who believe it as well as non Christians.
I do believe in a literal 2nd coming of Jesus based on what I have learned from the Bible and His promise that He will return. It is an authentic conclusion for me.
You're right that no one is perfect. Christianity is good but in this mortal life no one can be perfect. Our perfection will come on the Day of the Lord.

Answer 6

i thought those books were pretty good. i think everyone is searching for truth...and lost in their lives sometimes. no, non-christians are not incapable of making moral decisions. i think there are a lot of ridiculously intellingent non-christians. i don't think being a Christian or not has much to do with intelligence. we've kind of made it that way because some people think that all truth can be found by our scientific means and that science is the only place knowledge can be found. it's these people that think it's stupid to believe in things one cannot see. nope, no one is perfect. that's the entire reason for Christ in the first place.

Answer 7

I am a deeply devout Christian, but don't measure "everyone" by the Left Behind books. Firstly, I found them poorly written. Secondly, I found them to be the basest sort of scare-mongering. Thirdly, I don't admire those who make money out of other people's fear.
There *are* good, well-written Christian novels out there which don't feel the need to be sensationalist, but for my money the LB series is not in that class.
Anyone who uses their Christianity to convince themselves they're better than everyone else has missed the point of Jesus' teachings. We are all fallible, damaged and needy and we are saved by God's grace and love. Sin is simply doing what you want to when you know it isn't right, so sin is part of the human condition. That's why we need to go to God daily for forgiveness and help and grace. Lamentations 3 says that God does not willingly afflict people.

Answer 8

The rapture and the tribulation will happen just as the book states.......that has been known for hundreds of years. Most Christians do not believe that anyone who isn't a christian is a bad person.......most people are good and have good intentions that doesn't matter if they are a saved christian or not. No one, but Jesus is perfect and we all sin whether we want to or not.....you just have to be sorry for your sins and you have to ask God for forgiveness. God died on the cross so that all of ours sins will be forgiven. We as Christians know we are not perfect and any that says that they are is not a true christian on the path to righteousness. I just want you to understand that Christians do not believe that all non-Christians are terrible people who can't do good in the world. We are all people and we all have the same challenges. You just have to know who to turn(Jesus) to when you need help.

Answer 9

Everyone has an opinion. It's the ability to think outside the limitations of our own opinions that makes us able to connect and love eachother beyond our differences. Hopefully those who cannot, will become victims of natural selection. And, a new generation of tolerant, kind, loving and generous humans will dominate and save our planet from the old selfish, close-minded past ways will fade away....
Just dreaming.

Answer 10

Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus when he said this; John 3:11-12, "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know,and we testify to what we have seen,but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe;how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" I think this holds a lot of truth today. I think that this next verse speaks for itself; For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only life, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men love darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been through God. John 3:16-21. Christians aren't perfect, they are saved! Only Christ is perfect.