At the end of the Hell House extravaganza, the "tourists of Hell" were invited to accept Jesus as their savior and to thus escape the torments and tortures of Hell and to live in Heaven forever. Some people went through the door symbolizing eternal life, where they would pray the "sinner's prayer" (which, as many of us know, has no foundation anywhere in the New Testament) and then sign a card or something of the sort so their conversion could be documented. My question is, "How successful is Hell House at conversions?" One statistic put one Hell House at having 5,000 conversions out of 30,000 visitors. That means (and I may get this math wrong, I'm no match whiz) that for every six people who leave Hell House turned off, disgusted, and revolted by "Dante-an" theology, perhaps hardening their heart against Christianity, there is at least one person who walks through the door. Yet the statistics are misleading, because out of the 5,000 conversions, many of those were simply recommitments to the faith.
Again, how successful is the Hell House at legitimate conversions? I'm talking about actual conversions: when people put their faith (loyalty and allegiance) in Jesus as Lord and thus repent of their sins? One must question why the tourists are compelled to convert. Is it because suddenly they are compelled out of their hearts to submit to Jesus as Lord? Is it because they *gulp* love God? Or is it all psychological: the intensity of drawn-out, vivid, and terrifying scenes climaxed with a serene room that is made synonymous with the peace of Jesus? The heart finds itself in turmoil over the Christian shock-treatment (borderline evangelical water-boarding) and so it seeks refuge in the only solace available: embracing Jesus. Now, if this produces a genuine commitment and loyalty to Jesus and his kingdom, then so be it; and I believe that God can work through even the most off-the-wall evangelistic tactics; and if I meet a person who has gone through Hell House and converted--truly converted--in putting their faith in Jesus and repenting, then I'll praise God for that. However, after talking to some friends and mentors who have experienced and even participated in varying types of Hell Houses, the consensus is that such conversions are not the norm: most conversions are simply the way for the brain to cope after experiencing such visual and auditory trauma. "It's classic manipulation," one of my friends told me after recounting how he had participated in a scene depicting the occult.
Conversion isn't about saying a prayer or about signing a placard: it is about making the decision to commit oneself to Jesus and his kingdom, to devote oneself to God and his kingdom, to put one's loyalty and allegiance--what the New Testament calls "faith"--in Jesus and to subsequently and necessarily repent. Does Hell House spur such allegiance and dedication, or does it give the message that if you just accept Jesus as your savior, then all will be well with you? I know what I think. Watch the documentary, and you'll most likely agree: the conversions they call for are not the same as the conversions we find in the Bible.
Throughout this series I've looked at how "Hell Houses" generally preach a Dante-esque inferno, supporting it by wrenching proof-texts from the Bible (especially from the gospels). I've looked at how "Hell House" looks at the sin of man not being idolatry and all its manifestations but doing certain things and thus going to hell for it. I've looked at how "Hell House" waters down and twists and contorts the gospel message into something it is not (while having truth to it, it is like trying to describe a galaxy by looking at a single star). And now I've looked at how "Hell Houses" succeed, in part, to convert, but the conversions that take place are not the same as the conversions we find in the Bible. And, after a brief hiatus, I will re:examine "Hell House" and suggest how "Hell House" can be revamped so that it is more effective, more biblical, and downright celebratory.
Again, how successful is the Hell House at legitimate conversions? I'm talking about actual conversions: when people put their faith (loyalty and allegiance) in Jesus as Lord and thus repent of their sins? One must question why the tourists are compelled to convert. Is it because suddenly they are compelled out of their hearts to submit to Jesus as Lord? Is it because they *gulp* love God? Or is it all psychological: the intensity of drawn-out, vivid, and terrifying scenes climaxed with a serene room that is made synonymous with the peace of Jesus? The heart finds itself in turmoil over the Christian shock-treatment (borderline evangelical water-boarding) and so it seeks refuge in the only solace available: embracing Jesus. Now, if this produces a genuine commitment and loyalty to Jesus and his kingdom, then so be it; and I believe that God can work through even the most off-the-wall evangelistic tactics; and if I meet a person who has gone through Hell House and converted--truly converted--in putting their faith in Jesus and repenting, then I'll praise God for that. However, after talking to some friends and mentors who have experienced and even participated in varying types of Hell Houses, the consensus is that such conversions are not the norm: most conversions are simply the way for the brain to cope after experiencing such visual and auditory trauma. "It's classic manipulation," one of my friends told me after recounting how he had participated in a scene depicting the occult.
Conversion isn't about saying a prayer or about signing a placard: it is about making the decision to commit oneself to Jesus and his kingdom, to devote oneself to God and his kingdom, to put one's loyalty and allegiance--what the New Testament calls "faith"--in Jesus and to subsequently and necessarily repent. Does Hell House spur such allegiance and dedication, or does it give the message that if you just accept Jesus as your savior, then all will be well with you? I know what I think. Watch the documentary, and you'll most likely agree: the conversions they call for are not the same as the conversions we find in the Bible.
Throughout this series I've looked at how "Hell Houses" generally preach a Dante-esque inferno, supporting it by wrenching proof-texts from the Bible (especially from the gospels). I've looked at how "Hell House" looks at the sin of man not being idolatry and all its manifestations but doing certain things and thus going to hell for it. I've looked at how "Hell House" waters down and twists and contorts the gospel message into something it is not (while having truth to it, it is like trying to describe a galaxy by looking at a single star). And now I've looked at how "Hell Houses" succeed, in part, to convert, but the conversions that take place are not the same as the conversions we find in the Bible. And, after a brief hiatus, I will re:examine "Hell House" and suggest how "Hell House" can be revamped so that it is more effective, more biblical, and downright celebratory.
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