Fear can be a very strong motivating force. Christendom’s clergy have used it for centuries to keep their flocks in order. Perhaps a fundamentalist expects you to jump at the sound of the same threats that have imprisoned him all of his life.

To put it briefly and bluntly, Christians are brainwashed and threatened from birth, the trait is passed on to many of them, and thus the cycle continues. This method worked out great for the original brainwashers.

Maybe some Christians are thinking that if their neighbor's house is on fire and he's asleep on the inside the most urgent message to get to him is "GET OUT! YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE!" So they take this same approach to sharing their faith. They probably don't care as much about how you view their religion as making sure you don't go to hell! The question is, "Have you heeded their warnings and done something about it or are you too busy debating their methods?"

As a Christian, I want to apologize for those who have done so. I, personally, am not one of those types of people. Should the topic arise, then I might ask some questions of you, but I would never presume to "preach" to you. That is not my job. I am to "plant a seed" and it is up to you whether or not you let that seed grow or not. I treat every one alike, no matter what religion, belief, race, which gender they love, etc. I treat everyone with the respect that I would like to recieve from someone. I have know those of which you speak and have had them treat me the same even after I've told them I am saved. Some people are just "overly" religious and will look down on those that are not as zealous as they are. You are entitled to believe what you wish. All I can do is try to let you see Christ through me and my actions. Sorry for your bad experiences.

Simple answer, most Christians don't know how to spread the good news and end up spreading the bad news instead.

The biggest fire and brimstone preacher that ever lived was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He preached on Hell more than Heaven! We Christians, out of love, should warn lost people about hell, otherwise, we'd be the most cruel people ever! Not telling someone about hell and that Jesus loves them and died for them so they would not die and go there would be like having the cure for the plague of the century and not telling someone who was dying of the plague that you had the one cure! We as Christians are to be humble and meek, but also to love people enough to warn about God's coming Judgement on sin. Thank you and God bless you!

Why, silly, they get credit points for everyone they convert. If they convert enough people, why, they can do whatever they want and STILL get into heaven! Think about missionary work. They say, "Hey, we're here to teach English," or "What a terrible flood! You're lucky we're here!" and all they really want to do is to convert people. The ends justifies the means.

Good question. We who preach the gospel of Christ, which does include the message of "Hellfire and Brimstone," are obeying the command that Christ gave to His disciples to teach all nations about Him. While you may have heard the message many times before, if you have not been brought to faith in Christ, then the message is still relevant to you. It may seem as though we are trying to scare you out of Hell-- and there is some truth to that. We understand the unrelenting terrors of God's judgment and that once it is rendered, it is final. Woe be unto anyone who is found guilty of sin apart from Christ! Granted, Christians (myself included) can be unbalanced in how much "Hellfire" we preach as compared to how much of God's saving grace through Christ. The opposite is also true: Joel Osteen, for example, preaches so much of God's loving grace, that an unrepentant sinner is not duly intimidated by the judgment that that same God will render against him. God is loving and holy-- and He will still condemn a sinner to eternal damnation in Hell and the Lake of Fire! Admittedly, the message of God's judgment does need to be tempered by the preaching of God's grace. The message of Christ (judgment and grace) is relevant until He returns to personally render His judgments. Until then, we who are in Christ must continue to share His message with those who are apart from Him.

As for me it is a warning of what is in the future for a nonbeliever inspired of the Holy Spirit and not a speech. If you don't hear the Holy Spirit that is how you take it because Satan who has the control of nonbelievers hides the truth from the unbeliever so that the unbeliever cannot see or hear the truth until the unbeliever turns to God.

5-28-2017 In the 19th century Americans started moving west and three institutions went with them. There was vaudeville, traveling entertainment. There was lyceum, traveling education and culture. And there was the itinerant preacher, offering a new style of preaching called "hell fire and brim stone". It was very entertaining, only loosely based on scripture, and pastors didn't even try to compete. Instead they switched to preaching public morality and philosophy. Eventually an entire generation grew up not knowing the first thing about the religion they claimed to believe. That is why most Christian churches don't teach doctrines, and most members don't know what they are supposed to believe.

I never have and never will.

It is sad so many "Christians" want to preach Hell and damnation to those whom do not have the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives. I for one do not do this. I tell them about the Love of Jesus Christ. He wants us to teach to love our neighbour as ourselves. Teaching the Love and truth about Jesus will bring more people into being a Christian. Once a Christian people will understand about what not having Jesus Christ as their Saviour means. Too many "Christians" do not understand their Bible or know what is actually being taught in the pages. People tend to mimic what they hear and believe it or not there are way too many lies coming from the pulpit especially in those areas concerning sex. So don't teach hell and damnation but teach LOVE.!

Makes a good conversation starter. I always go onto the "Jesus was non Christians too". So are you trying to say you'll go to "heaven" and he won't because he was Jewish?" They usually start to squirm and get away at that point.