The Veiled Threats in Sermons

Different ministers in the group I was in would use various scare stories that were intended to place fear in those attending services. It was always something bad with someone being killed in a not nice way. Or perhaps God smote them with an illness or disease.

Some recall a story about ones being killed in a train wreck. There is one story that still remains partly in my memory, though all the details are no longer there. My former pastor knew Nathaniel Urshan as he was from South Bend, Indiana. I recall hearing him relay one story where I think there were two young guys who were at some service where Nathaniel Urshan was speaking.

I believe they supposedly made fun in some way, may have been spoken to by Nathaniel Urshan and warned. They left the service and were killed in an accident.

These stories work in a couple ways. The one I shared can be used to place fear in anyone who would in any way come against a minister. God will strike you down! I well remember the biblical story with the she bears from the OT being told to also reinforce such a thought.

These stories also create a fear of God. Here again we see the view of God as a harsh taskmaster, just waiting so He can somehow punish or kill someone who has upset Him in some way. Get out of line, don't follow the rules, leave this church, and God will see that you die in a nasty traffic accident (or some other way just as unpleasant).

Fear, fear, fear, fear.......I will never stop saying it until it is no longer true.......fear permeates the teachings.

Ah, and don't forget all of the rapture drills and scare tactics!