It's said "the devil has the best tunes."  But really the conservative Christians who have
them.  Along with some of the most interesting colorful preachers ever to hit a 
TV screen.  Most folk don't really care to debate whether there's a fiery, eternal
Hell waiting for sinners.  Instead, many sure do lap up the fundamentalist pulpit- pounder
expanding the words of St. Matthew on the fate of   evil doers who fall into the
hands of an angry God on their departure from this world.  And Tillich's  designation of God
as The Ground of Being pales mightily before Joshua's warrior-God who stops the sun
in its tracks across the heavens and gives Israel the victory even though many an enemy's
skull had to be cracked and children dashed.........

So QBaal thinks Spong indeed has the intellectual victory and Christianity must now go
to the garage for an expensive and painful complete overhaul.  Still, it will be  
like sending the chicken to the dentist.  The big question is 
"Will the progressive preachers of today and tomorrow ever develop the imagery and
interesting stories required to make the new theology palatable for modern folk.

I mean if its the sizzle that sells the steak,  how will Christianity sell without the
sizzle of Hell??!!

I, for one, long for a Spongian theological revolution.  Yet, I am a bit sad to
kiss goodbye images of  guiding stars, water-walking Christians and Jesus jetting into
the stratosphere where angels prance on clouds behind ivory pillars........

Yes, if we like Spong says, must now leave behind the carrot and stick method of
easing folk into the Kingdom of God, what new, believable enticements are
we to offer to jolt would-be converts out of sin's sleep into joyful service of
the Lord.   I mean, what can Spong and his disciples offer  that compares with
the effective evangelizing described in the following article.
 

Another 2,000 enter through "Heaven's Gates"
 

A sobering glimpse of eternal damnation has caused a revival to

break out in north-central Arkansas.
 

...Nearly 2,000 people have become Christians as a result of

performances of the play Heaven's Gates & Hell's Flames. The

drama, staged by amateur actors from local churches, was

scheduled to run for three days but has been held over for seven

weeks because of an overwhelming response from its audiences. It

is performed three days a week at the 1,000-seat auditorium at

Twin Lakes Baptist Church in Mountain Home, a retirement and

vacation community of about 10,000 people. Admission is free of

charge.
 

...More than 1,000 people have recommitted their lives to Christ

because of the play, church leaders say.
 

...Six pastors from the area baptized 150 people Nov. 15 in a

16-foot by 9-foot above-ground swimming pool in the church's

parking lot while community members watched, assistant pastor

Quentin Washispack told Religion Today. Temporary dressing

stalls, built by church members, accommodated the converts being

immersed in the heated pool; it was the congregation's

largest-ever baptismal service. Other area churches also report

baptizing numerous people.
 
...People as old as 91 and as young as 5 have become Christians

because of Heaven's Gates, Washispack said. Entire families, and

three generations of a single family, have been baptized. Those

who have committed their lives to Christ include people from

various professions and walks of life. People in the audience are

given an opportunity after the final scene of each performance to

indicate a decision for Christ by walking to the front of the

church, where they are met by counselors who pray with them.
 

...The play is the talk of the town and has been written about in

local newspapers. The cast of 50 use elaborate costumes, and

there is extensive staging and sound-and-lighting effects.
 

..."We want to share the harvest of souls with other churches,"

senior pastor Sam Bailey said. Many of the names of the converts

are turned over to other pastors in the area for follow-up

discipleship.
 
 

...Almost half of those who have found salvation because of the

play are formerly unchurched. The rest are members or have some

affiliation with 250 churches representing a variety of

traditions, including charismatic, Pentecostal, Catholic, and

mainline Protestant.
 

...People have come from 132 cities in 16 states. Some are local,

others drive as long as two hours to attend, and still others

have come from California, Illinois, or Louisiana after relatives

telephoned them describing the play, Washispack said. A Paris,

Texas, couple who happened to be driving through Mountain Home

heard about the play on the radio, attended, and became

believers.

..."People are gripped" by the drama, Washispack said. "They

weep. It's incredible. I've never been involved in anything like

this." The play's eight scenes portray individuals from various

backgrounds as they face death, contrasting the joy of Christians

as they enter God's presence with the horror of unbelievers as

they encounter Satan.
 

...The Bible states that people must make a choice to trust Jesus

Christ as their savior in order to go to heaven, Bailey said. The

church's goal is to present the drama to everyone in the area.

...The play's suicide scene transformed the life of a man who

attended. He had a loaded gun in his car and had intended to take

his life, Washispack said. Instead he "got saved" and

subsequently shared his testimony in front of the congregation.
 

...The Twin Lakes performance of Heaven's Gates & Hell's Flames

is produced by Paul and Melanie Raiford of Baton Rouge, La. They

travel around the country in a recreational vehicle, arrive in a

town a few days before the first performance, and go over the

script with local amateurs. Paul also delivers an invitation to

become a Christian at the end of each performance.
 

...Fourteen different teams are producing Heaven's Gates & Hell's

Flames in the United States. Most performances run for three

days. Similar revival manifestations broke out in Fresno, Calif.,

and Baker, La., several years ago as a result of productions of

the play.

by the Editors at ReligionToday.com November 25, 1998