Tim LaHaye: Left Behind Series

[SarahSmile]

amywelborn.com/leftbehind.html

This is great… i posted the whole text on the other board, but i can’t do that again, here is the link!
Happy Reading!:tiphat:

 

[Faustina]

My sister-in-law has read a few of the books and found very much lacking. She thought that even as fiction they were poorly written. I am thinking about suggesting some of Michael O’Briens books.

 

[Poisson]

bengal_fan:

anyway, i have read all but the last two and didn’t find anything anti-catholic. i also think the theology is not right. in the first book, the pope is actually “raptured”.

Doesn’t the second book talk about how the only reason the Pope was raptured was because he rejected many Catholic teachings in favor of more Protestant doctrine?
I read the first two and that was enough. The theology was bad, the writting wasn’t bad but it wasn’t very good either. There are much better books out there.
If anyone wants good Catholic book covering some of the same themes try Michael O’Brien’s book Father Elijah or Plague Journal.

 

[bengal_fan]

poisson,
i’m not sure about the 2nd book, it’s been a while since i read it. my whole point wasn’t to defend the books of lahaye himself, but to say that they are not evil books. i don’t think there was any intended anti-catholicism and the books have done a good job of bringing the subject of God into mainstream conversations. i don’t agree with all the theology of the tv show “joan of arcadia” or the angel one (what’s that called again…i’m blanking on it. i keep wanting to say highway to heaven but that was michael landon’s show in the mid-late 80’s). is it “touched by an angel”? but these shows (as the left behind books) have brought God into our watercooler conversations. “The Passion” has probably done more than all of these and was theologically sound but i will even take blatantly heretical books such as “The Da Vinci Code” because they get people talking so that we as believers have a launching point to explain the truth. we just need to be mindful of 1Pet 3:15, “But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you, but do this with gentleness and respect.”

 

[Veronica_Anne]

JCPhoenix:

I did find the books to be disturbinging anti-Catholic, but just the same, they prompted me to flee back to the Church for 2 reasons:

1. I realized my immortal soul was in jeapordy as a result of my separation from Jesus Christ
2. I couldn’t stomach the misconceptions about the Catholic church.,

…In any case, there is a very thin line. I’ve considered writing a letter of thanks to Tim LaHaye to thank him for directing me back to my faith and the Church, but for some reason I don’t think he would consider it good news!

Hey, ya never know! Why not write the author, anyway… he might just now be ripe for hearing the Good News…

and look into joining the Catholic Church, himself?

Ya never know… perhaps the Spirit is nudging you to write to that author…

 

[angelaw]

I have read all the Left Behind books, with the exception of the new one. It is sitting on a shelf collecting dust while I read more on Catholic things. When I started reading them about 5 years ago, I was just a Sunday morning pew-warmer, going to church because my husband wanted to and I thought it was good for the kids. I never read the bible, we didn’t really pray as a family-nothing. Then Left Behind came along. They scared me straight to Jesus. I “gave my heart to Jesus” and I was “born-again”. Since then, I have started reading the bible daily, going to a bible study and praying with my family. I have only recently (thanks to Catholic radio) realized how anti-Catholic these books are. I have read False Profit, which I found very informative. I am now trying to read only Catholic books, but in a way I do owe my salvation to those books! If I hadn’t read them, I still probably wouldn’t have realized that I needed Jesus in my life for everything or I would crash and literally BURN!!

:angel1:

 

[Faustina]

While I was not much impressed with the first two books and you are probably right about the books keeping God in conversation, the problem I see is, LaHaye is already known for his anti-Catholicism stance, already filled the misconceptions, like the majority of Protestants, about Catholicism. The Catholic Church does not need any further help in this area and I know many people who have read the books and believe in the theology. One day there were about 3 or four people discussing the books, I was there listening. They were talking about Christ and the rapture, Christ and the Tribulation, Christ and the end times. Finally I asked them, “How many times does Christ come back? These books have Him coming back three times, I thought He was only coming back once?” They stopped and looked at me with their mouths opened and one responded, “Well, I’m not sure. I guess I find it the Bible” I asked them, when they found it, if they could let me know. That was three years and though I have reminded them of it on occasion, they have never gotten back to me on that.

 

[bengal_fan]

i’m not sure that very many mainstream people know of lahaye’s anti-catholic nature. and i would say that you should keep on bringing up the topic to your friends about the false doctrines portrayed in the books. it’s never good to send a challenge at the start as most people will back away from confrontation. instead, just say that you don’t exactly agree with the theology and why you disagree with it. then allow them to ask you questions and maybe even challenge you a bit. if they extend a challenge to you, then you have the opportunity to challenge them back (lovingly). anyway, the point is these books as well as anything (including this horrible portrayal of christians coming out in the movie “saved”) that speaks of spiritual things opens a forum for us to communicate truth in love to people. instead of bashing these things, embrace them, look for some truth (even if it’s as small as a mustard seed) and go from there to reveal the complete truth. always, always, always in love

 

[cnelms]

**We just have to remember that they are fictional… this is not Catholic. These are fictional stories to get the public going on the End Times… but they are not real. **

The DaVinci Code is fictional too. That doesn’t stop those weak in the faith and opposed to the Church from believing them at some level. This type of material accomplishes its purpose by creating doubt and concern in people’s minds that wasn’t present before the material was read. This doubt and concern alters their worldview, imperceptibly at first, then gradually stronger and stronger (usually in conjunction with the publishing of sequels) until they begin searching for another faith system. Remember, being anti-Catholic is the last acceptable prejudice.

 

[Socrates]

I read a few of the Left Behind books on my way back to the Church also, though I don’t think they “scared me straight” as one poster put it. I started to do some research into Church history though because the whole rapture thing was so completely foreign to everything I had ever learned about the bible, Jesus Christ, and the Church.

That it helped anyone in any way is not a sign of it’s “goodness” though. God allows evil to bring about a greater good. I’m not saying that LaHaye is evil, mind you, just that we shouldn’t necessarily embrace something just because some good has inadvertantly come from it.

A severe clinical depression helped me find my way back home as well. I wouldn’t recommend depression to anyone though.

 

[angelaw]

I would like to clarify a little from my last posting. Just because the books “scared me straight to Jesus” does not mean I am promoting their goodness. I am openly admitting to not having any prior knowledge to end-times or rapture or anything of this nature, so this was my first encounter with this subject. I now know the Catholic stand on this-yes Jesus is coming back, once not twice the way these books portray. Yes, they are anti-Catholic, but I feel I am a better person because of these books. I would never suggest to anyone to read them unless they are already deep in their true Catholic faith. I am glad I have read these books though, because now I can debate this subject to non-Catholics and at least know where the books are coming from.

:angel1:

 

[Rae4]

I have just started reading the Left Behind and I am almost finished with book 1. So far, I have not seen anything that is anti-Catholic. As far as fiction goes, I like it. I believe that if it gets people thinking about God and how we endanger our souls by not being Christ-like then I am for it.

 

[Little_Mary]

To Bengal Fan

Have you every heard of Marcus Grodi or Journey Home, I think it’s journeyhome.com - anyway, Mr. Grodi is a former Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism and he now has a TV show and a website devoted to allowing other ministers to tell their story about hwo they came to the Catholic faith. I believe he also is working on something that will provide financial support to ministers who convert to Catholicism. I’ll post more info as I find it, but you might want to check out the website.

 

[Little_Mary]

Re: this Left Behind stuff

Anyone who is interested can go to www.biblechristiansociety.com and order an audio tape which explains, using the bible, why this Left Behind stuff is a bunch of hooey.

These books, just like the Da Vinci Mess, are fictional, but good people all over the place are taking the fiction they read and changing their religious beliefs. Very scary. :nope:

 

[Poisson]

bengal_fan:

poisson,
my whole point wasn’t to defend the books of lahaye himself, but to say that they are not evil books. i don’t think there was any intended anti-catholicism and the books have done a good job of bringing the subject of God into mainstream conversations.

No anti-Catholicism? :ehh: To say that Catholics are not true Christians seems to me to be anti-Catholic. The only Catholics in the books to be raptured are the ones who seem to reject Catholicism. Other shows like Joan of Arcadia, Highway to Heaven and Touched by and Angel stay far away from controversy I can’t say that I have ever heard the word Jesus on any of them so it would be very hard to apply the label anti-Catholic.

 

[everlastingthur]

bengal_fan:

i’m not sure that very many mainstream people know of lahaye’s anti-catholic nature. and i would say that you should keep on bringing up the topic to your friends about the false doctrines portrayed in the books. it’s never good to send a challenge at the start as most people will back away from confrontation. instead, just say that you don’t exactly agree with the theology and why you disagree with it. then allow them to ask you questions and maybe even challenge you a bit. if they extend a challenge to you, then you have the opportunity to challenge them back (lovingly). anyway, the point is these books as well as anything (including this horrible portrayal of christians coming out in the movie “saved”) that speaks of spiritual things opens a forum for us to communicate truth in love to people. instead of bashing these things, embrace them, look for some truth (even if it’s as small as a mustard seed) and go from there to reveal the complete truth. always, always, always in love

You speak like a true apologist. I agree with you that they aren’t evil books. Catholics should avoid them though unless they are reading them for a good defense of them. American Catholics especially have enough problems staying Catholic without pondering over whether the Rapture theologians are right or not. It’s an inviting doctrine. While the books are fiction they are based on LaHaye’s dispensationalist theology. Unless someone is grounded in the Catholic faith they should avoid dispensationalist theology. If they want to learn about it there are plenty of Catholic critiques, and even Protestant critiques of Dispensationalism. Dispensationalism is inherently anti-catholic. Some dispensationalist churches claim over half their membership is former Catholics. Better if most just stay away from Left Behind. Also, another point you made is embracing them. We certainly should embrace them. Dispensationalists are probably among the most difficult Christians to reason with. This is especially true if they know you’re Catholic. Love them. No reason to be entertained by their theology, though. As for bashing the books. Books can be bashed without bashing the people who wrote them. Call a spade a spade. If the books stink, and I believe they do, I have no problem saying so. The authors are well meaning, God loving, and maybe even intelligent, people. I love them, but their books stink. It’s much better for Catholics to ground themselves in our faith. Not water it down with conflicting theologies. Conflicting theolgies is what started me on the road Catholicism in the first place. Catholics should encourage eachother to read good Catholic books.

I admire your love and conviction, but not everyone is going to be an apologist. Sometimes the best way to love someone is from a distance.

 

[Mfaustina1]

Bengal fan-

Have you heard of Marcus Grodi and the Coming Home Network on EWTN? I’m sure you could find his website if he has one, and he or those who help him can be of great assistance to you as you research the Catholic Church. I hope someone here knows his website address or some other way of contacting him and lets you know. May God bless you on your journey and His peace fill your heart! - Mfaustina1

ps. Faustina, I love your name! lol She’s my patron saint whose name I took for my confirmation name when I was received into the Church from Pentecostalism two years ago. - God bless!

 

[Faustina]

I had her first!!!

I was received 4 years ago, right after her canonization.

Have you see Ocean of Mercy? If you haven’t, take an hour out of your day and watch it.

The Journey Home is also on EWTN radio, which I listen to on occasion via the internet

 

[bengal_fan]

i appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers in my journey. i do need to say one thing though and please do not take this the wrong way. but this quote:

everlastingthur:

I admire your love and conviction, but not everyone is going to be an apologist. Sometimes the best way to love someone is from a distance.

is one of the problems that protestants have with catholics. i know that not everyone is going to be an apologist and write books and get paid to research, but we are all called to “always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you, but do this with gentleness and respect.” (1Pet 3:15). i mean no disrespect everlastingthur, but Christ did not call us to love from a distance. we are to be actively pursuing people for Christ. this doesn’t mean “bible bashing” as some protestants are accused of doing but it means embracing anything that allows us to explain truth (even if those things we are refuting are confusing and have lies mixed with truth). i hope everyone takes this post with the intent that is behind it as it is my most accusing post to date and i do apologize for that. i just want to make sure that we as Christians do not fall into letting people not know the truth because we are unsure of it ourselves. we might not know all the answers but we should never be afraid of engaging people (this includes books, tapes, tv shows, anything in this world) because we might have to say “i don’t know”. let’s be open to using these things to challenge others as well as maybe ourselves. if some one who is weak gets “picked off” because of this they would have gotten picked off some other way (that’s just in my experience). we cannot live in a sheltered little world where all we do is watch EWTN (or the protestant equivalent) and talk to fellow Christians. we must be actively pursuing people and to do that we must know them. i will stop talking now. again i ask you to take this with the loving intent that is meant behind it.

 

[Writer]

It’s funny I’d pick this topic as my first post, because I never considered myself a fan of this series. I did have the experience at a writer’s conference in Seattle recently to listen to several presentations by Jerry Jenkins (Tim LaHaye is the consultant and Jenkins is the writer). I was impressed with him as an articulate speaker. He does not take himself, or his books, too seriously. They are fiction, after all, based upon the Biblical interpretations of LaHaye and Jenkins. When a listener asked something along the lines of how did it feel to be an “annoited” writer, Jenkins set her straight that he was just a simple author trying to tell a story. The setting of the series, however, has sparked a lot of interest in people across the world in Christianity. For example, some ABC News staff and even Stephen King confided to Jenkins that they were intrigued by a something in these books.

If they encourage someone to open their Bible and check things out for themselves, Jenkins considers himself to have succeeded. While I have always been more impressed by writers such as C.S. Lewis or Catholics such as J.R.R. Tolkien, I think we should be careful to not look down on popular writers such as Jerry Jenkins. As Jenkins remarked in a presentation (or possibly on an ABC interview they played), “I wish I was smart enough to write a book that was hard to read.” While this quote may begin to rub me the wrong way if I really think about it long enough, I understand what he is trying to say. He is simply a writer trying to inspire interest in the Bible.

As far as Jenkins being anti-Catholic, over the several hours I listened to him, I never sensed this spirit in his remarks. On the contrary, I heard him at one point observe that he felt a unity with the congregation of any church in the world when he spied their cross.

If you want an insight into the man, I suggest watching the interview he gave for Nightline (I think that was the program.).