LaHaye & Jenkins vs. David Wilkerson
Written: March 15, 2001
Tim LaHaye's and Jerry B. Jenkins' book-set called "Left Behind" has been very popular both in Finland and USA. So far, five books has been published into Finnish from the set, and when the set is finished it will contain more than 2000 pages. I have read four of those five books and I can say that I am not very satisfied with the books. For example, I can say that David Wilkerson's book "God's Plan to Protect His People in the Coming Depression" has only 181 pages (Finnish edition) but it's spiritual content is much larger. Also that book is much cheaper to buy than LaHaye's and Jenkins' set. What is wrong with the "Left Behind"? My opinion is that the book-set is more like pure entertainment than spiritual book. The book-set represents a typical "Pre Tribulation Rapture" -theory and it seems that the writers don't even want to think about possibility that people could face some kind of persecution before the Rapture. LaHaye and Jenkins give a beautiful description about life after the Raprure. According to the books, God takes care of His people a special way; He even gives wifes and husbands to the main character of the books. Because life after Rapture is so "wonderful" and "exciting", it is no wonder that many people who have read the books don't even want to be raptured; they want to miss it and see what is the world after the Rapture. The most sad thing in those books is the doctrine about how man will be saved. The main characters teach that man has to ask forgiveness - it is correct - but they don't say clearly that words "Jesus I want to give my life to you" are no "Hokus Pokus" -magic words which give the salvation automatically; they don't say that heart's attitude is the most important. Many people think that "once saved is alvays saved", and that's why they don't have "fear of God". This is the reason why many people don't like Christians. Another thing: the main characters of the books teach that if one does not want to loose his salvation, he (or she) must personally try to convert another people. This is something I can't understand. Paul teaches that man is saved by God's grace, not by his own works. If this was not true, Paul's doctrine would be nothing else but a joke. Also, if someone tells to his fellowman about Jesus is and if the fellowman finds out that he speaks only because he is forced to do so, the message doesn't reach the fellowman's heart, and the fellowman may think that if he wants to be saved he must convert another people just like "this one", whether he wants or not. However, don't mis-understand me, it is very important to do good works but those works do not bring the salvation. 1 st Corithians 3: 12-15 is written for those who have no good works at all. David Wilkerson has been wise because he has not begun to give dates about when the Rapture will happen. He has told that we have no right to expect a quick Rapture. This is so, because in many parts of the world Christians must suffer about persecution and no-one has raptured them yet. David Wilkerson has told many times about his vision about New York is the hands of fire and anarchy. This vision can become true before the Rapture. If Wilkerson's theory - that The United States is the most sinful nation in the world - is correct, it would be strange if Christians don't have to pay part of the consequences of sin. Christians are part of society in the USA and everywhere else, so it is likely if they also have to pay, if the society begins to worship the Devil. When there is a question about salvation, David Wilkerson says that one really must start a new life. However, I have never heard Wilkerson saying that one must tell about Jesus to another people. Wilkerson says that after becoming born again Christian one should spend time on his knees and pray every day. Otherwise he is in danger to loose his faith and salvation. In this report i have introduced the differences that there is between LaHaye's & Jenkins' Christianity and David Wilkerson's Christianity. Everyone is allowed to make his (or her) opinion about which one of these two theories suits better to Bible's loving and rightful God.