June, 2000

On the front page of the New York Times last week, I believe the June 7th or 8th edition, there was an article entitled, "Apocalyptic Potboiler Is Publisher's Dream".  The article had a color photograph of Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins and Mike Trout, sitting on a stage that looks new age at best, or occultic at worst.  As the writer of the article states, "...Wayne Watson, who played with a throbbing rock sound as the authors sat on throne like black leather chairs bathed in cyclamen-colored lights.  Two huge candelabra lent the scene a 'Phantom of the Opera' ambiance..."

The occasion of the photograph was a book selling tour that Mr. LaHaye et al are currently doing.  The book is entitled, "The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession".  And as the article explains, the book is about Mr. LaHaye's imaginations of what might take place during the great tribulation.  Apparently, Mr. LaHaye has been writing a whole series of these books.  But why did this make the front page of the New York Times, arguably one of the world's publications most given over to Satan?  Because of money and popularity - two of Satan's favorite false gods!   You see, the article points out that Mr. LaHaye et al have made over $10 million dollars selling these books.  Not only that, but Mr. LaHaye's books are displacing other science fiction best sellers on the New York Times Bestseller's list!

What is the Christian to think of this?  Is it wrong for Mr. LaHaye to sell books?  No, there is nothing in the Scripture saying it is wrong to sell books.   However, is it good practice to sell books that are billed in some type of evangelistic light, as containing the gospel?  Should the believer not rather preach the gospel for free (Matt. 10:8b).  Fantasizing about what might happen during the great tribulation, and selling those fantasies to apparently bored Christians or conservative God fearers, who apparently don't have any real spiritual battles to occupy their mind, is tragic indeed.  What is the difference between the escapism the lost world finds in their secular novels and movies, and the fantasizing of Mr. LaHaye and those who buy his books?  There is essentially no difference - the latter just want their ears tickled.  Surely the Word of God has enough glorious prophesy in it to build the hope of the true saints.  In addition, I have read a few pages of his book, and Paul uses terms that Mr. LaHaye is obviously unfamiliar with - terms like "lewdness" and "lascivious".  Some of the passages in his books are nothing less than soft pornography.  Writing about the things of the flesh, and promoting the things of the flesh, is not what the Lord wants His servants doing.

Perhaps the issue that betrays the improper motivations behind what Mr. LaHaye is doing is the fact that on this book selling tour, he forces people to buy tickets to hear him talk about "the greatest message of hope in this world".  The Times article says that, "They [Mr. LaHaye et al] attracted 900 people who paid $12 to $25 each to hear them talk about the book in a Wheaton College auditorium...and their stop in this college town this weekend had all the panoply of a revival meeting."  Now the minute that Mr. LaHaye says that these books are some type of ministry, he becomes a hypocrite because he demands money (the charge to listen to him talk about the book) for this "ministry" and makes a profit off of it [link to Wealthy Christians?].  Does Mr. LaHaye claim that his book writing is some kind of ministry?  In the interview in Wheaton, Mr. LaHaye said, "Our message is the greatest message of hope in this world" and the context was clearly in reference to his books.  That, dear reader, is a clear reference to some type of good news, or gospel. However, I can assure the reader that the gospel that is being preached during Mr. LaHaye's book selling tour is not the true gospel of Jesus Christ, for that offends and does not "sell" books and make the best seller lists of overtly unbelieving publishers during the last days apostasy.

This is just another instance of the perversion of the gospel.  Jesus Christ NEVER mixed the making of money with ministry (Matt. 10:8) [link to Wealthy Christians?]   If Mr. LaHaye wants to sell fiction fantasy books, he is free to do so, but he greatly dishonor's the Lord Jesus Christ by claiming that his doing so somehow advances the true gospel.  Surely the Lord will use what Mr. LaHaye is doing to His glory, but He will do this in spite of Mr. LaHaye's sin in the matter [link to Does God Use All Things?].  God can save a soul through a false teacher, or an unregenerate preacher.   Thus, He can surely save people through the imaginations of a man who is using the world's methods AND LASCIVIOUS CONTENT to sell books that claim to be about His second coming.

Summary:

Mr. Tim LaHaye is claiming that his Left Behind series of books are some type of ministry that is putting forth 'the gospel'.  I suppose that if the publisher of some porn magazine had an alleged conversion, but still published the porn magazines, except he now included the gospel in its pages, it too would be some kind of 'ministry'.  This extreme example is meant to clearly demonstrate the principle of error that Mr. LaHaye is actively engaged in.  And that error is surrounding the gospel with the things of the flesh and of the world in order to allegedly reach the lost.  Mr. LaHaye is essentially writing science fiction fantasy novels, but is basing those novels on some elements of Biblical truth.  Mr. LaHaye includes in this 'ministry', men fantasizing about women, and other forms of lascivious subject matter.  Apparently he believes that by writing as someone in bondage to sin, he will be able to relate to those in bondage to sin.  Well, I suppose he might be right.  But is that what the Lord wants his servants doing?  Do I need to quote Scripture references that the Lord wants His people walking in purity and holiness?

In addition, Mr. LaHaye is receiving huge amounts of money for his science fiction fantasy theme books, and is no doubt using that money to silence any criticism from other prominent evangelical leaders.  Mr. LaHaye charges a fee to people wanting to come and hear about his books, which he claims, are some type of ministry which contains the gospel.  Unknowingly, Mr. LaHaye is being used to bring deceit among believers, as they read a polluted account of what will really happen, and thus they will not be ready for the real thing.  Presenting the truth as a polluted fairy tail is not the work of the Lord.

May Mr. LaHaye and Mr. Jenkins repent of their covetousness and perversion of the gospel and instead choose simple, pure, holy service unto the Lord Jesus Christ.