Ex-Mafia boss preached about the importance of having a “healthy” fear of hell and eternal damnation

Former mob boss-turned-Christian writer and speaker Michael Franzese delivered a sermon at Harvest Christian Fellowship, a California megachurch by Pastor Greg Laurie. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of having a “healthy” fear of hell and eternal damnation, reports Christian Megaportal inVictory with reference to The Christian Post.

Michael Franzese once had influence that gave him control over a “team of soldiers”. Working with his father Sonny, he stole money and engaged in other criminal activities. Franzese was arrested 18 times, spent eight years in prison and was released only in 1994. Behind bars, a prison guard gave him a Bible that changed his life.

The former mafia “prince” told the Harvest Christian Fellowship church how he developed a “healthy fear of hell” while in solitary confinement.

“When I was in prison, I spent 29 months and seven days in solitary confinement. Me and God… It’s not easy. People are not made to be alone, they need other people,” said Franzese. —”I plunged into my Bible. I prayed every day. It was my closest time with the Lord because I had no choice. And thank God I turned to Him and nowhere else… But do you know what happened in that dark and lonely time? I developed a “healthy” fear of hell.”

During the sermon, Franzese encouraged those present to imagine the reality of hell.

“I want you to stop for a moment and think about the worst thing you’ve ever experienced in your life and realize that the worst will never go away… Now imagine going to hell, which is a million times worse and will never end,” Franzese preached. “I’m not trying to alarm you, I’m just telling the truth. The good news is that we don’t have to go there.”

He said it’s good to have a “healthy” fear of anything that can harm a person and shared the story of how his sister died of a drug overdose at age 27 and how his brother struggled with drug addiction for 25 years.

After seeing what happened to his siblings, Franzese developed a “healthy fear of drugs”.

“My father kept telling me as a child that drugs are bad,” Franzese shared. “I have seen so many people die because of drugs. I’m afraid of them, so I stay away from them. It’s good to have a healthy fear of things that are harmful to you. That is bravery.”

Although Franzese said that it is good when we hear God’s call and respond to it, he also emphasized the importance of sharing the truth in love.

“Jesus was blunt when needed, but He had a soft way of communication,” he said. “Our culture today seems to value men who speak their mind regardless of others, like being a hooligan is something great. On the contrary, Jesus himself said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Franzese concluded his sermon by urging the audience to consider giving their lives to Christ before it is too late.

“We live in crazy times,” he recalled. “We don’t know what can happen in the next minute. And I tell you, I’ve seen people I love be with me one day and gone forever the next. This is shocking. We don’t know the future. Nothing is guaranteed to us. What are you waiting for? I have told you what is the advantage of following Jesus Christ. This is a win-win situation for us. You will only lose if you do not confess your sins and accept Jesus as your personal Savior. But if you do, you will definitely win.”

Source: Экс-глава мафии о выходний «здорового» страха пред Адом и вечным практием | News in Victory