Are We Empowering Enemies of Christianity?
Harold Camping made unsubstantiated predictions that May 21, 2011 would be the end of time. He had done this before in 1994 and he failed then, too.
He did Satan’s work by making some believers in God look ridiculous. Everywhere I look online, people are making fun of Camping and the prediction. Sinners are having a great time laughing about the Second Coming of Jesus.
Scripture says absolutely nothing about the Rapture, as Premillenial people teach it. Christ will return (John 14:1-4) and there will be judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Moreover, no one but God knows the date that Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36).
My concern is that Christians are joining the fun and mocking this event and, by extension, validating the beliefs of the doubters. Are we in dangerous territory by joining the enemies of the Cross? Do we make people more comfortable in their sins by giving them the impression that they have plenty of time? (Luke 17:26-29).
Someone on Twitter said that the Rapture didn’t happen, so they could go back to sinning. Would it not be awful if we were the ones to indirectly empower them?
Larry Miles 9:22 pm on May 21, 2011 Permalink |
Richard– I could not agree with you more. But what is also disturbing to me is the attitude of Christians, some on this site and other brotherhood sites and their attitude. One of the views that I saw during this time was the implication, and sometimes more than that, that Jesus was not coming today or could not come because some man predicted it.
If the Lord had came today it would have been because it was the the Lord’s timing. W don’t know when He is returning and frankly many of the Lord’s people, if you would corner them, would believe that it is not imminent. By that I mean that it could happen at any time.
Each generation of the Lord’s people from the 1st century on had the thought that He might come in their lifetimes. He did not, but a belief that He could should have and should now motivate us to greater service.
I do not agree with the false teachings of the date setters, but I believe that we might learn something from folks who stress the coming of the Lord more than some of our brethren and sisters do.
Let’s not join in with unbelievers and ridicule these folks, but rather, let’s pray that they will come to a better understanding of the Scriptures. Jesus is coming again! Keep looking Up! It might be still be today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you ready and are you “looking for Him?”
Sorry for the rambling.
J. Randal Matheny 5:40 pm on May 22, 2011 Permalink |
Well said, Larry.
Joe Dukes 9:40 pm on May 21, 2011 Permalink |
Many associate this prediction with a doctrine of Christianity, therefore, when they are making fun of Camping, they are also ridiculing Christianity in general. They don’t know this doctrine is false according true Christian standards. Many think if Christian doctrine is that ridiculous, then they want no part of it. Their view that since this teaching turned out to be wrong, this shows that the Bible is wrong. It is our job to show the contrast between true Biblical teaching and such distortions.
John Henson 1:05 pm on May 22, 2011 Permalink |
I do not feel that by pointing out the logical contradiction of someone’s misguided false doctrine that I am, somehow, empowering the lost.
Richard Mansel 2:10 pm on May 22, 2011 Permalink |
I agree, John. But the comments of some that I saw did fall into that category.