Monday, July 24, 2006
Apocalypse Now?
I must confess: I grew up hearing the imagery of Armageddon--imagery of the variety that I was forbidden from watching on television or in the movies. Horses wading in rivers of blood beneath a mushroom cloud with Larry Norman singing "I wish we'd all been ready" in the background. Scary stuff. But I was comforted by the assurance that I would be watching these events unfold from the safety of Heaven.
Since then, my eschatology has gone through a series of adjustments. I became aware of believers in China wasting away for their faith in Maoist "re-education camps." I heard stories of God-fearing Sudanese families separated and sold into slavery by Islamic extremists. I helped a destitute Sri Lankan pastor distribute tsunami aid to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims in his town--only to hear several months later that he was beaten to within an inch of his life by a mob of angry Buddhists. Needless to say, the prospect of skipping tribulation now seemed a little self-serving at best.
Unfortunately, our Western versions of eschatology have bred some unhealthy extremes. Some of us are nearly giddy about the bloody precursors to the Second Coming. If Jesus warned that there would be "wars and rumors of wars" before His return, why would we want to delay His arrival by seeking peace? Others are convinced that the church will eventually so infiltrate society that Jesus will return to a world already conquered by His people. This group seems unaware that those who overcame the beast did so with their blood, not at the ballot box.
Now, I'm not delusional enough to think that all evangelicals can unite under the banner of one eschatological perspective. However, in the eyes of the secular world (and many evangelicals like myself), the two options of dominionism and escapism leave something to be desired and demonstrate an embarrassing level of disunity on a very relevant topic of discussion.
Even more bizarre are high-profile leaders who attempt to embrace both perspectives simultaneously. The other day, I heard a television preacher discuss the nearness of the rapture and tribulation and, minutes later, argue for the reinstatement of prayer in public school and the erection of the Ten Commandments in courtrooms. Unfortunately, those possessing a nuanced opinion somewhere between these two views rarely find themselves in front of a microphone or TV camera. Go figure.
My purpose for bringing up this subject was not to poke fun at the "eschatologically confused" (Come to think of it, I feel pretty confused myself when it comes to this tricky topic), but to challenge pastors and church leaders to tackle the subject on a local level with a winsome and life-giving approach. The Second Coming is not something to be feared and loathed--or gleefully anticipated for the destruction of our enemies. It's not an evangelistic bludgeon or a tool for the opportunistic to promote their political agenda. It is the V-Day to the cross's D-Day, the fulfillment of God's promise to dwell with His people, wipe every tear from their eyes and finish making all things new.
Sure, in modern parlance, John was freaked out when he saw what was to come, but not too freaked out to say, "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!"
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Agree? Disagree? Weigh in with your comments below.
: 3:22 PM : 2:36 AM : 11:48 AM : 3:21 PM : 12:32 PMPS: By the way Jesus (or actually his soul in an earthly body) is now present on this earth, and he is praying that his flock, which is all of mankind, gets the true message.
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