Apparently, at 6:00 PM tonight, the world is supposed to end – beginning with a massive earthquake which will start a 5-month period of catastrophes leading up to a final Judgment Day in October; according to Harold Camping of Family Radio.
Yesterday at work, a lady at check-out asked me, “what do you think about the world ending?”
I replied, “Oh, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
“Me neither,” she shot back, “In fact, I think the whole thing is terrible. I just heard on the news that a woman killed her daughter because she didn’t want [her daughter] to experience the end of the world. It’s a terrible thing if you ask me.”
So a woman kills her daughter because she thinks that a Christian man has accurately predicted the end of the world?
And this is the message the world is hearing from Jesus’ followers?
What kind of God does the world think we believe in?
If you ask me, I think it’s a pretty bold – and perhaps ignorant and arrogant – to believe that you know the end of the world, while Jesus Christ Himself doesn’t (Jesus told his followers in Mark 13:28-37 that the only one who knows the time and date of that period is the Father). 
This whole thing reminds me of the pastor in Florida who was going to have a Quran burning party. What’s up with that? If we are going to throw a party, let’s throw a Jesus Party – a party where the poor, crippled, lame, and outcasts are invited and we all celebrate and rejoice together with God! (See Isaiah 25:6-10 and Luke 14:12-14 for my inspiration on these thoughts).
So here are a couple thoughts I had that I wanted to share with you:
1. Had Mr. Camping and Family Radio taken Jesus’ words seriously, this whole thing probably would’ve been avoided. If Jesus doesn’t know when the end is coming, we shouldn’t be so arrogant to think we do. Knowing God and knowing what God’s [already] said will prevent us from saying dumb things and doing even dumber things.
2. “What kind of Jesus am I representing to the world?” This is the question I keep asking myself. Am I presenting a Jesus who is loving, forgiving, and merciful? Or am I presenting a Jesus who is ignorant, stupid, angry, and relentless in his fury? (Yes, I believe in a Judgment Day, the rapture, and the tribulation; but I also believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a message about a short-tempered God who delights in destroying people and sending them to hell).
It’s been said, that the greatest evidence for the resurrection of Christ is a Christian who lives their faith. This is the goal I try to have everyday in life.
3. Jesus was always reminding his followers to pray and “stay awake” (Mark 13:32-37; 14:38). If we are indeed ready for Jesus to return at any moment – living each day that way, and excited for his return – we have no need to worry. We will be ready no matter what happens :)
What are your thoughts about this whole issue? What do you believe is the appropriate approach to have? Please feel free to share in the comments below :)
(Photo = courtesy of Google Images)
You’re on to great thoughts here. I’ve struggled with reports of how much money Camping raises to promote his ideas/theology. It’s difficult to see money raised to be wasted when there is so much need.
Thanks Roland! I know, I completely agree. It’s quite a shame how much money was piled in for something that turned out to be a scam :-/ I think it’s all the more reason to have a “Do good in the world and help others” mentality, rather than a mentality that tries to get others to invest in your own ideas/theology. I think we should seek to do good in the world and invite others to join us in our pursuit.