On Harold Camping (the rapture guy)

I started this blog today to write about Harold Camping, and the engrossing approach I see many Christians (even those I have come to respect) take to his matters. First and foremost I do not want to rant, and I do not see myself as a modern day Paul, Peter, or John. But I do want to interject some criticism of the people so willing to slam this man and the effect it has on the rest of Christendom, our image as the body of Christ, and offer the better approach to said subject.

Timeline: Camping made predictions that the Rapture or other specific end times events would occur in 1988, 1994, most recently 21 May 2011, and just the other day 21 Oct 2011. He made statements that "God was done saving Christians." Those are the facts. Now leave them there.

There have been several reactions within the Christian community: e.g.: posting commentary related to Jesus' words in Matthew 24:36, "Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son—except the Father only;" to people downright lighting the man on fire. Those who aren't Christians signed up via Facebook for "post rapture looting," and others downright lit the man on fire; others scoffed at the prophecy Camping made and the Bible altogether.

So let's get it straight: where in the Bible does it mention a "rapture." Nowhere. That would be like the Bible using the term "dinosaurs," it simply wasn't in the vernacular, but the concept of what Christendom has come to define as the "rapture" is evident in several parts of the New Testament:

Matthew 24:40, "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one left."
I Thessalonians 4:16-17, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord."
In Revelation, the word "Church" is used several times until Chapter 4, then several terrible events occur on Earth." (eek!)

No doubt, a similar concept - the resurrection of the dead - is frequently explored in the Bible and very prominently in the New Testament: (see Matthew 16:27, 24:30-31, 25:31-32, 26:64, Mark 12:18-27, 13:26-27, Luke 17:26-35, John 5:21, 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 6:14, 15:12-32, Philippians 3:20-21, Colossians 3:4, 2 Peter 3:8-10,  Revelation 1:7), and probably a host of others that I am forgetting to include. Pretty interesting when you think of all the movies in the last 10-20 years where the "living dead" or "zombie" is portrayed, and is assumed to be largely fictional. Call me Harold Camping, but I believe the media and the entertainment industry will have made such a common reference and usage of the "resurrected" that when the Bible's end time prophecies are revealed masses of people will either be indifferent, or completely consumed with fear! Their dependence on others telling them how to feel will not even elicit a response in orientation to the Lord; not for most of them anyhow. This isn't the first time it's happened on a wide scale. If you recall, shortly after Jesus' death on the cross, "and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead" (Matthew 27:52). Point is: The Bible is not to be taken lightly.

But back to Camping. Other Christians have created their own web domains used to respond to Camping. Take for instance www.rapturefail.org who self describes:

"RaptureFail was set up to allow people around the world to catalogue the failure of Harold Camping’s Rapture prophecy for the 21st of May 2011.

We’re now doing it all over again for the new date set by Camping, 21st of October 2011. This time round we’re inviting you to download a flyer, add your name to it and take a photo of yourself holding it, add it to our Flickr page and then see yourself in the gallery!

As Christians who take the Bible seriously we believe that “prophecies” like these demean the church’s witness in the world. The purpose of this site is to demonstrate very clearly (and to mock gently) that this is a false prophecy and that Harold Camping is a false prophet."

Oh man... "Catologue the failure?" And they think Camping is "demeaning the Church's whitness in the world?" I agree with the simple fact the Christians need to be educated, to discern correctly, and to keep each other accountable. Does anyone else see the problem with this? Several Christians are still making statements like, "survived the rapture twice in one year." (first of all you don't "survive" the rapture, because the event brings you into real live). Digressing... I'll lay it out plain and simple: those who are not believers have their eyes fixed on Christians waiting for them to make a mistake. Camping made a mistake, and teaching your weaker-in-the-faith friends, or teaching nonbelieving friends that, for lack of better words, 'this is not what every Christian comes to understand,' is useful. But let it go! The world knows he did not pass the test, so let it go! By mentioning his failure over and over do you not see that you are not opening up the Gospel to the world? Instead, you are showing an example that it is fine to attack others, call them failures, present a message of rejection, and condemn them. What about forgiveness? Should you forgive Harold Camping? Yes. Why? "Forgive others as God has forgiven you." and "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." It's a matter of the heart. If you recognize by now that you have the wrong approach to Camping, even in the slightest amount, you should seek forgiveness in your heart for Harold and pray for him. Why forgiveness? We forgive only when we feel we have been wronged. Even if you don't personally feel wronged, you still feel you association is misrepresented.

Do you see the division that is possible when you choose to publicly scorn someone like Harold Camping? Please don't do it any longer, and gently counsel those of your friends that do. It reminds me of the reactions to Osama Bin Laden's death. The masses were fired up. But many forgot that this man was not saved. On "180 The Film," the host asks people, "you have Hitler in your sights, clear shot, perfect day, do you take the shot?" I bet without even thinking of the consequences, many would say "yes."

Have I made the point clear? Christians are at an age in history where even in the "free world" we are under fire. We are seen a bigots, judgemental, fear mongering, haters. Some of it I will stand by, strong. But what I will refuse to do is walk in a spirit that is no different from that of the world. I will not add doctrine, scripture, and "good quotes" to my public life, while in my heart practice malcontent, division, and come to live a life or say things that open the doors for unbelievers to have yet another reason to not want to investigate the claims of Christ, the efficacy of prayer, the guidance in prophecy, and the credibility of the Bible. 

Remember this: what you invite in your heart stays there; what is in your heart comes out of your mouth; what comes out of your mouth reveals your character; and your character shapes your legacy.

Make yours a legacy worth reading about -- even if it requires you to humble yourself.    
  

How I Wish The Homosexuality Debate Would Go

Just once, I’d like to see a TV interview go more like this:

Host: You are a Christian pastor, and you say you believe the Bible, which means you are supposed to love all people.

Pastor: That’s right.

Host: But it appears to me that you and your church take a rather unloving position when it comes to gay people. Are homosexuals welcome to come to your church?

Pastor: Of course. We believe that the gospel is a message relevant for every person on the planet, and we want everyone to hear the gospel and find salvation in Jesus Christ. So at our church, our arms are outstretched to people from every background, every race, every ethnicity and culture. We’re a place for all kinds of sinners and people with all kinds of problems.

Host: But you said there, “We’re a place for sinners.” So you do believe that homosexuality is sinful, right?

Pastor: Yes, I do.

Host: So how do you reconcile the command to love all people with a position on homosexuality that some would say is radically intolerant?

Pastor: (smiling) If you think my position on homosexuality is radical, just wait until you hear what else I believe! I believe that a teenage guy and girl who have sex in the backseat of a pick-up are sinning. The unmarried heterosexual couple living down the street from me is sinning. In fact, any sexual activity that takes place outside of the marriage covenant between a husband and wife is sinful. What’s more, Jesus takes this sexual ethic a step further and goes to the heart of the matter. That means that any time I even lust after someone else, I am sinning. Jesus’ radical view of sexuality shows all of us up as sexual sinners, and that’s why He came to die. Jesus died to save lustful, homo- and heterosexual sinners and transform our hearts and minds and behavior. Because He died for me, I owe Him my all. And as a follower of Jesus, I’m bound to what He says about sex and morality.

Host: But Jesus didn’t condemn homosexuality outright, did He?

Pastor: He didn’t have to. He went to the heart issue and intensified the commands against immoral behavior in the Old Testament. So Jesus doesn’t just condemn adultery, for example, as does one of the Ten Commandments. Jesus condemns even the lust that leads to adultery, all with the purpose of offering us transformed hearts that begin beating in step with His radical demands.

Host: You say he condemned adultery, but he chose not to condemn the woman caught in adultery.

Pastor: That’s right, but He did tell her to “go and sin no more.”

Host: But who are you to condemn someone who doesn’t line up with your personal beliefs about sexuality?

Pastor: Who am I? No one. It’s not all that important what I think about these things. This conversation about homosexuality isn’t really about my personal beliefs. They’re about Jesus and what He says. I have no right to condemn or judge the world. That right belongs to Jesus. My hope is to follow Him faithfully. That means that whatever He says in regard to sexual practices is what I believe to be true, loving, and ultimately best for human flourishing – even when it seems out of step with the whims of contemporary culture.

Host: But you are judging. You are telling all the gay people watching this broadcast that they are sinners.

Pastor: I’m not singling out gay people. I’m pointing to Jesus as the answer to all sexual sinfulness.

Host: But you are referring to gay people. Why are you so focused on homosexuality?

Pastor: (smiling) With all due respect, you are the one who brought up this subject.

Host: Are you saying that you can’t be gay and Christian?

Pastor: No. I’m saying that you can’t be a genuine Christian without repentance. Everyone – including me – is guilty of sin, but Christianity hinges on repentance. We agree with God about our sin, and we turn from it and turn toward Jesus. When it comes to Christianity, this debate is not about homosexuality versus other sins. It’s about whether or not repentance is integral to the Christian life.

Host: But do you see why a homosexual watching this might think you are attacking them personally? You’re saying that something is wrong with them.

Pastor: I think Jesus’ teaching on sexuality shows us that there is something wrong with all of us – something that can only be fixed by what Jesus did for us on the cross and in His resurrection. That said, I understand why people might think I am attacking them personally. Most people with same-sex desires believe they were born with these tendencies. That’s why they often see their attraction as going to the very core of who they are, and so they identify themselves with the “gay” label. So whenever someone questions their behavior or desires, they take it as an attack on the very core of their being. That’s usually not the intent of the person who disagrees with homosexual behavior. But that’s the way it is perceived. I understand that.

Host: If it’s true that a person is born with one sexual orientation or another, then how can it possibly be loving to condemn one person’s orientation?

Pastor: Well, we really don’t know for certain about sexual attraction being innate and set from birth. All we have is the testimony of people who say that they’ve experienced same-sex desires since childhood. Christianity teaches that all people are born with a bent toward sin. It’s possible that some people will have a propensity toward alcohol abuse or angry outbursts, while others may have a propensity toward other sins. Regardless, Christians believe people are more than their sexual urges. We believe that human dignity is diminished whenever we define ourselves by sexual urges and behaviors. Consider this: married men are sometimes attracted to multiple women who are not their wives. Does this mean they should self-identify as polygamists? Not at all. And surely you wouldn’t consider it hateful for Christians to encourage married men not to act on their desires in an effort to remain faithful to their spouses. It is the Christian way, after all.

Host: No, but it still seems like you are telling people not to be true to who they are.

Pastor: It only seems that way because you believe sexual desire reflects the core of one’s identity. It would help if you and others who agree with you would understand that in your putting pressure on me to accept homosexual behavior as normal and virtuous, you are going to the very core of my identity as a follower of Jesus. The label most important to me is “Christian.” My identity – in Christ – is central to who I am. So I could say the same thing and call you intolerant, bigoted, and hateful for trying to change a conviction that goes to the core of who I am as a Christian. I don’t say that because I don’t believe that’s your intention. But neither should you think it’s my intention to attack a homosexual person or cause them harm merely because I disagree.

Host: But the problem is, your position fosters hate and encourages bullying.

Pastor: I recognize that some people have mistreated homosexuals in the past. It’s a shame that anyone anywhere would mock, taunt, or bully another human being made in God’s image. That said, I think we need to make one thing clear in regard to civil discourse: To differ is not to hate. I hope we can still have a real conversation in this country about different points of view without casting one another in the worst possible light. The idea that disagreeing with homosexual behavior necessarily results in harm to gay people is designed to shut down conversation and immediately rule one point of view (in this case, the Christian one) out of bounds. As a Christian, I am to love my neighbor and seek his good, even when I don’t see eye to eye with my neighbor. Furthermore, the picture of Christ on the cross dying for His enemies necessarily affects the way I think about this and other issues.
I didn't write this, but i sure agree --

From:

"How I Wish the Homosexuality Debate Would Go." Kingdom People. Web. 18 Oct. 2011. <http://trevinwax.com/2011/10/18/how-i-wish-the-homosexuality-debate-would-go/?utm_source=feedburner>.

"Put your boobs away."

Anyone heard of Rocco Grimaldi? Perhaps not, unless you're a huge College Hockey fan, or follow the NHL draft. The man of the discussion is the 33rd Draft pick to the NHL's Florida Panthers, and a current Fighting Sioux forward (woot woot). This guy can thread a needle in the dark if you know what I mean (hockey metaphor). The most remarkable thing about this extremely talented young man is not the fact that he is touted as the next Johnathan Toews (take your pick from the megamix of talent coming from the ND Locker room), nay, the most remarkable thing about him is his devotion to God, Jesus, and the advancement of the Kingdom.

He isn't just about pretty words either; as most athletes stop at "I would like to thank God," no, this man preaches the whole Gospel - conviction, celebration, and hope. He is also a man who knows how to carry that cross. Some -who have nothing better to write about- have referred to his very recent Twitter remarks as "sexist" which we can see is a common reaction from that of an unbeliever. His "rants" were largely pointed at modesty and purity. He points out that "women are not an object for playing with" and "Guys, when did sleeping with every girl you can make you a man?" or "[girls,] when did being a beautiful girl become dressing with the least amount of clothes?"  .... The one that got him in trouble was "Ladies you can help us out big time. Put your boobs away..."

Yep, that is SEXIST!!! (#psych!!) lol

Click: yardbarker for a 'thoughtful' exposition where Rocco "gets all weird and religious on us" or puckdaddy for some twisted criticism of Rocco's choice of words.

We can call it unfair treatment, but the "world" is not a place for a Christian or a devout, outspoken athlete. We weren't made for this world. The "world" would be heralding this man if he was in support of LGBT or removal of DADT or DOMA, or if he were to drive a Prius and gave speeches for the rights of the "small majority." What a contradiction. Instead, people act as if his Twitter comments are an attack on the very civil rights of others. 

As my wife would say, it's a "travishamockery." But I will digress. We all know how the world treat Christians so I will not spend any more time talking about it. Instead, I will celebrate that the Lord Jesus has done an amazing work in this young mans life. Glory be to God that He has empowered a public figure to be a great example of the message of the Messiah. His words are that exact message:

"I'm not a Christian because I'm strong and have it all together. I'm a Christian because I'm weak and admit I need a savior."  

Amen. Carry your cross, too. Preach the whole Gospel. People don't know they need a mediator until they know they understand the Law.

Now for fun:

       

"Delegating to your Kids"

How many FOTF (Focus on the Family) broadcasts have I posted!? How many have you listened to or read? The gang did another fantastic job today with another addition to "Sound Advice for Working Moms."

The topic was how to better delegate to your kids. e.g., chores, responsibilities, and work. These delegations change and increase as your child gets older and can often be stressful. How do you bake a meal, take out the dogs, change a diaper, clean the house successfully, wash clothes and still manage to be happy or joyful? FOTF points out some things I certainly have not considered. Every time I listed to Focus, I have to humble myself even if I am absolutely sure I know what my plan is when Gabriel comes to this world (my unborn son). Well, I invite you to do the same. These three and their guests are very wise and the Lord has placed a huge amount of clarity and understanding to their lives; let them be your blessing as you raise your kids and manage your family and kindle your marriage: