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.