Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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What is behind the popularity of Harold Camping?

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Harold Camping and May 21

May 21 Calendar

As many people know, Harold Camping has predicted that the rapture will happen on May 21. I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that I will be writing a post the morning of May 22 thanking God for another day.

My purpose here is not to catalog a list of reasons why Mr. Camping is wrong. Others better qualified than I have done this. Many blogs and web sites have pointed out the errors in Mr. Camping’s methodology and Biblical interpretation.

Nor is my purpose here to catalog the teaching of Scripture on the Rapture. Again, others with greater ability have done this well. I can contribute little to the discussion.

My purpose here is to ask several questions which come to mind as I reflect on this prediction. I welcome your thoughts in response to these questions:

  1. What is the driving force behind date setting?
  2. Second, why are so many people believing this?
  3. Is Camping providing an illegitimate satisfaction of a legitimate need?

What is the driving force?

Why is it that people feel the need to predict prophetic events? What is it in humans that causes us to crave this type of knowledge?

The thought strikes me that this goes back to the very first sin. In the Garden, we attempted to seize control of our own destiny, chosing to disobey in an attempt to become like God. In our fallen state, we desire knowledge that is reserved for God.

Pride plays a large role in this. Jesus tells us that no man knows the hour, it seems to me that it takes a large measure of pride to go against this statement and set a date.

The opposite of this is trust in God. This is the lesson of manna, a lesson that I find necessary to relearn often. If I am living in fellowship with God, if I am living in dependence upon him, if I am living as if Jesus can return at any moment, then I do not have to know when he will return. If I do these things, I will be ready.

Why are many so easily led astray?

Some are led astray because they want to have the inside track, they want the knowledge that will get them ahead of the people around them. Again, I would point to pride. If I have knowledge that others do not have, I can feel superior to them.

Another factor is the lack of Biblical teaching emanating from many pulpits in America. If the entire Bible was taught and pastors took seriously the call of God to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12), then there would be fewer people duped by false teachers.

Is there a legitimate need behind this?

I think that there is a legitimate need behind this phenomenon. That need is to be certain of our standing before God. The good news is that we can be assured of good standing with God without setting dates or other false assurances.

Romans 10:9-13 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. Jesus himself tells us that he is the way to God (John 14:6). Through a relationship with Jesus Christ, we can be assured of our standing with God.

As a result, we don’t need date-setters or others who promise secret knowledge. We only need Jesus.

Last Thought

Jesus promised to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3). When the time is right, he will return to take us there. I trust him to know the proper time – whenever it happens, it will be fantastic.

Rob Bell Comes [Somewhat] Clean – Transcript and Comments

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I was recently made aware of this statement by Rob Bell posted to YouTube. This is in response to the hubbub about his recent book Love Wins, which I have not read and upon which I cannot comment. I did previously make some comments about an interview that Rob did with Martin Bashir. My post containing the comments can be found at http://wp.me/pSrkv-43.

Here is the “confession” of Rob Bell:

A friend requested that I comment on what Rob says. So to make sure that my comments are accurate, I first thought I would transcribe what he says. By my count, he makes 16 statements as to what he believes. Here is what he says:

I believe:

  1. In Jesus
  2. Jesus is the way
  3. in Heaven
  4. in Hell
  5. the Bible is God’s word
  6. I’m not a universalist because I believe God’s love is so great he lets you decide
  7. in the communion of the saints
  8. the church is the fullness
  9. in the New Heaven and the New Earth
  10. in Healing
  11. in miracles
  12. in salvation
  13. in the power of prayer
  14. that God is alive and working
  15. that there has been a resurrection and there is a whole new creation bursting forth right here in the midst of this one
  16. it is best to only discuss books you’ve actually read

Comment 16 is unfair because the critiques that I read were in response to sections of the book and statements by Rob Bell that were released prior to publication to drum up interest in the book. Each of the critiques stated the source of the material they were criticizing and each critic allowed that the final version of the book might have rendered their critique moot.

I don’t have any issue with the rest of the statements as far as they go. None of these statements are in direct disagreement with Scripture. These statements are the theological equivalent of “motherhood and apple pie” statements in politics. There is nothing to take issue with.

The problem is, depending on how the terms are defined, cults could be in agreement with these statements due to their generic nature. I am not saying that any of these statements cause me to believe that Rob Bell is in error. I am saying that further definition of each of these items would have to be made to have a better understanding of what he really believes.

For example, Rob states that he believes in Hell. Does he believe in an eternal place of torment to which those who reject Jesus will inhabit? Is that what he means by Hell? It could be, but his statement provides insufficient evidence as to his understanding of Hell (which was the point in question in the critiques).

Being vague may be a valuable skill in politics, but it should not be the method followed in Christian ministry. I am willing to give Mr. Bell the benefit of the doubt, but I do wish he would be more precise in his statements and spend a little more energy in articulating a cohesive set of beliefs with Scriptural support for each belief.

Even Lawyers Can’t Mess This Up

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Chained Bible At our church, we are studying through the book of 2 Timothy in the New Testament. A line from Chapter 2 struck me where Paul writes, “but the word of God is not bound.” Paul is saying that even though he himself is bound, Scripture cannot be put in chains.

Our society is becoming increasingly restrictive as to when, where and how Scripture can be displayed or read out loud. Efforts are made to prevent the Bible from speaking into our society in an effort to live free from moral restraint. Lawyers around the country have brought suit to remove the Bible from mainstream thought.

When Charles Spurgeon was asked how to defend the Bible, his response became a classic. He suggested that those who attack the Bible are like men who seek to attack a caged lion with clubs. In that case, one does not have to defend the lion, one merely has to let him out of his cage and he will defend himself.

A couple of applications come to mind.

First, in light of the recent ruckus over the burning of the Koran (which was an inherently stupid thing to do), I suggest that burning of the pages of the Bible would not produce the desired result. We do not venerate the paper and leather on which Scripture is printed and bound, we venerate the words themselves as coming to us from God. However symbolic the Bible burner considers his act, neither God, nor the Church is diminished by it.

Another application of this is that we should take any opportunity to read, teach, preach and distribute the Bible. God promises that Scripture cannot be bound and it will affect change. My reading it will change me. My teaching it will change others. This is an appetite that can and should be passed on, a healthy addiction.

The reason why enemies of faith border on paranoia about the Bible is that the Chief Enemy knows how effective it is in changing individuals and society for good.

We should take this opposition as a sign that our efforts to teach Scripture are not in vain. God will bless the distribution of his Word. With regard to standing against the Enemy of Scripture, I will end with the advice of Winston Churchill:

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

Anticipating an Important Letter

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How fast would you run to the mailbox if you knew that a personal letter from the President was waiting for you? Regardless of your political loyalties, to have such a letter would be an important occasion and you would have great anticipation as to how the letter will affect you.

While many of us believe God is the ultimate author of the Bible, if honest, we would admit that sometimes we take Scripture for granted. It is very easy to approach daily Bible reading as a task to be checked off.

There is something to be said for the discipline of doing a good thing even when we don’t feel like doing it. Discipline is important and will see us through when healthy tasks seem routine.

Yet, how much more would we get out of daily Bible reading if we keep in mind that the God who created the universe wants to speak to you (and me) directly through his word. It seems to me that any time we have opportunity to open the Bible should be a time of excitement and anticipation. We should anticipate being changed as a result with interacting with the living God. It should never be ho-hum.

I am reminded of a scene from the movie Luther which was released in 2003. One of my favorite scenes is when Luther is bringing his German Bible to Frederick the Wise (played by Sir Peter Ustinov). As Frederick is reaching for the Bible, his hands are trembling with anticipation. (Note that however historically inaccurate this scene is, I still like it)

Such should be my attitude. God has spoken, is speaking and will continue to speak in Scripture. I need only to reach out with fingers trembling in anticipation.

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