When you think of the future of Christianity, do you see a horrible end of time, or a glorious victory of the church?
Tom at Tom’s Journal had this to say:
Is earth a hopeless place that
Christians should neglect
because “it’s all going to burn anyway?”The few camps that fight and quarrel about, Pre- Trib, Post-Trib, Mid Trib, etc, seems like a childish grade school game played at recess. I have out grown that goofy stuff. As my wife and I attended the Baptist church in our small town, I asked some older brothers about this stuff about Left Behind, etc., and they agreed with me that we THINK that we shall be Raptured up BEFORE the Great Tribulation. But if it doesn’t happen that way– we are still servants and followers of Jesus Christ and will obey and worship Him forever! Duh…. I simple don’t have the time or space to express every word, idea and scripture that it took me 30 some years to absorb. I know how to be SAVED and can explain and share that great thing with any of my readers… and that means your ever lasting life!
This was my response over at his blog:
Does God have a bright future
for His Bride on earth?Hi Tom!
I can certainly relate to the whole “why sweat the small stuff” idea.
I also think that anyone who is a brother or sister in Christ remains so even if we see some things differently. If we are disagreeing, we should remember that it is in the family! 🙂
I used to tell people I was “Pan-Trib” (It’ll all “pan out” in the end.) 🙂
However, I always questioned some of the basic stuff that I was taught about the end times when I was very young. As I have grown the questions have gotten louder and louder in my head and heart.
I began to observe that Christians in general seemed so convinced that everything was going down hill until Jesus returned that they were almost “self-fulfilling” the going down hill part by neglecting their duty to promote revival and reform in the world.
If we are so convinced that there is no hope for society, we’ll just sit back and let it burn.
I submit that this is not consistent with the Character of God.
Of course, I cannot go into the details here (you may find lots of details over at American Vision).
A different way of viewing “the end times” and the second coming of Christ has been unfolding in my life for quite some time. I read about an ever increasing Kingdom of God in the book of Daniel (Daniel 2:29-45). I am taught by Jesus to pray “Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done, on earth as it is in heaven! (Matthew 6:9-15)”
I have begun to see a picture of a victorious church being salt, light, and yeast into every area of human life. Starting with salvation, but flowing out into art, science, law, history, labor, creativity, love, etc.
God gave us dominion over everything in the earth.
My “pan-trib” philosophy did not stand up. Our view of the end times does matter (not in the “salvific” sense). It motivates us either to withdraw from or engage and conquer (with humility) societies issues.
I submit that it would be well worth your time to carefully investigate some of the stuff that Gary Demar and company over at American Vision are teaching.
Whatever you do, brothers and sisters in Christ remain brothers and sisters in Christ!
God Bless Your Socks Off!
