Dear Marketplace Friend,
I’m sure he meant well.
Harold Camping is an elderly gentleman who has built a media platform – dozens of stations, under the banner, “Family Radio” – which has allowed his voice to be heard, by lots of folks. His early work was civil engineering; he had his own HalfTime when he pursued ministry as his calling. He has always had – and, expressed – strong opinions, based on his interpretations of Scripture.
He has now had his “15 minutes of fame.” Millions heard of his declaration: May 21st was the day that would mark the Return of Jesus. Cataclysmic events were to begin at 6:00pm local time – in every time zone – as the End of History commenced.
Well, we’re still here. Atheists are partying like there’s no tomorrow lot’s of tomorrows. Christians who believe the Bible’s prophetic future are now certified “kooks;” are they right?
Best to allow God to speak for Himself on this one, friend: “… you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation…’ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” (2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-10.)
It would have been much “safer” for God to keep the Scriptures confined to history and how-to, without the prognostication that sets the stage for occasions like last Saturday. When a prophecy’s fulfillment fails to occur – as forecast by a fallible human, not dictated by the Divine – it opens the door for infidels to impugn the credibility of the Bible.
Many of Camping’s adherents "drank the Kool-Aid," and went off the deep-end in preparation for their Saturday split. Some quit their jobs; some sold their homes; some invested life savings to place ads announcing the May 21st lift-off. We’re all used to seeing the Space Shuttle departure delayed, without thinking less of NASA; with the Rapture “on hold,” the existence of God – and/or the truth of the Scriptures – has been placed in question for many.
So, what now? How do Christians who still respect the Bible live out their faith in an increasingly skeptical culture? Again, the best counsel, from the Coach: "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." (2 Peter 3:11-13.)
There we have it: keep on keeping on. Keep your job. Pay off your house. Send your kids to a Christian university. Anticipate becoming a grandparent. Start writing the book you always said you had in you. Live like you’ll be here until you’re 100… while knowing that your most important activities between now and then will be the things done with eternal consequence.
C.T. Studd was an Englishman who was born to privilege in 1860, was born again in 1876… and set a life course for investment rather than indulgence. After graduation from Oxford, he gave away his inheritance and spent the next five decades in China, India and Africa as an Ambassador for Heaven.
He was the source of a line you’ve heard before; it fits well, today: "Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last."
Bob Shank
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Bob, I am not an adherent to Harold Camping’s predictions. I do think his assertions unfounded and damaging to the unbelievers’ views of christians. However, I do listen to Family radio, his station, because it plays a lot of old hymns, has daily reading directly from the scriptures and other teachers who are right on in interpretation of the Word.
As far as I can tell, Mr. Camping, though inaccurate in his interpretation of the scriptures, was sincerely doing what he thought was right and so were his followers. Do I think he loves Jesus? Yes. Do his followers? Yes. So that leaves us with a situation where the rest of Christendom is throwing stones and ridicule at a brother. Are you comfortable with that? I hope not. If having 100% accuracy on one’s theology is the determining factor on who’s worthy of praise or scorn, then a lot more stones ought to be in the air. And that would be wrong too, wouldn’t it?
I’ve been really careful to not disparage Mr. Camping or his radio ministry, but to provide the balance that has been missing in the public media. His prediction was out-of-sorts with biblical clarity – “no man knows the day or hour” – and he wasn’t the first (or, last) to get out on that limb. I want to make sure that an inaccurate prediction does not reduce the confidence in the promise that He WILL return… at a time we could not have predicted (“thief in the night,” as Jesus called it). Sincere? Undoubtedly. But sincerely wrong calls for a truth based reset…