"Some say the world will end in fire.
Some say in ice." - Robert Frost
Throughout history it has been a human obsession to wonder about how creation will come to an end. Doomsday predictors have been a part of the intellectual, religious, and scientific discourse since the beginning of human society. It is not just a faith phenomenon - our recent discussions and findings in the ecology of the earth have raised awareness of whether our planet can continue to sustain the side effects of the human species. Whether or not you believe that global warming is a result of our carbon footprint, it doesn't take much more than a Sunday drive to witness the negative impact that our sprawl and our polution have on our environment.
In the recent days and weeks we've heard more than most want to hear about Harold Camping, Family Radio Network, Judgement Day, End Times, Rapture. With a great deal of faith and a great deal of searching, this group of Christians have looked for hidden signs and signals in scripture and in history to try to determine how and when the world will come to an end. If one can predict the date and time, then one can be prepared, and prepare others for the Christ's return. You can be on the right side of Judgement, can express that faith, can bring others to salvation.
While most of the faith and scientific communities disregard the fervor of Camping and his followers (and there will be a need for pastoral care and reassurance to those who hoped to be raptured on May 21 and found themselves still having to go to work on May 23), one cannot deny their passion for belief. It is hard to fault those who feel that they need to know the endgame - it's a little like reading the last ten pages of a novel. Many of us don't like surprises, don't like ambiguity, don't appreciate the journey as much as we want to be at our destination. The challenge that presents itself to all of us as we come to the end of the Easter Season is how do we sustain our faith in the Risen Lord, how do we follow Him, how do we express our faith in Resurrection, and not worry about how and when our salvation will be encountered?
Camping and his faithful, as many apocalyptic communities before, cannot live in the ambiguity of God's love and faithfulness. Nor can they live in a faith that fills life with Christian hope. We, however, are an Easter people. We are a people of the Kingdom of God. Our faith guide and shepherd, Bishop Sean W. Rowe, constantly invokes the phrase, "It's a Great Day in the Kingdom!" And he does so in sure and certain faith. His surity is our inspiration, and we, in turn are called to share that certainty with others. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus tells us that we do not know the day or the hour of His coming - only God the Father knows. What we do know is that we are to live a life of faith and love, following the example of Christ. To be in right relationship with Jesus is to share His Gospel with the world, in word and deed, and to rest in assurance that we will be welcomed home at the end of this journey.
Some say in ice." - Robert Frost
Throughout history it has been a human obsession to wonder about how creation will come to an end. Doomsday predictors have been a part of the intellectual, religious, and scientific discourse since the beginning of human society. It is not just a faith phenomenon - our recent discussions and findings in the ecology of the earth have raised awareness of whether our planet can continue to sustain the side effects of the human species. Whether or not you believe that global warming is a result of our carbon footprint, it doesn't take much more than a Sunday drive to witness the negative impact that our sprawl and our polution have on our environment.
In the recent days and weeks we've heard more than most want to hear about Harold Camping, Family Radio Network, Judgement Day, End Times, Rapture. With a great deal of faith and a great deal of searching, this group of Christians have looked for hidden signs and signals in scripture and in history to try to determine how and when the world will come to an end. If one can predict the date and time, then one can be prepared, and prepare others for the Christ's return. You can be on the right side of Judgement, can express that faith, can bring others to salvation.
While most of the faith and scientific communities disregard the fervor of Camping and his followers (and there will be a need for pastoral care and reassurance to those who hoped to be raptured on May 21 and found themselves still having to go to work on May 23), one cannot deny their passion for belief. It is hard to fault those who feel that they need to know the endgame - it's a little like reading the last ten pages of a novel. Many of us don't like surprises, don't like ambiguity, don't appreciate the journey as much as we want to be at our destination. The challenge that presents itself to all of us as we come to the end of the Easter Season is how do we sustain our faith in the Risen Lord, how do we follow Him, how do we express our faith in Resurrection, and not worry about how and when our salvation will be encountered?
Camping and his faithful, as many apocalyptic communities before, cannot live in the ambiguity of God's love and faithfulness. Nor can they live in a faith that fills life with Christian hope. We, however, are an Easter people. We are a people of the Kingdom of God. Our faith guide and shepherd, Bishop Sean W. Rowe, constantly invokes the phrase, "It's a Great Day in the Kingdom!" And he does so in sure and certain faith. His surity is our inspiration, and we, in turn are called to share that certainty with others. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus tells us that we do not know the day or the hour of His coming - only God the Father knows. What we do know is that we are to live a life of faith and love, following the example of Christ. To be in right relationship with Jesus is to share His Gospel with the world, in word and deed, and to rest in assurance that we will be welcomed home at the end of this journey.
