The End of the World

One of the benefits of working at a Christian university is the mail we get.  I know you might think there are countless other benefits that are worthy of blogging about, and I assure you there are ;), but nothing brings a smile to our day more than when some "well-meaning" person decides to share with us their thoughts about Christianity as a whole or our school in general.  I think the funniest one we ever got was from an angry student...it had a cut out picture of the devil glued to the top followed by their lovely thoughts about our school.  Last week, we received a stack of brochures in the mail from Family Radio.  Some of you might have heard of Family Radio before and the Harold Camping following.  If you have, then you now understand the title of this blog post.  If you have not, then let me enlighten you...the rapture will take place on May 21, 2011!  Did you get that!?!  Mark it down in your calendars because you won't want to miss it!  I hope you get my sarcasm, please tell me that you do.  If you are interested in seeing the mathematical equation that Harold has used to set the date of May 21, 2011, go here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/02/harold-camping-claims-rap_n_409377.html

It gets better though... it seems that Harold Camping also predicted that the rapture would occur on September 6, 1994.  I like how they ask for financial support "to help us help you to reach out to others, which is your reasonable service".  I think he should have a 100% Rapture Guarantee, or your money back.  That would be great!  Even though I still wouldn't contribute, it would at least make me laugh harder.  

I thought about writing a letter to Harold Camping and putting it in the mail so that it would get to him on May 22, 2011.  It would say something like "Wrong again buddy!"...I guess I still have time to work on that though.

His brochure, as silly as I think it is, brings up a good question.  Am I ready?  I don't live every day waiting for Jesus to come and I don't believe we are called to live lives of waiting.  I think we are called to live lives of following, following Christ.  So maybe the better question is...Am I following?

I read something interesting in the book I am reading: The Parable of Joy by Michael Cord.  The passage is John 1:6-34 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:6-34&version=NIV.  Michael says in regards to this passage, "The ministry of John the Baptist serves as an important landmark in the geography of the faith.  Before John, as far back as Abraham and the other patriarchs, having faith meant waiting.  The exercise of belief was almost completely a matter of waiting for the Messiah.  John the Baptist was the final faithful "waiter."  After John, faith is expressed by following the Messiah.  This significant shift from waiting to following was immediately preceded by an act of repentance in preparation for the Coming.  That is where John fits in.  His baptism of repentance, which so confused the Jewish authorities, perfectly prepared the waiting faithful to become faithful followers."

So while Harold Camping may be reaching people for Christ, I think he is cultivating a waiting faith.  What is your faith based on?  Are you waiting or are you following?