Showing posts with label Dispensationalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dispensationalism. Show all posts
No one will be 'Left Behind'
Its about time that people like Barbara R. Rossing, who are blessedly brave enough to speak against this false and abusive theology of last things. This is good and challenging reading for people who like me have struggled with the nature of such a violent, discriminating and triumphlist eschatology that has yoked so many Evangelical Christians since it was formally articulated by Darby and Scofield. This is a welcomed publication that in a way helps ease out my cringing whenever I'd see people somewhat rejoicing over global catastrophe because they see it as signs of the times, without ever thinking that the victims of those catastrophes are people just like them.
Stewardship & The Rapture
Some or most of you would disagree but I came across this cartoon on stumbleupon earlier today and I can't help but be provoked to think about Stewardship and our stand on Pre-Tribulational, Pre-Millenial Dispensational Escathology perhaps it's high time for us Christians to think about how we treat the environment in light of Scripture
consider the following verses:
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
Environmental issues are a major concern of our day. Christians should do their part to help the earth glorify God. After all, we know the Creator. Of course, we must also spread the gospel message, telling others about the Creator of heaven and earth.
Perhaps the confusion is that if in any case Pre-Tribulational, Pre-Millenial Dispensational Eschathology is true then perhaps it is then a question of God's will which is both revealed in a manner that is both sovereign and commanded. And as far as God's sovereign will is concerned Eschathology and Jesus' imminent return will happen regardless of our response towards it, while at the same time the Scripture's given mandate to take care of creation is commanded and therefore at the same time also holds us accountable as to whether we as part of creation yields to it.
Therefore it is our Christian duty as stewards to take care of the environment
consider the following verses:
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
Genesis 2:15 - The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
True environmental care is respect for God's handiwork, not a return to idolatry. Stewardship is the recognition of humanity's high created position, not a pantheistic ruling out of our responsibility before God.Environmental issues are a major concern of our day. Christians should do their part to help the earth glorify God. After all, we know the Creator. Of course, we must also spread the gospel message, telling others about the Creator of heaven and earth.
Perhaps the confusion is that if in any case Pre-Tribulational, Pre-Millenial Dispensational Eschathology is true then perhaps it is then a question of God's will which is both revealed in a manner that is both sovereign and commanded. And as far as God's sovereign will is concerned Eschathology and Jesus' imminent return will happen regardless of our response towards it, while at the same time the Scripture's given mandate to take care of creation is commanded and therefore at the same time also holds us accountable as to whether we as part of creation yields to it.
Therefore it is our Christian duty as stewards to take care of the environment
A Mennonite perspective on Left Behind
I find Loren L. Johns' critique on the Left Behind series quite insightful:
"At the end of the day, this series is ultimately a rejection of the good news of Jesus Christ. I say this because it rejects the way of the cross and Jesus’ call to obedient discipleship and a new way of life. It celebrates the human will to power, putting Evangelical Christians in the heroic role of God’s Green Berets. ... Love of enemies is treated as a misguided strategy associated not with the gospel, but with the Antichrist." 1
1 The Left Behind Series: Description and Critique - http://www.ambs.edu/LJohns/Leftbehind.htm
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