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John Hagee with Benny Hinn: Praying For War in the Name of Jesus

January 7, 2012 in (Series) Video to Ponder, Dispensationalism, Eschatology, Fundamentalism, Kingdom of God, Nationalism, Politics with 24 Comments

Thanks to my good friend Conrad Schweizerhof for sharing this video with me. Serious… this is the problem with Christian Zionism, which is fueled by an extreme version of Dispensational Theology. Here are three posts in which I demonstrate this is an un-biblical approach to Israel (outside of my known stance of Nonviolence). — 1) Does God Have Two People’s In His Story? 2) God’s Chosen People and God’s Chosen Politics 3) Even a Jewish Rabbi Thinks That Christian Zionism is Bad For Israel (Glen Beck’s Rally – Restoring Courage)

Also, although I affirm the content of this video (not the prayers but the critique) I’m not willing to say that I support the particular agenda of the organization who produced this video. Just want to be clear that my posting this video is not an endorsement of any organization. Now that we are clear on that, here is the video:

Just Passin’ Through? (What the Bible says about the “end” of the world)

December 15, 2011 in Around the Web, Articles, Consummation, Eschatology, Kingdom of God, New Creation, Theology, Tim Geddert, Tribulation with 5 Comments

This month’s edition of Mennonite Brethren Harald (Canada based) features an article that I wrote about the “end” times.  I thought I’d share the introduction with you here.  If you would like to read the whole article, you can follow the link provided.  Also, here are my “Recommended Resources” that continue to inform my view of eschatology:

  • N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, The Resurrection, and The Mission of The Church
  • N.T. Wright, Romans: New Interpreters Bible
  • John E. Towes, Romans: Believers Church Bible Commentary
  • Michael J. Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness – Following the Lamb Into the New Creation
  • Timothy J. Geddert, Double Take: New Meanings from Old Stories

Thanks for reading!

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I guess we’ve all been “left behind.” According to what might have been the largest collaborative prediction of the return of Christ, we missed the rapture on May 21, 2011. Either everybody on the planet failed to pass the authentic Christian litmus test, or the predictions of Harold Camping were wrong. The rest of the world watched and mocked Christianity as May 22 dawned.

I grew up in the church. Most of what I recall from those early years brings good memories. People taught me that loving Jesus matters more than anything else. I learned that the world is corrupt, and the place we truly long for – heaven – is far, far away. So, we are to love Jesus and hate the world. This wasn’t hatred for the people who inhabit the planet, but a sincere belief that “this world is not my home, I’m just passing through.”

Are we simply passing through? So many issues plague this world. Creation is dominated by violence, ecological disaster, preventable disease, hunger, and injustice. These things could certainly lead us to desire an escape from the darkness.

But is this how the Bible sees it? Paul’s perspective in Romans 8 will help us explore this question. Continue Reading…

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? Liberal, Conservative, Hyper-Fundy, Pop, or Some Other Inadequate Stereotype

November 28, 2011 in Eschatology, Kingdom of God, Missional, Nationalism, New Creation, Theology with 22 Comments

Jesus asks Peter: Who do you say I am? Peter answers: You are the Messiah, the son of the living God!  Good answer.

It seems to me that there are several ways that people attempt to answer this fundamental question.  I’m going to attempt to summarize this by creating unfair stereotype-based categories.

Liberal Jesus

This Jesus is hip.  He walked around Galilee sportin’ Hebraic dreds and eating mysterious-yet-kosher plants that gave him moments of groovy wisdom.  “Man, you should totally give stuff to the poor, bro.”  “Those religious leaders are just a bunch of squares.”

And yes, Paul was being quite literal when he invited us to take the fragrance of Christ wherever we go.  This is because Jesus didn’t wear antiperspirant.  Not because it was unavailable in the first century, but because it’s bad for mother earth.  And the only reason Jesus was cool with Mary Magdalene pouring that perfume on him was because it was certified organic.  Jesus smelt just better than the one who “dealt.”

Jesus walked and talked like a miracle man.  His presence made people feel as though they were healed and so folks started telling stories as if he actually had magical powers.  These healing abilities even helped him out when he was crucified – for sticking it to the “man” I might add – so that after he was buried in the ground it was like he had healed himself through his legacy.  This healing was the memory of his unorthodox life that continues to inspire the inner spirit of many people today.

Conservative Jesus

This Jesus was all man all the time – wild at heart, some might even say. Continue Reading…

Provocative Question of the Day: If Jesus came back today the first thing he’d fix is…

November 15, 2011 in Eschatology, Kingdom of God, New Creation with 9 Comments

So, I want to throw out a question and ask for your response.  It assumes some things that are theoretical and so I admit that on the front end.

When Christ comes back, he will set this world to rights… God will become earth’s final king and will be “all in all.”  This will probably be something that happens quite quickly, but let’s pretend that when Jesus returns that it will be a process.  In other words, that he will address issues that prevent his becoming “all in all” one at a time.

So here is the question: If Jesus Came Back Today, What Would Be the First Issue in our World that He’d Address???  What would be the first thing he’d fix?

Try and make your answer as tangible as possible (in other words, to simply say “sin” or “poverty” might be too broad).

So, have fun… and try not to argue too much about this.  Remember, its all theoretical :-)

Beware, Or You Too May Be – Left Below! (When the Simpsons and Harold Camping Collide)

October 17, 2011 in Afterlife, Consummation, Dispensationalism, Eschatology, Kingdom of God, Missional, New Creation, Rapture, Theology with 10 Comments

Leave it to Homer Simpson to help us understand the “end times” better. Beware, or you too may be – Left Below!

This warning filled our TV screens, our newspapers, and our digital news feeds.  The world watched as people quit their jobs, gave all their money to advertising the rapture, and traveled throughout the world to spread the message of May 21, 2011.  Through various internal mathematical calculations, Harold Camping and followers, convinced themselves that they could predict the second coming of Jesus.  On May 22, the world was unchanged except for the poor folks who had given up their various forms of livelihood for this false teaching.

When Harold Camping spoke out about his false prediction, instead of recanting, he’s convinced that God truly did come back.  Here is the explanation from the Family Radio website:

What really happened this past May 21st ? What really happened is that God accomplished exactly what He wanted to happen. That was to warn the whole world that on May 21 God’s salvation program would be finished on that day. For the next five months, except for the elect (the true believers), the whole world is under God’s final judgment. To accomplish this goal God withheld from the true believers the way in which two phrases were to be understood. Had He not done so, the world would never have been shaken in fear as it was…  Continue Reading…

I Believe in the “Here and Now” But Live Like I Trust in Escapism

September 6, 2011 in Confessions, Consummation, Eschatology, Faith Journey, Left Behind, New Creation, Social Justice, Uncategorized with 6 Comments

free creative commons Sandy Desert Path, Antelope Island, UtahI’ve noticed a trend in my life.  When it comes to my worldview, the way I see reality, the way I see the Scriptures… I believe in a faith that focuses on God’s in-breaking future reality in the present. I believe in a Kingdom that each day can be realized “on earth as in heaven.”  I believe in the final renewal of “all things” the final union of heaven and earth when Christ returns.  But, for me, this isn’t some future reality with zero ramifications on the present.

This future hope draws me to believe that we can both experience and be signs of God’s eventual future New Creation, today!  Justice for the poor, the blind receiving sight, living as peacemakers and opposing violence, miracles that demonstrate our proper place as good gardeners of creation, authentic communal relationships – these all matter today as God’s Spirit draws towards the both presently inaugurated and future consummated reign of Christ on the earth. Christian faith is rooted in the historical “here and now,” with the affirmation that this world matters both today and tomorrow!

Therefore, what we do in the present “here and now” is immensely important.

One of the greatest struggles that many of us have with the version of Christianity that we inherited is that it often focused solely on tomorrow.  Continue Reading…

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