Jesus Creed
Gary Black on doomsday eschatological schemes:
Coming soon to a theatre near you (again) is the remake of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkin’s first book in the multi-volume series Left Behind. These 16 stories convey their biblio-fictional interpretation of how John’s vision of the end of the world, as described in the book of Revelation, might play out in a twenty-first century context. But many readers and moviegoers may not understand the larger backstory conveyed in these books and movies.
I think we evangelicals have not fully considered the impact this brand of theology has made in terms of marginalizing, and even ignoring, the more holistic vision of life in the kingdom of God that Jesus came to teach and demonstrate. As a result, some of these end-times dogmas can actually work against the overarching message of Christ, unintentionally weakening the overarching biblical perspective on the moral life, holiness, witness, and Christ-like transformation….
It’s ironic to consider that those who have so faithfully dedicated their lives to the edicts of scripture and its divine authority have also tended to let their interpretations of the end times overshadow the hope and power of Christ’s redemption, which the Bible expressly illustrates can and will revolutionize life in all its forms, making all things new. Yes, evil is real. Yes, pain and suffering can seem to be growing. Yes, the world is desperately in need of saving. But it is also true, as the apostle Paul became convinced, “that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39 NIV).
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