Another distinction which need be considered seems often given to one of some few variety of extremes (i.e., excluding Christ as primary focus):
"End-time" stuff.
Recent teaching at church did justice on this account: The matter of knowing precisely "when" isn't relevant to our lives, even as we must live believing in the ever-imminent culmination of this age, as Christ's return must be expected possible in any instant.
To the flesh, that sounds completely nonsensical, as circularly illogical: "How could it be possible or necessary to continually expect an event's immediate occurrence, yet simultaneously live as though the specific time of that event is absolutely irrelevant?"
There's a disregard for any "absolute" sense of time thereabouts which completely goes against the grain of the flesh, is all. (The flesh wants to know and to plan as to assert dominance, ultimately--it wants to live by sight, not by faith, as to maintain a sense of self-esteem sourced in the observable world.)
Living according to the flesh is not possible, while constantly expecting Christ's return, without development and continuation of either serious anxiety...or other emotional complication, likewise dredged up per such an unresolvable tension. Unavoidable tension, because it contradicts the very nature of the flesh.
Tension arises as there's no accommodation for being able to "plan accordingly" in regard to worldly interests. The flesh knows itself, only, wants for itself only. It experiences progression of time and desires to exert some amount of control, as to reassure its sense of self-importance, if nothing else...even as to preserve itself...or to promote its interests (unto worldly concerns, lustful and covetous)...all to institute and maintain some illusion of security, in terms of physical reality.
The flesh is bound up in the passage of time, is all. Until we become as Christ in all ways, the flesh is inextricably of the physical realm. And it ever wars against the spirit, as such, seeking dominance on its own terms. However, as long as we listen to those fleshly desires--demanding the solace of perceived (deluded) worldly security as primary comfort--we act as though we're bound to the world, as though we're still subject to the law of sin and death.
In terms of eschatology, which so blatantly and flagrantly assaults the base nature of flesh, there thus arises a vast tendency to go to extremes. Because everything is entirely out of our hands, largely unknown. We can only know that the Lord will do what He has said He will do. And He specified that it was not given to tell when matters would come to bear, except soon and without warning.
The Lord did anticipate there'd be all sorts of chaos regarding His return: His parable about the workers is so very much the case, now and perhaps since the inception of the church.
There are "workers" who go to extremes, acting horribly: Even as there are so many people, unsaved, who are just the same: ignoring even the existence of God, doing only what reason seems to dictate as best: Abusing themselves, abusing others, abusing the name of God. No reverence. He's presently "out of sight, out of mind," for them.
And in terms of the professing church, two regards for eschatology seem entirely prevalent:
On one hand, there's a vast crowd (many of whom effectively are "Christian witches," even unawares, as practitioners of "Word of Faith"-craft...which: "Christian witchcraft" isn't a "thing" which is possible, just to note)...a vast crowd stands, barely restrained in their bloodlust over the coming judgment. These, completely obsessed with end-time prophecy which allows for a personal sense of exemption while decrying annihilation of everything "other." And, oh yeah...a rapture of the church, of which they consider themselves a foremost candidate for inclusion...or at very least, enough a candidate as to "just make the cut" for being taken. Actually, there are even those in this camp (of which I used to be a member) who are honest enough to question their own salvation, believing they may well be "left behind," fully expecting that if that is the case, they can then serve the Lord in ways which are otherwise ignored (like a "second chance at salvation," sort of thing, having come to see that salvation wasn't theirs).
On the other hand, there's a crowd which seems to be either a)terrified of even the idea of studying eschatology or b)completely unconcerned with the culmination of the age, lacking any sense of imminence: These two sorts are relegated to the same "camp" for consideration, given that the effect equates to relatively the same: no valid, pressing concern/desire for the return of Christ drives their devotion to the Lord and obedience to His will.
So, on one hand, there's an overemphasis on His coming which completely skews sense of devotion to the Lord. On the other hand, there's insufficient emphasis on His return which allows for a completely skewed sense of devotion to the Lord.
The recent in-church teaching which touched on these things covered 1 Thessalonians 5:1-7(ish), giving much emphasis to the idea that we're supposed to be balanced in our desire for Christ's return. Yes, we do long for it. Yes, the Spirit and the saints cry out for His return. Yet, we're not to get so wrapped up in the idea of His return that we become idle, anxious, or angry servants.
The course is this:
We're supposed to be able to continually renew our impetus to serve, with all due diligence and exuberance, per increasing revelation of Christ, His love, and awareness of His any-moment-imminent return. Knowledge of His coming is supposed to inspire us to a greater degree of devotion to serving Him, spurring us onward into greater, loving desire for obedience and conformity to His will.
Not unto a false sense of security which yields to forsaking necessary, continual examination of ourselves (unto ensuring we are in the faith and growing in Christ). Not as to feel armed to yell at the world, in condemnation--come by way of a perversion which allows self to feel justified in taking up judgment, as though on Christ's behalf, pre-emptive of His return (wanting to act as a stand-in for Christ as judge pronouncing judgment is a red flag regarding that whole "being in the faith"-part of salvation, by the way).
Neither is it supposed to be wholly ignored, and especially is it not to be feared (by those who are in Christ, at least): Trusting God. Longing for Christ. Being obedient to Him--All mean that part of the process of growing nearer to Him entails looking to Him, increasingly, for all things.
And looking to Him also entails looking to an eventual meeting...a face-to-face reconciliation with Him...at the consummation of the age, for sure, or maybe prior...
But...all those prospects are joy--even if they also inspire a reverential fear of coming to see the one so powerful, so beloved...for those who love Christ, though, there is a great hope in knowing of His imminent return. Borne of love.
The desire for obedience, even, is founded in love. As those who love Him obey His commands.
Obedience isn't for the sake of avoiding punishment, nor for the sake of achieving reward, not for the sake of self-exaltation...
...foremost, it's by course of love.
For love of Christ.
Loving someone makes for desire to please them, yeah. Honoring that love, even in absence of the beloved, unto whatsoever end is understood as something which would be desired by them.
So, knowing the object of such devotion could show up at any time?...doesn't that generally give a sense of excitement, jubilation, hope, and desire for accomplishing everything possible, just to please them...filling the time preceding arrival with a flurry of activity, according to those ends, means, and intents?
Rather than anger, fear, hatred, anxiety, idleness, or whatsoever else has been the case.
Not self-exalting, is the thing. Not self-concerned, but wholly taken with excitement at the knowledge that the one so beloved will arrive at any time.
Which is wherein modern attempts at eschatology just fail, mostly. Because they are not focused on Christ. They are not given to encouraging people to seek Him more wholeheartedly.
Especially "rapture" considerations. Regardless whether the rapture is a "thing" or not, it really should have no bearing whatsoever on life. If it is real, but generally is touted in such a way as to distract from Christ, Himself?...it's being promoted in such a way as to equate to demonic doctrine.
If it is what the Lord has in store for the Church, then well and good. But it should still only serve to the end which the Lord has in store for the Holy Spirit, now...unto conviction, sanctification, greater obedience, unto holiness. Unto transformation to Christ's image, from glory to glory.
Not as a stand-alone comfort for the flesh, in terms of desiring self-preservation.
That's a deviation from the course of Christianity.
Reconciliation to God is unto obedience, is all. Anything which comforts disobedience is not of God.
Anything which reinforces rebellion, pride, lust, covetousness, or howsoever else you care to consider sin...
...it's just not of God.
Much all of what I've seen of the rapture frames it in terms of "just bear with life a little while longer, then we're out of here and we won't have to worry anymore, and we'll be rich, and we'll never be in pain anymore, and we'll be happy forever." Which...of all the things wrong, there...at the very least, we've been admonished not to worry, in the here and now. Period.
Not that I'm perfect at it, still--learning always to trust fully in God--but I know that we are not supposed to fear. We are supposed to trust. Fear equates to doubting God. Anxiety is an expression of lack of faith. ...and everything which isn't done faith, done in faith, is sin.
Is it something being overcome, or something allowed to remain unchecked, unaddressed? If it's the latter, then according to John's first epistle, that may be a fair indication that regeneration hasn't occurred. Same as with any sin. If it's ongoing, unchecked, and unconvicted...
...there's fair indication salvation hasn't come to that soul.
God does chastise those who are His.
One thing to the next, has been experience. Once one sin has been brought into the light, then another comes under conviction. Step, by step, by step. Sanctification.
That's how it's been going, at least.
Lovelessness has been a thing, the past few months. Seems there are so many things tied up in that...it's vast. Bitterness can have no hold, no place. Anger can have no place--it's murder, according to Christ. Even James acknowledged that the anger of man doesn't work to God's righteousness.
Part of becoming free from those tendencies has consisted of acknowledging, further and to deeper degrees, that Christ is sovereign. Becoming ever more cognizant of the fact that He is the one who will judge. Not any one of us. And becoming indignant has flavors of judgment interspersed all throughout. So, yeah--no--best not to go that route.
So many wrong views, though, and all must go.
These, regarding eschatology, have taken quite a while...with lust for blood, self-justification, and self-gratification on one hand and fear, anxiety, and apathy on the other...the only way through is to look to Christ, and see the all as He intends it be seen: something to make the darkness light, to encourage hope, to promote activity, to engender diligence, to reinforce loving obedience, with Christ the central point all the while.
A hopeful thing. Something encouraging. Something to add momentum to effort.
...and while Jude made a minor concession for using fear to bring people to the Lord. Which...fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and of wisdom. So, yeah, there's that. But it's not a matter fearing anything and everything. Fear the Lord. You know, like Christ said...fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
But even then, if the fear isn't unto reverence of God, but merely a matter of desire for self-preservation...
...what good is there?
One of the first Sundays attended at present church, the pastor made observation regarding "tangent Christianity" as a legitimate concern. This, when anything--even Scripture--becomes so much a fixation that Christ is no longer primary focus. Rapture theology reeks of that, thus far I've experienced it. I've listened to varied accounts, on both sides of the argument, but none seem ultimately convincing. The prooftexts...don't seem entirely substantial, for such an unwaveringly professed doctrine.
And the more I pray about it, the more comes the realization: Christ matters. If the rapture is so, then it could only be a much lesser consideration than Christ, regardless. Following Him is the course, period. Whatever comes is His business.
Yes, akin to what He told Peter: We follow Christ, so what business is it of ours how things develop, when they come to pass, or how our earthly lives proceed...except to be about the business of obeying Christ, following the Holy Spirit as He leads us into truth?
If it is so, then amen. If not, then amen.
But that's not the general stance. The general stance seems to require either utmost adherence to a belief in the rapture, or utmost rejection of the idea.
Again, either way with a focus which isn't Christ, but "doctrine."
And, okay, so I've heard the case made that doctrine and theology bring us closer to God, allowing us a means to know Him better. Well and good, yes. When it's so.
When it gets to the point where doctrine is embraced with more vehemence than lovingkindness in Christ, looking ultimately to Christ...
...or even when doctrine is touted co-equal to consideration of Christ...
...it's idolatry. "Tangent Christianity," even. At best.
At worst, it's false religion.
That's the case with eschatology, study of the end times, as much as with any study of the Bible.
Christ is all. Period.
Whether He's continually regarded as such, in context of whatsoever considerations are at any point being perused...ofttimes is sadly another matter, for those remaining under such strain of delusion as to be restricted from seeing Him, in all.
Just another matter of walking the line, in faith, is all.
Just consider Christ's decree that we are to be anxious of nothing, and even more specifically--we are not to be anxious for tomorrow. Is it possible to experience that, live according to that, and remain mentally conformed to the desires of the flesh, seeking always to conform to the ways of the world, regarding time, money, occupation, family, and all else?
No comments:
Post a Comment