It's Not the End of the World

Not that many of you are avidly listening to Rev. Harold Camping, who has predicted the end of the world for May 21, 2011, but the secular media has jumped all over this story. I felt that as your pastor I should weigh in on all such matters and rumors related to any biblically-calculated end of the world scenarios.
While it is possible that God has given Rev. Camping some unique insight or revelation, I will confess to being quite skeptical. Ever since the Second Great Awakening in the late 1800's, pastors and laypeople have written to express their belief that God has revealed to them the exact timing of the end. Whole movements and denominations have sprung up declaring that the end of the world was near, and many have even got specific about stating an end date. Those dates all passed, as I suspect this one will too.
Jesus made it very clear to his disciples that “no one will know the day or time” when the world will end and Christ will descend upon the clouds. He said to them, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36) So this passage causes me to be pretty skeptical about all this end-time talk.
I think one of the purposes of Rev. Camping, and all those who would foment a fear of an impending end of the world, is to get people to consider the state of their spiritual lives and of their relationship with God. If this end date causes some people to re-examine their faith, their behavior, or their relationship with God, then it may have some positive value. If on the other hand, this date comes and goes, and nothing happens, then Rev. Camping makes a mockery of the roles and influence of pastors and church leaders, showing that we cannot be trusted to speak the truth, and that we will do anything to get our 15 minutes of fame. Remember that Koran-burning pastor in Florida, Rev. Terry Jones.

Here is the most important thing: I will share with you exactly what I say at many funerals and whenever someone asks me about the end of the world. There is a greater likelihood of your dying from sudden heart-attack or stroke, or being involved in an accident, then the end of the world coming. Ecclesiastes 9:12 makes this clear: “Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” As we well know, we cannot know the date of our death or the means, and we cannot be assured that we will have a long life, or a long illness in which to prepare ourselves spiritually for our meeting our maker. We must live everyday ready to give an account for our life, our lifestyle, our choices and most importantly the current state of our relationship with God. How is it with your soul?
I am very likely to see everyone in church on Sunday morning. But just in case I don’t see you because something happened to you overnight, “are you up to date on all your shots?” What I mean is, are you sufficiently connected to God? Do you live in such a way that you are certain you will be received in heaven with the greeting, “Well done, you good and faithful servant”?
I don’t worry about the end time. If it comes, I am ready. If it doesn’t come, I am ready to keep on serving. If I die tonight, I am ready. If I don’t, I will continue to live and serve the best I can. I hope you have the same confidence.
Don’t fear tomorrow, or any predicted end time. And do not fear your death. Jesus said, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:4-7)

Fistfights in Church?

You may have read in the newspaper or seen on the local news that a church in Washington DC was having a congregational meeting, when emotions ran so high and the controversy was so great and contentious, that eventually some church members started slugging one another and eventually the police had to be called in.
Are you as shocked as I am? Are you as disappointed as I am?
Jesus prayed that the church might be ONE. He prayed that his disciples would get along and would care more about unity than about issues. Having our own way is not what Christian discipleship is about. Jesus said on more than one occasion, "Love one another." He even said, that people would know that we belonged to him by the way we love each other.
Now, we are all human, and it is hard sometimes to remember that we are to reflect and project the love of Christ in everything we do. That's in EVERYTHING we do. And this is especially true when it comes to what we do in the church and as the church.
Imagine the message the church sends to the community when even within its own body, there is fighting, angry disagreement, and fistfights.
Of course the Church (all of it) is not immune to controversy, disagreements and differences of opinion, or differences in the interpretation of scripture, or differences in discerning the will of God. But one thing is clear: We are to love each other, even when we disagree, and we are to always reflect the love of God, until we can sort out our differences.
That church in Washington may have been arguing over which pastor to hire, or whether to put a new roof on the church, or whether to begin a new ministry. But the attitudes and actions of the members were anything but Christian.
We, United Methodists are also going down the path of controversy and disagreement. In my opinion, it is an unresolvable difference of opinion. And to me, since that is the case, it is pointless to make the issue that final litmus test of one's Christianity.
As we prepare for General Conference, the quadrennial gathering of the church (in the spring of 2012) for the purpose of updating our Book of Discipline, there is another flurry of activity around a variety of issues that undoubtedly will occupy the time of the delegates as they deliberate and vote on these issues. One debate I am not willing to get sucked into is the whole discussion on homosexuality.
Everyone has their opinions, and there is no topic about which people have more tightly held perspectives. No one is willing to change their minds, so what is the point of talking. There is no right and wrong on this issue, and until we die and go to heaven, we will never really know what is "God's will"; though all of us think we already know it now.
The more important matter above all things, is unity, love, charity, compassion and caring for each other regardless of our stances, opinions or perspectives. The kingdom of heaven is about love, mercy, acceptance, caring, service to each other, personal sacrifice for the sake of others, and forgiveness. Our congregation, our denomination, and the whole of the Christian Church has to be mindful of its witness to the world, to those not yet aware of Jesus' saving love.
If you were unchurched, a non-believer, why would you want to join an organization that is constantly in a state of anger, accusation, and animosity. You wouldn't. Yet in the Great Commission, Jesus instructed all his disciples to go out and tell the world about the great LOVE of God which was demonstrated in his Son, Jesus. Jesus has not called us to argue, or rebuke each other over personal opinions. He has called us to restore peace, love and gentility to a world already too full of hate and strife. There is no place for fighting in the church.
Let us reflect the kingdom of heaven in all that we do and say, please.