The Story Behind “Left Behind”

The popular book series “Left Behind” by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins has sold over seventy million copies, spawned video games, mechandise, and movies.  It is based on a theological system that dates to the 1800s and is one way some Christians view the end of the world.  Yet it is not the only way to understand or interpret the Bible regarding the Second Coming of Christ, Book of Revelation, and other issues of eschatology (study of final things).

The History of the Movement

This series of books follows the dispensational theological framework born in England and Ireland in the 1820s.    Dispensationalism began with the Plymouth Brethern movement and the father of this movement is John Nelson Darby (1800-1882).    This movement divides history into specific periods.   These movements include seven dispensations and the last is a 1000 year millennium.     In this system we are in the current church age (sixth one) and the seventh has yet to come.  The movement came to North America in the 1800s and was published in a monthly magazine.  Soon a Bible study meeting was organized that taught these views.   Popular American ministers became influenced by this movement and began to teach the theology.  Dwight Moody was a popular preacher who accepted these views.  The theology evolved and expanded to include even more new teaching.   Dispensationalists proposed the “pre-tribulation” Rapture and the view became very popular.  It would later find a ”post-tribuation” and “mid-tribulation” rapture supporters.  One of those who adopted this view was C.I. Scofield (1843-1921).  Scofield would put together the Scofield Study Bible which contained notes teaching this view.  The Scofield Bible published in 1909 really helped spread this teaching.  His study notes and study Bible would become very popular and are still used today.   The Moody Bible Institute would be one of the institutions that would adopt this view and teach it to generations of preachers.  Other schools would follow suit.  Dallss Theologidcal Seminary which began in 1924 is the flagship of Dispensationalism in this country today.  There are many “camps” within this system and much variety.  What is true for one dispensationalist is not necessary true for all!  Yet there are consistent teachings or ideas that are taught within the system.

In 1970 Hal Lindsey wrote “The Late, Great Planet Earth” which further popularized this view.   He felt the end was near and probably in the 1980s.  Many Christian churches adopted this view through music, video, and other influences.  Movies like the 1972 “A Thief in the Night” focused on the rapture view.  In 1995 “Left Behind” was released and many sequels followed. 

In upcoming blogs I will discuss the rapture, 666, Anti-Christ, tribulation, and other concepts found in the book “Left Behind.”  I will discuss the various interpretations that many have had regarding such issues.  Not every Christian agrees with the “Left Behind” perspective.  In fact before Darby in the 1800s many of the views now popular would have sounded very strange to Christians. 

This is not to say Christians pre-1800 did not believe in the end times or have concepts regarding that.  Yet the particular system popular by LeHaye is a rather new theological system. 

Next discussion- the Rapture.

Blessings,
Derik

Is it the End of the World?

One topic that Christians talk about is the end of the world.  The doctrine that deals with this is ‘eschatology’ and is ‘the study of final things.’  Due to the overwhelming popularity of the “Left Behind” books (more than 70 million copies sold) a particular view of the end of the world has become very popular.  I’ve talked about the book of Revelation and various topics relating to this interest in sermons and Bible studies.  I thought it mind be helpful to spend some time writing about it for those who might be interested.  So for the next series of blogs I’m going to address various themes relating to this issue.

For this first blog I basically want to give an overview and then in articles to come I’ll deal with specific topics.

Are we living in the last days?  Is the end near?

That is a good question and the answer is that we simply don’t know.  Our focus as Christians is to work until Christ returns and not sit back and wait.  Jesus himself warns us to not set dates.  Read Mark 13 and you find a passage that mainly talks about the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple (which happened in 70 AD).  Yet he gives this final hint of his return and warns us that no one knows the time or hour.  In the 19th century one group set a date and sold it all and went to wait.  When Christ didn’t return on that specific date the day became “The Great Disappointment.” 

There are a few statements I would want you to understand before this blog discussion can begin.

*There are many interpretations regarding this issue.  Tim LaHaye’s view in “Left Behind” may be a popular view but it is not the only view!  Many Christians disagree with this particular way of viewing the end of the world and we will explore that.

*This is a doctrine that we shouldn’t battle over.  The basic Christian belief is that Christ will return (the Second Coming).  These detailed discussions of what that means and how it will happen is not worth dividing friendships over.  It is not a salvation issue.  We aren’t questioning the divinity of Christ but rather intepretations in the text regarding one aspect of Christ.  Christians who have different views on eschatology still affirm Christ is the Son of God and is our salvation. 

*This view does have implications.  Having said what I said this view is important.  What we teach and believe matters and our views on various subjects do connect.  Some people become so focused on this one view and on the return of Christ that they neglect everything else!  The overall message found in Christ’s return is a message of hope.  We may not know the details but we do know that Christ will win the day!  As one person said in a study recently, “In the end we win.” 

Back to the first question I gave— Is this the end of the world?

Usually people ask this because they see how bad things sometimes seem.  The truth is I don’t know and no one else does.  I would caution against thinking that the sky is falling.  If we start down that path we might just start to talk about date setting!  Things have loooked dark many times in history.  When Jerusalem fell and they burned the Temple to the ground it seemed like the end of the world.  During many wars and struggles it seemed as if the end were near.  In this country there have been dark times.  During the American Civil War when the country was torn apart it seemed like nothing would ever get better.  The citizens under seige in some cities probably thought life would never be ‘normal.’  During World War Two people could easily feel as if it were all over.  Personally on September the 11th in 2001 I felt a shudder and wondered if life would ever be sane.  Dark days scare us.  Jesus said there would be many wars and rumors of wars.  Civilizations do fall.  Rome seemed invincible and yet it like all empires fell.  So we want to be careful to not declare that exact events in current life are verses from the Bible coming true.  Imagine a preacher stressing and banking it all on the Soviet Union being the beginning of the end of the world.  He might put out videos and studies pointing out various poltical events stressing the spread of Commuism and stating that this is bringing things together for the end.  Then commuism fell and the USSR disappeared over night.  Suddenly his message was wrong!  People who followed such a preacher intently would then began to question it all.  There were those who did just that.  Some of the ‘end times’ books that said the end was literally a few years away were written decades and decades ago.  In fact during the first century Christians were upset because they thought surely Jesus was about to return right then and when he didn’t and they saw their friends die they were questioning the whole thing.  The New Testament encourages them to not lose heart! 

So do I believe the world will end?  Yes.  Do I believe Christ will return?  Yes.  Do I think that there are strange ideas about it? Yes.  Do I think there are wrong ideas about it? Yes.  Do I think there are dangerous ideas? Yes.  Do I think there is confusion about it? You bet.

The book of Revelation is a wonderful inspired book that I love.  It has passages I use at funeral services. It is a message of hope.  Yet it is one of the most confusing books and can be scary in the hands of some.  From the beginning Christians wondered if we should even read it!  Some thought it didn’t belong in the New Testament!  Most did and I’m glad we have the book of Revelation.  It is Scripture and it is a part of our Holy Bible.  Yet it like many issues can become confusing. 

On other warning I would give.  Some people might get so focused that the end is near that they use that as an excuse to not do something to make the world a better place.  Some argue we should only evanglize because the world is ending so why worry about poverty or hunger?  Why take care of the environment if it is only going to be destroyed in a few years?  We are called to be stewards of this earth and to take care of poverty, hunger, and other issues as well as share our faith.  We do need to live a better world behind for the next generation. 

So stick with this blog journey.  I’ll try to write more often when possible to cover some of the issues at hand.

Next blog– What is the Theology of “Left Behind”?

Blessings,

Derik

What Americans Believe Today

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has released a detailed new survey this month.   If you want to read the report visit www.pewresearch.org/pubs/743/united-states-religion.  Here are some interesting notes that you might find fascinating:

*Men are more likely to claim no religious affiliation.  One in five men have no formal religious affiliation (compare this to 13% women).

*16.1% of the country states they are unaffilated to any religious tradition (Christian, Hindu, etc).  This is growing!  It is growing fast.  Previous polls showed about 12 percent.  Of this number 1.6% are athiest and 2.4% are agnostic.  This means 12.1% might believe in God but aren’t interested in organized religion.  Of that 12.1% we find that 5.8% (half) do find some type of religion important but they don’t go.

*1 in 4 Americans ages 18-29 do not have a religious affiliation.

*Catholics are seeing a greater net loss due to religiosu affiliation changes and if it weren’t for immigration it would be worse. 

*The oldest members belong to Mainline Protestant and Jewish groups.  Half of Jewish and Mainline Protestants are over age 50.

*Of all ethinic groups African Americans are more likely to report a formal religious affiliation.  Even those who don’t belong there are more African Americans who still find religion/faith important to their lives (3 in 4).

*A growing number of people who say they were not affiliated as children are becoming affiliated as adults (4% of overall population claim this).

*However the people becoming unaffiliated from being affilated vs those who are affiliated who become unaffiliated is 3 to 1.  That means more people are leaving then we are reaching.  This group is younger as well.

*6 in 10 Americans over 70 are Protestant.  4 in 10 among 18-29.  

What does this tell us?

The church is struggling to reach men and young people.  Churches that are mainly “white” will continue to struggle.  Women will provide more and more leadership in the church.  The church is getting older and as the older generation passes away great challenges will exist.  How will some churches continue?  I’ve read studies that say half our churches may not survive in the decades to come. 

Is it over?

No.  There are churches that are reaching the very groups this study says are not being reached.  There are churches that young people and men are going too.  There are churches that are reaching the ‘unaffiliated.’  The majority are not but there are those that are.  And if you read Philip Jenkins book “The Next Christendom” you will find that Christianity may be struggling in the United States (as this study shows) but it is growing in third world lands (South America and Africa for example).  Churches in other lands are growing.  Europe and England have seen great decline and the church is far worse there than in the United States.

And so the Spirit of God moves.  If a church refuses to ‘get with it’ God will move where churches are open to the work of God.  In this country there are churches that are doing great work.  We can learn from those as well as from our brothers and sisters in other lands.  We also need to focus our efforts on reaching men and the young adult crowd.

So is this report a wake up call? Of course!  There is work to be done and we need to do it.  But we must remember that God is great and through Christ we can do all things.

Blessings,
Derik   

A World Without Faith

John Lennon wrote a beautiful song we all know called “Imagine.”  In that song he imagined many things and one was a world without religion.  Imagine if the world did not have religion.  What if Christianity did not exist?  What would such a world be like?

Science may be able to describe to us how things work.  But what about ‘why’?  How would we develop a sense of morality and right and wrong without a faith system?  Why would murder be wrong?  Why would it be wrong to kill someone in order to take what they had?  How would we develop a system of ethics apart from religious ideas or concept about God?  Do we believe all war and violence would end without religion?  Stalin and others in the name of a government without religion did many evil things.  So do we think that evil and violence would disappear by doing away with all religion?

What about other moral practices?  Would we have marriage?  How would we develop our laws?  Would we simply create a society where anything goes?  An athiest might argue that such a society would still have laws to protect the freedom of others but why?  Why would that matter?  If there is no God or gods then why would anything be wrong? 

What would this new world look like?  What would say to those who grieve over the loss of a loved one?  What type of funeral practices would we develop?  What would we say to those suffering from hurt and pain in the hospital and cancer wards?  With no chaplains to pray and no hope for an afterlife would life be better?  What would we say at the scene of a school shooting or a national tragedy.

I realize that religious people have done horrible things.  I know people have used religion for all kinds of evil.  Religious people have supported slavery and segregation.  Yet it was religious people who desroyed slavery and segregation.  And do we really think that without religion we would not have had slavery or segregation?  Do we think that all the world’s problems can be placed at the feet of the religious?

Dawkins and others argue for the end of faith.  Sam Harris wrote a book asking for just that.  Some think that the world would be better without faith or religion of any kind. 

So imagine a world with no steeples, prayer, holy books, and no hymns.  Imagine a world where Sunday is a work day or a day of play and no church bells ring.

Imagine a world that never knew a Martin Luther King, Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, Dietrich Bonhoffer, Handel, the Apostle Paul, or countless ordinary folk.  Perhaps in another world they would have been doctors, lawyers, and politicans instead of preachers, nuns, theologians and such.

I’m not sure I want to live in such a world.  I believe that the world is a better place because of the church.  I believe that a world without faith would be a lonely place.

Blessings,
Derik

Are We Just Kidding Ourselves?

I just finished two really good books.  Alister E. McGrath and Joanna McGrath’s latest work “The Dawkins Delusion?  Athiest Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine” and Timothy Paul Jones “Misquoting Truth” are two books you really need to read.  Both tackle two popular authors who are publically making waves.  Richard Dawkins is the famous angry athiest who with others continues to try to ‘debunk’ God.  Barth Ehrman is the North Carolina religion professor who went from ministry to atheism and has written that the Scriptures simply are not accurate and can not be trusted.  Both are athiests and both are being read by many people. 

Dawkins seems to come across very angry and very arrogant in his latest work “The God Delusion.”  Dawkins and several others believe that religion is not only wrong but dangerous.  Dawkins spends much time discussing why faith in God needs to be abandoned.  He does not believe we should pass our faith on to our children.  He sees faith as irrational, immature and a ‘virus of the mind.’  Dawkins is a brilliant man who knows much about science but is not a trained student of religon or philosophy.  He really writes outside of his expertise and comes across very very mad.  I loved McGrath and McGrath’s short work.  Their book counters the arguments Dawkins makes in much less time and offer a Christian response. 

Ehrman is a brilliant writer and does not come off as angry as Dawkins.  Ehrman began as a conservative Christian who eventually moved to abandoning his faith.  He talks honestly about his struggles and his works share his journey.  When you read Ehrman you do learn because he is a student of religion and Christianity in particular.  I actually enjoy his works where I did not Dawkins.  He has insights to share and yet his conclusions are dangerous.  His struggle with faith is a tragic one.  His book “Misquoting Jesus” might lead some to think that we can’t trust the Bible and therefore we can’t really trust the Jesus story.  Jones counter in “Misquoting Truth” is a great response and very easy to read.  Jones is much easier to read than McGrath and helps with much of the confusion.  Jones doesn’t take easy ways out and is clear about the struggles of the story of the formation of the New Testament canon.  Yet he shows us how we do have a valid revelation and one we can trust. 

Why does this matter?  The world is reading Dawkins, Ehrman, and many other similar writers.  Our bookstores are full of books that relate to these issues.  People are curious and people are seeking.  I reviewed “I Sold My Soul on E-bay” which was written by a friendly athiest.   Some of these challenges come from friendly and nice people and others are by angry people with big agendas.  We better know what we believe and why.  I can see how easy it would be for folks to have their faith become quite shakey with so much being said about God and whether we can even believe in God.  Are we kidding ourselves?  Are these critics right?  I believe we may not have all the answers but we do have a valid faith. 

Christians have always had to answer the cries of the critics.  There have always been those who question and attack our beliefs.  From the beginning of the church there were those who attacked Christ and ridiculed what we believe.  Yet the gospel has not been destroyed by critics and pundits.  We are called to be responsible and to grow in faith.  Christian discipleship is a major issue today. I am finding many Christians do want to understand the bigger issues.  People want to understand the history of our faith, how the Bible was formed, how to face tough issues, and how to relate to other beliefs. 

It is true there are those who will struggle and walk away from the church.  Ehrman is an example of this.  Yet McGrath was a trained Biologist who was an athiest who did not grow up in the faith and became a Christian and a theologian.  Francis Collins is a extremely intelligent scientist who has written a powerful book, “The Language of God” and began as an athiest who now believes in God and is a Christian.   

So don’t lose heart.  Do your homework.  Be prepared.  Know what you believe and why. 

Blessings,

Derik

Too Many Hypocrites?

This past Sunday my sermon challenged the notion that we don’t need the church to be a good Christian.  While we can be a Christian and not go to church we really can’t live up to our potential without the church.  I really do believe that Christians need the church to be who God has called them to be.  You might disagree but I do believe the Scripture is very pro-church and shows that God’s mission is going to work through the church.  The church is not the building or the insitution but the people.  The New Testament word for “church” is “Ekklesia” and means “the assembly, called out.”  The people are the church and we are the force that God has called to go out into the world and to take this good news.  We gather together in local assemblies to worship, be discipled, minister, and do what we need to do to be God’s people.

Now that it’s Monday and I’m thinking back to my message I realize there was much more I could have dealt with in my sermon.  The argument by many who no longer go to church often comes down to the failures within churches.  People often say, “I’d go to church if it wasn’t for all of the hypocrites.”  I didn’t spend much time on that complaint and realize that alone would make a series of sermons!  As I think about it though the truth is yes we are hypocrites.  Every Christian is a hypocrite.  I’m one and so are you!  Harsh?  You bet!  But true!  What do I mean? A hypocrite is one who “practices hypocrisy.”  Hypocrisy is defined as, “The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.”  This means that we say we believe something but don’t do it.  Every Christian I know has been guilty of this at least every now and then!  Every non-Christian I know is guilty of this!  Because we are human we may believe something but sometimes we don’t do what we believe!  We say we believe we are supposed to love others but our actions can betray that!  We know certain things should be done and others not and of course we do the opposite.  Does this mean the church is a bunch of failures?  Yes and no.  We are when we depend upon our own strength but we are not when we allow the Spirit to guide us.  Alan Jackson sings, “We are a work in progress” (singing about a man pleading for his wife’s understanding) and this relates to us.  I would say to a critic who made this accusation about hypocrisy, “You are right.  Sometimes I am a hypocrite.  I fail to be who I want to be.”  Where hypocrisy becomes very dangerous is when we don’t admit our short comings and refuse to do better as we grow!  And yet most churches I know are not full of people like that!  I’m sure you can find plenty of folks who go to church who don’t do the right thing and don’t want to do the right thing but I believe they are by far the minority.  Most Christians are really trying to be who God has called them to be and yet they realize they don’t always get it right.  Thank God for grace and patience.  God is patient toward us and offers us grace (forgiveness we don’t deserve).

So are we perfect?  No way.  But I also believe our critics are far from perfect too.  Yet we serve a perfect God who sent a perfect Son to save us from our imperfect selves.  The church is the called out folks who have trusted in Christ and want to be who God has called us to be.

So if you are looking for a flawless place you’ll never find it.  But if you want a place to grow, learn, share, love, and praise then you need to be a part of a community of faith.  If you are in a negative church then you may need to find somewhere more positive and grace filled. I admit there are some churches that are so conflicted that they can’t get much done.  Yet don’t think you’ll find a ‘perfect’ church but you do need to find one that is aware of their flaws and is willing to work together to be God’s people! 

Blessings,

Derik

Why Should We Believe in God?

In my last blog I wrote an article on the book “I Sold My Soul on Ebay” by Hemant Mehta.  I hope you’ll read that review and check this fascinating book out.  The more I reflect on this book I wanted to comment on a few insights that need to be considered. 

In the last part of the book he talks about what it would take to convert him.  I can understand some of the struggles athiests have with God.  There are many religions and before a person can accept Christ and Christianity just getting your mind around the idea of God can be a challenge.  We all know that there is suffering all around us and to argue the existence of God can be a challenge to some.  Mehta’s argument basically winds up with his struggle of hard evidence to show there is a God.  He can’t go on faith alone.  He wants us to be able to show him God with hard evidence.  He is a logical person and the idea of God (or Christianity) is beyond logic for him.  To quote the author, “To convince me I am mistaken in not believing in God, a church would have to appeal to my sense of reason and my insistence on empirical evidence” (page 166).  Wow!  That would be a tough challenge.  There are those who claim to be able to do that.  Many people have all kinds of arguments to give that evidence that God exists.  Mehta talks about an encounteer he had with Kirk Cameron (“Growing Pains” fame) and how the actor turned evangelist claims to be able to do that and uses arguments that are still faith based and not ’scientific.’  Many arguments Christians use in such debates are not ‘concrete’ enough for skeptics.  Mehta also felt ridiculed and put down by this encounteer. I didn’t hear it so I can’t judge but most of Mehta’s encounteers and debates with Christians he says are positive and he enjoyed them but a few left him feeling hurt.  And it goes in both ways.  Sometimes skeptics can be harsh and cruel to believers!  Either way this doesn’t work.  Mehta suggests in his book that churches need to be open to honest debate with skeptics and others who think differently.  I agree with that and both sides need to do so with respect. 

I have to admit that it does come down to faith.  I do believe there are rational arguments you can use that can argue in favor of the existence of God and the Christian faith.  However, I know those arguments can never give 100 percent evidence to a skeptic.  I also know that we simply can’t produce hard cold facts that skeptics would like.  We don’t have a video of the resurrection!  Yet the flip side is always true that skeptics can disprove God’s existence either!  They arguments athiests use to say there is no God are also not 100 percent and not without flaw!  So it becomes an argument that goes back and forth and never goes anywhere.

So why do I believe in God? 

*Science may tell me the how but it does not tell me the why or who.

*I don’t see science and faith at odds. I see  science as the “language of God” (to borrow from Francis Collins).

*I am not thrilled about the idea of existence apart from purpose or a Creator.  It tends to lead to a very negative outlook in my opinion.  It doesn’t help with death, pain and suffering.  The problem of evil is real and I don’t have all the answers but if there is evil and no God then that is a depressing thought to me.

*General Revelation.  This is the idea that we see creation and that points to God. I know some argue that it is a random creation but that sounds more unbelievable to me than a planned creation. 

Why do I Believe in Christ/Christianity?

*The Christ story speaks to me that it is a God thing and that I can not save myself (I know myself to well).  I prefer grace over karma or works any day!

*Other religious systems just don’t do it for me.

*I believe Christ has stood the test of time.  There have been skeptics who have tried but the Christian faith has survived any challenges given.

*I believe that the Christ story makes since to me.  The overwhelming majority of scholars (believers and non-believers) do not doubt there was a man named Jesus.  So if the claims of the church are true (that Jesus said he was the Son of God and came to save us) then C.S. Lewis’ argument makes sense to me.  Lewis said Jesus was either a liar (since he said those things), a lunatic (only a crazy man would say it if he wasn’t lying), or Lord (just who he said he was).  Some would argue that Jesus didn’t claim those things but the NT is clear he did and even if the NT writings were not trusthworthy the early church and history has not waivered from this central teaching.  So when people say he was a great prophet (Islam) but not Divine they can’t be right.  He either is who he said he was or he wasn’t.  If he wasn’t he would not be a good man. 

*I also have my own personal experience with God through Christ.  I know what God has done in my life. 

I know that there are many heavy arguments we could get into but in the end it does come to faith. I’m not a trained debater and I know there are brilliant minds on both sides of this issue.  Yet I have faith and I believe it comes to faith.  I admit that.  And yet to not believe or to accept something else takes faith too.  It’s faith wherever you go because you can’t logically and concretely proof either side.  So if you are an athiest or a believer you are trusting and placing your faith either in yourself or in God.  I’ll go with God.

Blessings,
Derik