I posted this picture of a sign in our city on facebook. Approrpiately, facebook friends commented: wierd, fail, and other snide remarks. Many of my facebook friends have been around the Christian block long enough to know this isn't the first doomsday prediction and sadly won't be the last, and are quick to dismiss it as another ridiculous display of public idiocy by the latest group of crazies. But for the sake of my local friends here in Taiwan who may be new believers, here are my ideas of why we should choose to ignore these claims.
These kinds of organizations aim to stoke the fires of fear in people. Placing a specific date on Judgment Day, claiming to have derived it from the Word of God, are all tactics to threaten you to repentance. But our God is Love, and Perfect Love drives out fear, not induce it! Our gospel is that of grace and compassion, and invites with a sweet gentle Call. Genuine repentance never comes from fear, but through coming face to face with the unfathomable depths of God's love shown through the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, and those who follow Him.
Judgment Day is not the focal point of the cosmic timeline. As Christians, our main event happened 2000 years ago when Jesus walked out of that tomb. Most of the teachings in Scripture concerning the "End of the World" were addressed to believers living under intense persecution, to whom it surely felt like they were living in the End Times, and those Scriptures were calling them to remain faithful to the life and mission and resurrection of Jesus. We are called to usher in the New Kingdom, one characterized by justice, compassion, and hope.
So, to my fellow followers of Christ, let's log out of familyradio.com (yes I went on the website too and spent waaaay too much time reading through it), let's not plan to loiter around the sign on May 22nd to witness their folly revealed, because we've got far too many important tasks to attend to - loving our neighbors, speaking out for those who can't, praying for Egypt, living faithfully in our families, communities, and the world.
Your Kingdom Come.
