I am continuing to look at the effects, good and bad, of our techno driven lives. I will be continuing this throughout the summer.
Over the past several weeks I have been absolutely dumbfounded by all the attention and media coverage given to this man, Harold Camping, who against all biblical mandates to now speculate on dates and times said that Judgment Day would occur last Saturday. It wasn’t just a prediction. He said with absolute certainty that May 21st would be it. “There is no plan B,” he expounded. I hope that I don’t need to get into all the reasons why such speculation is foolish. But, quite simply, we are told in Scripture not to do that. Furthermore, we are told not to listen to such people who claim to have special information about such things. They are wrong. Clear and simple.
When Saturday came and went, there was silence from Camping’s broadcasting offices. I thought that finally he had learned his lesson after his failed 1994 prediction and now this one. Yet, astonishingly, he now says that he was wrong only partially. For there was a spiritual Judgment Day which occurred last Saturday with the final, visible, real one to occur on October 21st. He is sure of it this time. October 21st is the day. There is no plan B. Most of his followers are somewhat forgiving and willing to give him another chance. But some, mostly those who quit their jobs or blew through their savings to promote the end of the world, are not so understanding. Yet, we should not feel sorry for them or anyone who so blatantly and willfully ignores the clear teaching of Scripture to follow the ramblings of one man.
Proverbs 14:25 says “A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.” Only God knows this man’s heart. But I believe he will certainly have a lot to account for when that Day does come. He is a false prophet and the Bible has very harsh things to say about such people—especially those who would cause harm to the delicate faith of little ones. Little ones like my ten year old daughter who was terrified Friday night because she heard on the news that the world would be ending on Saturday . . . The News! So because I am so aggravated and incensed by this whole thing, this is the last thing I will say on the subject until I preach or teach on it again.
I use this example to point out one of the most troubling aspects of our technology, internet dominated world: The devastating speed and ease with which all manner of falsehood can be spread. Suffice to say that without the capabilities of technology and the need to fill web pages, blogs, and 24 hour news channels with constant fodder this whole thing would have barely been noticed. It is just so easy for junk to spread and infiltrate our lives. As Christians, we should be the champions of truth and honesty and integrity. But, as we have seen, too often Christians are the easiest and most gullible prey.
We have all received chain emails with some titillating story, bit of gossip, or unbelievable way to make easy money. You can usually spot them because they begin with these words:
“I don’t usually forward emails like this but . . .”
I always want to ask “But what?”
• “But, I have had a temporary malfunction in my brain . . .”
• “But, this is the juiciest piece of gossip I have ever heard . . .”
• “But, this only confirms what I already wanted to believe about how evil (insert your politician of choice) is because it’s what (Bill Maher, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Al Franken, etc.) says . . .”
• “But, I have decided to neglect what the Word of God says and spread this regardless of how speculative or outrageous it really is . . .”
I mean, really, but what?! There are few things in the Bible as clear as the fact that we are not to try and set times and dates for His return. We are just to be ready. And to be found not staring up into the sky waiting for Him to come, but with our hands to the plow living our lives in faithfulness and readiness for His sudden, announced appearance.
Proverbs 18:8 says “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.”
Brothers and sisters, let’s be careful about what we believe and what we spread lest it increasingly becomes who we are and not just what we think.
Chris Higgins 