What? No Rapture?

What? The scheduled Rapture on May 21 failed to materialize? I personally marked the day by choosing not to shave. What a waste of time that would have been.

I’ve been hearing different people’s takes on the cataclysm that never materialized. Mainstream Christian theologians have done a fully adequate job of pointing out the errors in Biblical interpretation committed by Harold Camping. No need to go back over that. Now that the whole non-event has cycled through the news I have concluded that this was all a good thing.

Why, you ask? Wasn’t this just another opportunity for people to ridicule Christians? Even though Camping and his followers are on the fringe of the fringe, it makes Christians all look a little kooky you say. I’m not too concerned about the potential for ridicule-by-false-association. I believe this has created a wonderful opportunity for Christians to seek out their friends’ personal views regarding some universally interesting questions: The End of the World, Death, my Death, the Death of those I love, the Afterlife, what I’m going to do in the Afterlife, if there is an Afterlife might I have hair again?. It is a subject that all rational people can explore, regardless of their religious views – whether believer, AWOL believer, misbeliever, agnostic, or atheist.

Woody Allen once commented, “I don’t believe there is a hell, and I’m pretty sure there is no heaven, but I’m taking an extra pair of underwear just in case.” Once when I was taking calls from viewers of a Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Christmas TV broadcast I spoke with a young women from Kansas whose concern about the end of life moved her to take a baby step toward belief. She said a death in the family had caused her great concern, but that a friend had told her about God and Jesus and Heaven and she didn’t want to miss out. She wanted to get information on becoming a Christian. She was not being cynical like Woody Allen. She was dead serious. She rationalized her thinking to me, “If I’m wrong, what’s the worst that can happen? I die and nothing happens. But at least I won’t miss out if it’s all true.” The first step toward saving faith can be awkward, embarrassing, even humorous.

The failed end of the world or the Rapture may have already cycled through the news agenda. The American Idol finale in May grabbed a lot of mental shelf space away from the vital issues, while on the other hand, horrendous weather-related events have helped re-emphasize the universal sense of personal mortality and the fragility of life.

The non-event of May 21 and the new “Rain Date” scheduled for October 21 create a wonderful opportunity for Christians. Any time people are prompted to consider their own mortality there is opportunity for faith to develop. Normally some Believers might feel a little awkward about asking seeker or non-believer friends things about death and the “afterlife”. But now these sorts of questions are suddenly more acceptable, current and relevant. Here are a few questions you can ask which may launch a meaningful conversation: “How about that Harold Camping guy, huh? What’s your take on this end of the world business?” “What do you think the end will really be like, or will there be an end at all?” “What about dying? What happens then?” “Do you think there is an Afterlife?” Normally, if you would ask questions like these you might be suspected of being potentially kooky. But now the media and Harold Camping have teed up the Afterlife topic so that it is more acceptable fare for non-kooky people. Strange looks won’t necessarily follow.

Don’t worry that you may have to explain the problems with Rapture Theology or dissuade your friends from following Harold Camping. Hey, he IS kooky. Just ask your friends questions like those above. Then sit back. Sit back and listen. And ask another question. And listen again. Do not share your own views unless you are asked. Initially, your witness is that you are a respectful listener. The Holy Spirit is always working in the neighborhood when someone is contemplating the topic of death, the end of the world or the afterlife. How can it be otherwise? You can be a facilitator of that search. And you have Harold Camping to thank for it (at least a little). Who knows, if you listen long enough and show respect for your friend’s questions and views, you may be blessed by the opportunity to share your own beliefs ---because your friend asks you to. Check out I Peter 3:15 and see what I mean.

Let’s not lose the opportunity to ask our friends to share their views about death, heaven, hell and the like while these are still current topics. Even if the fleeting news cycle has pushed it off the radar for now, we have another few months to be personally prepared for the next big date. Remember, Harold Camping has scheduled a “do over” for October 21. It’s a great opportunity. Let’s make the most of it. I’m just hoping he doesn’t cancel it.

Sincerely Yours in Christ

Ken Bickel