Faith, Arrogance and the End of the World

"Did you maybe scoff a little while wondering — just a teensy bit, in a tiny place in the very back of your head — what you might do if Saturday were indeed your final day on the planet?" - Quoted from the AP article, "Apocalypse Not Now"

There's been a lot of news lately swirling around Harold Camping's prediction that the world as we know it would end on May 21st.  There were supposed to be earthquakes, the rapture and presumably the onset of the tribulation.  This proved to be incorrect.

Harold quoted the bible (apparently he caught something in a passage in 1 Thessalonians that everyone else had missed), and applied "geometric logic" (his term) to the problem to deduce the day and time in question. 

I've seen any number of Facebook entries involving naked jumping (no need to leave behind an empty pile of clothes and might as well get a head start).  Another favorite seems to be of the type, "Can I have your car since you don't need it where you're going and it's paid for?"   There are many more of these.  I am somewhat surprised to learn that there are many who can find as deep a root of sarcasm in themselves as I can find in myself.  I had thought this was an area in which I uniquely excelled/struggled (ask me which it is on different days and you're likely to get different answers).  I was wrong.

There are probably a number of good reasons why ridicule seems to be a universal response to prophet Harold's prediction, as expressed by both Christ followers and everyone else as well.   Two however, stand out to me.  First, on the Christ follower side, Harold's complete disregard for the most basic tenet in this area of doctrine, i.e. that the event he predicted will be a complete surprise to everybody.  This causes everyone in the Christian camp to cringe a bit at the anticipated and even feared response of: "There go those ridiculous Christians again." 

Second, for the non-Christ followers, while they don't identify with Christ and therefore don't seek out a paper bag of appropriate size to wear over their heads in response to prophet Harold's pronouncements, they do seem to experience a rush of ego at their own "How-could-people-be-so-STUPID?" flavor of triumph. In addition in some corners at least, I've detected a slight degree of relief.  Either reaction is kind of surprising.  Is it really news that someone said something stupid, regardless of religious affiliation?  Why would you ever let yourself care the least bit about a ridiculous pronouncement from a quarter you either ignore or claim to enthusiastically disdain?

As a member of the Christ follower camp, I find Harold to be an object of pity and concern.  That's because he's just done and said some things of which the God of the bible takes a very very dim view.  False prophesies, regardless of intent, are not taken lightly.  I never took Harold's prophecies seriously.  However, I do take the bible seriously.  Then admonitions and consequences aimed at false prophets are extreme.  It's also true that God loves a repentant heart and I really hope that forgiveness is what Harold is asking for and receiving right now.

I have an opinion about this. I do think both camps have exhibited an unhealthy degree of arrogance regarding this non-event.  To be clear, there's nothing wrong and in fact, everything right with stating facts and correcting error, again regardless of religious affiliation.  Pointing and laughing however, seems to me to be at odds with the biblical idea that those who don't know Christ will identify those that do by their love.  In fact, from what I've read and heard over the last few weeks, I'd have to say that a great proportion of Christ followers share much more with the non-Christ followers as regards their ability to ridicule, than they do with the church as described in the New Testament.

The world will one day end (you heard it here first...or at least most recently).  It's also certain that your participation in it will end.  Whether you hold God's participation in those facts tightly, loosely or not at all, I think we're all best served by not by pointing and laughing, but rather by sacrificing, holding and loving.