As noted in the introduction to this series, an individual’s outlook and expectations for the future play a critical role in setting their goals in life, shaping decisions and defining their sense of purpose. It significantly influences the direction one takes toward achieving personal or professional objectives. Christians, also being subject to this reality, find their understanding of the future linked with God’s purpose for history and significantly shapes their expectations regarding its culmination. This interpretation influences their role as individual believers, and it also forms the purpose of the local church as a whole. With an understanding of Christian eschatology that sees a world spiraling down into complete chaos and a never-ending infiltration of sin, moral decay and the eventual apostasy of the church with nothing that can ever be done to truly sway it, one is left with little hope or purpose. There is no means by which to affect or alter the progression of this downward spiral and so we simply give it up. Our only purpose then as Christians and as a church is to be a part of a rescue mission to get as many people as possible into heaven rather than the gospel redeeming all that the enemy has taken captive, including individuals, families, institutions, culture, the arts and education and knocking down the false idols of a nation. It withdraws from this world due to the belief that hope will only be restored with the second coming of Christ.
Outcomes
So, why would I spend such a significant amount of time writing about this? Why does this matter? As I noted in the introduction, there are multiple perspectives regarding the future state of the world at the end of history, and my advice to my readers was not to foster division over these differing viewpoints. I maintain that position and submit that we need to remain unified for the gospel and not divided over the specifics of end-times. But it is important to acknowledge that your understanding of these matters will inevitably have an effect. As an example, certain family members of mine have been influenced in thinking that everything is a lost cause and the world is about to end because things have gotten so bad in our world that surely it can’t go on. These said family members are zealous for the Lord and love sharing the gospel with others to which I am thankful. But they have fallen sway to this mindset. They express an eagerness for things to get worst since this means the return of Christ is just around the corner. Their pessimistic expectation of history has also influenced their lives in a negative fashion. One couple are so taken by the events happening in Israel and the doom and gloom of the moral and economic and cultural downturn that this is all they are interested in hearing about. They have refrained from becoming involved in a church because pastors are simply not preaching enough on world events especially on the happenings in the Middle East. Currently, they are satisfied with staying home and watching podcasts on the signs of the times. Another close relation of mine was so convinced that the rapture of the church would happen in his lifetime that he saw no reason to plan for the future. He didn’t see a point in saving for retirement or buying a home since he believed that the Lord would return in a few short years. I grant that this is not the necessary outcome of this viewpoint, and thankfully most believers don’t fall into this trap, but these types of prophetic obsessions have had consequences such as these for many people.
While these two examples are unfortunate enough, the greater repercussions of this view of eschatological history have been in how in North America, the church has become so impotent. Over the years, the church has remained non-engaging in cultural issues and in return, when the unbelievers in our society told Christians to stay quiet and confine your beliefs to the walls of your home and your church, they obeyed. The church threw away its influence in culture, politics, the arts and education which the enemies of Christ have been happy to pick up and corrupt. We are seeing the fruit of this lack of commitment in our society today and we are now on the run from God’s enemies who are no longer satisfied with Christians hiding in their churches, they are now burning them down.
A Vision
Now, let’s take a moment to imagine the repercussions of believing this optimistic viewpoint and applying it to our churches and our culture today. While we can’t truly describe the full glorious picture of those final days at the end of history, still, its expectation will create an attitude that will have a significant impact on local congregations. What would a local church look like if it in fact embraced a future victory of the gospel in history? In our personal opinion, this would create a great reformation in local churches and would inspire the morale of congregants, and for them to get more ecclesiastically involved. It would create a desire for churches to take a step back, reexamine their mindset on worship, how many boots are on the ground for outreach, cultural engagement, financial responsibilities and especially remedy the church’s problem with fear. It would create congregations that are eager to worship the Lord and to see the spread of that adoration. While the Word of God is faithfully proclaimed, the preaching would have a tone of optimism and victory through Christ. Our songs would be sung in praises for Christ making His blessings flow, as far as the curse is found. Picture churches that actually proclaim the gospel, not only as a means of saving an individual, but in building a kingdom. Think of the church’s mission, not only as a group of rescuers but as a part of an invasion of the Kingdom of the enemy. Consider an evangelism through the faithful proclamation of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit that affects the lives of individuals and society. Culturally, it places the church being the blessing agent of all societies. It encourages cultural engagement both morally and with an effort to redeem art, music, education, businesses, hospitals, institutions and philanthropy for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom, which is built for a lasting effect. It creates a people who are thinking long term so that when we build, we do so with an abiding plan. We invest our money on things that are long lasting and stable. In other words, it doesn’t abandon this world but seeks to see it won, through the conversion of people, who desire to bring the gospel life to their every day. Envision the outcome of believing that all Jesus Christ’s enemies are being placed under His feet today. That through our faithfulness and suffering, we will be participating in this global phenomenon, all to the glory of King Jesus. It not only will glorify God in heaven but will have an impact on this life and in this world.
Join the Invasion
As we mentioned, this brings us to the issue of the repercussions of how we think of this world. While the general consensus over the last several hundred years has been to abandon it, we believe that we must save it. Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth and this world has given it to us as an inheritance. Like in the days of Joshua entering Canaan, we aren’t simply going to receive the land in some cataclysmic way, but we are expected to take it. Not with a physical sword, but with a spiritual one. With a message to this world that truth exists and they are invited to come worship the Lord of Glory in that truth. Those who are the enemies of God may become His people through the changed heart that the Spirit brings and in the message of redemption and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. Christians are to proclaim the Word of God, not only in our churches, but also declaring its truth through engaging our communities. This, with a mindset that God will bless this work and that one day, it will truly be widespread. All nations will come to the mountain of the Lord, not by force, but willingly and they will receive God’s Word and worship Him.
Moving Forward
My main purpose for writing this series of posts is in hopes to change the minds of Christians to see a reformation in the churches. As much as there is a moral crisis in our nation, there is still hope for it in Christ. Our anticipation is that people would begin to see the impact of believing in a bright future for the nations considering that God’s promises will be achieved in a historical way to the Gentiles which includes a massive coming in of all families of the world. The nations, who were and continue to be God’s enemies, will one day being taken over by the Kingdom of God to receive the privilege of the salvation of their people, to participate in the greatest worship of the true and living God Yahweh and to govern their lives with justice and righteousness. Nations being lead, not primarily by kings, prime ministers or presidents, but under the banner of the Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ as King over them all. We should look ahead at the future as a bright hope where the Kingdom of Jesus will continue to grow until each of Jesus’ enemies are completely under the dominion. Believers are expected to sacrifice their lives for the sake of fulfilling the great commission, but not simply individually, but corporately as a church.
I pray that this series was a blessing to you and I hope that you will take these things into consideration.
The Moncton Herald 