I just finished having a Skype conversation with my friend Mark. We don’t talk often but when we do, boy is it ever good! It takes a few hours to catch up and at one point we stumbled on to something interesting that I thought I’d jot down real quick.
I’ve said a few times and places on my blog and podcast that your worldview definitely shapes your outlook of life. I’m not even specifically talking about whether you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture or post-trib.
If you believe your generation is the last of the last and Jesus is going to return during yours, how does that affect your worldview? Isn’t it, by definition, one of escapism?
I know it’s very good to live as though Jesus could come back at any minute. One of the ways this is healthy include the Christian taking stock of what they’re doing today and how they’re living their life.
But I’m starting to see a long-term pattern I’ve noticed for why this is actually bad, or at least, that it has side effects.
Doesn’t Matter — It’s Someone else’s Problem!
Mark was telling me about what happens in a lot of homes in America when they’re foreclosed on. He told me of how many home owners start letting their houses fall apart. It doesn’t matter after all — they’re outta there in 6 months! Some people start letting cigarette ashes fall on the floor and ruin the carpet. They don’t do anything to stop damage on their walls or change their motor cycle’s oil in their living room–OK that last one is an exaggeration probably, I’m sure. Often, some have a bridge burning mentality–“I won’t be here in 6 months, someone else can fix this mess”.
Basically, when they don’t sense any responsibility to steward the property, they don’t.
Or what about “debt ceiling” and how for years and years, we’ve witnessed a country (The United States) go further and further into debt and constantly raise their debt ceiling with seemingly little concern that one day the bubble will burst and it be catastrophic. Forget about just this economic disaster waiting to happen, but the fact someone else in the future, our kids, will deal with it. And then in the meantime just go further and further into debt to accommodate spending and a lifestyle that cannot be sustained for much longer with the amount of money actually available.
There’s a mentality and attitude that someone else will deal with this problem.
So long as things are good while I’m here!
In Isaiah, when the prophet approached King Hezekiah and prophesied that looming disaster had been postponed until after his life time, his response was “oh good, so long as everything will be fine during my reign.”
What do you think?
Has such an escapism mentality had an effect on the church and discipling?
Has the thought of this being the last generation hindered previous generations from being an effective witness in their lifetimes?
If you believe you could be out of here at any minute, would be you motivated to invest and establish in this earthly realm?
Just some of my meditations and coffee thoughts today.
More to Reflect on:
