Observations On Church Endtime Culture, Or Lack Thereof- PART 2

POST 2 in IHOP Endtime culture "series".

Hey everyone!

Thanks for tuning in. For those following up, I'm just posting my thoughts on the Endtime culture of IHOP. For this post I just wanted to share some observations growing up in church in relation to this topic.

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Having grown up in the church, I always thought Revelation was this wild, crazy (and fun, I might add) book in the Bible, that of all the books in the Bible if they make movies on, I hoped someone would make a movie about Revelation! I mean how cool would that be? I had crazy images of angels flying through the air, fantastic multi-headed beasts and monsters, explosions and fire. Haha, you would think- how did Tolkien end up in the Bible? Sorry if that seem sacrilege. But at the very least, I thought it'd make for a cool 3d movie. As a little inquistive kid during sunday school, I'd find myself doing the only Bible reading I'd ever do during the week- at church, reading of all books, Revelation, because of the colorful and interesting nature of the book.

This aside, growing up further in the church I've noticed that Revelation, or eschatology (study of the end times) is one of the least preached upon topics in the church.

I don't think it's a stretch to say that for many pastors (myself being one), the book of Revelation with it's wild imagery has been kinda left on the proverbial shelf to catch dust, save for a verse here and there taken out of the context of the end times. To most, the book of Revelation isn't unlike that weird cousin you have around in family gatherings- in because he's family, out because he's...weird.

I for one, in my experience growing up in the church haven't yet really seen churches take the initiative to really understand this book. Even in seminary, all I really recall out of the lesson for Revelation is that it's just a colorful book that's part of an apocalytpic genre, and that all you really need to know in the end is that Jesus wins. But in regards to the actual content of the book? Zip. (my honest recollection, or maybe I was a bad student).

Regardless, I really think that's a problem for us, especially if we consider Revelation to be an equal opportunity book in the biblical canon.

Here are a few interesting facts about the background on Revelation-

1. Revelation was written by the apostle John on the island of Patmos.

2. Revelation is actually the short hand for "Revelation of Jesus Christ". YES. The only book in the Bible that can claim to be directly from Jesus Christ Himself. It's a weighty and lofty thing, which I mean, if we were to name the book like that which it rightfully is, I think it'd be more natural for the church to ascribe more importance to it. Which leads me to-

3. For those who are tempted to ascribe less importance to this book than other books in the Bible, keep in mind that this was a major letter sent by John to 7 of the major churches of the time (all less than 100 years after Jesus ascended to heaven). Which means that for this letter to be accepted by the 7 major churches of the early church, with their elders and all, and canonized for millenia into the scriptures we hold now-it's a big deal. I mean, the Judeo-Christian background of the Church didn't make it easy for any book to get in there- granted the vestiges of the strict oral tradition of Jews for cultural preservation, as well as the fact that these now eye-witness Christians who witnessed Jesus dead and resurrected- amid persecution guarded jealously the validity and facts of their faith. The least anyone can say for the book that it deserves more attention and teaching than it traditionally has received.

4. On a more challenging note to, maybe we've fallen asleep to the reality that one day Jesus WILL come back, and if some of us are honest, we secretly hope in our hearts He comes back a little later, after we've experienced the fruits of life. Because that would mean that we as a Church would need to get our act together in living with urgency and purpose?

I'll be brutally honest. I don't know if I'm merely projecting the way I see myself, but there are times in my life when I wish that Jesus wouldn't come back...not just yet at least!! I'm just being honest. I'm a young guy, have yet to experience all that life has to offer, meaning, I still want to experience marriage, raising a family, a dynamic ministry, seeing my kids do this and that. You get the point? I find myself not praying"Come Jesus Come," as the scriptures say, but I find myself praying, "Jesus, can you come back a little later? Maybe after my lifetime? Or maybe when I'm old and wrinkly, and the best years of my life, I've lived already"

In thinking like this- can I get a witness? I don't think I'm alone on this boat? Have you ever felt that way too? I think, if I can safely preconjecture, we've all had moments like that. And the church as a whole- we can easily settle into a comfortable, safe existence as a body of Christ. We want to focus on building our careers, having that dream white house and a picket fence- watch sports on our 50 inch plasma 3d tv screens. I've felt that before! (And I still do, to be honest). Not that all this is bad entirely- but I think we can lose the point why we're here on earth. And if we as believers, are living with the paradigm that Christ is coming back, and He's coming back soon, it places upon the church an urgency in regards to the Kingdom of God that we'd just as much rather shrug off as we focus on developing and situating ourselves in our earthly lives.

Just my honest opinion, and I say all this looking at my own heart and my own desires. Because when you look at the return of Christ as an imminent thing, that He is coming soon, you live in a different mode, have different values, and you just live differently. Just like, if you were told you're terminally ill and have a few months yet to live, you would come up with a bucket list-the same idea. Your great hope in life is not to see the Giants or Yankees with the Superbowl or World Series, but in light of the incoming return of Christ to live a Kingdom lifestyle.

One of the biggest reasons people dismiss eschatology (study of the end times) altogether is Jesus saying "No one knows the day, or time, etc." (Although at the same time He gives a bandwagon load of clues in the gospels, and marks it off saying that nevertheless my followers will see the signs of the times and act accordingly)- but I think the above is an undercurrent in canning any sort of awareness of endtime culture.

Anyways, personally for me, despite some controversies, this helps me have more of an open mind to IHOP culture and theology, to which the very least they're trying to do is be faithful to the mandate of the Church to expect His return.

For the next post, I'll actually go into the End times culture of Ihop as well as a general overview of IHOP's approach to Revelation itself, and if space permits, my own personal views of eschatology.

bless you!