As I’m writing this, I am making my way through a hangover. My head is throbbing. My stomach feels off. My throat is dry and even a little sore from talking too loudly, saying too much.
I have said things, written things, texted things, even social mediaed some things that I shouldn’t have. Things I perhaps meant to say, but regret saying. Things for which I will have to issue apologies for later.
I am sullen. Pensive. Reflective. I am promising myself that I won’t ever do this again. But in my heart, I know I will not only do it again, but more brashly and spectacularly the next time. And the next. And the next.
I find myself in this familiar position — having to have a theological discourse with Evangelical Christians about the “rapture” — and feeling like it reminds me of hitting the bar back in college, and waking up the next day with regrets.
Sure, the metaphor might be gratuitous, but it describes how I’m feeling about our society’s relationship with Evangelical Christianity generally, and rapture theology, specifically.
Evangelical Christians have been sharing warnings and advice in videos on social media in preparation for the potential imminent rapture, an end-times prophecy some Christian’s believe was to occur on September 23rd or 24th this year.
Inspired by a South African pastor’s rapture prediction shared on YouTube, people have sold their homes, emptied their bank accounts, and stopped making future plans … because of the rapture.
If you have never heard the term rapture, first, I sincerely envy your life. You somehow have been spared from knowing, hearing or learning about this misguided theological concept.
Second, if you haven’t heard the term rapture, it refers to a theological concept of which subscribers believe that solid Christians will be raptured or ascended into to heaven before a period of trials and tribulations.
The term rapture is a construct devoid of any rigorous biblical support and is a modern invention not found in the writings of the Church, historically. The concept actually was popularized in the 19th century by a biblical teacher named John Darby, whose beliefs served as the foundation for racist readings of the scriptures that supported the enslavement of Africans.
On their best day, Evangelicals interpret biblical passages like 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as referring to the rapture. But, this reading is, at best, a misinterpretation of Paul’s use and blend of Old and New Testament and imagery to give downtrodden believers hope in their circumstances and for the future.
What is more, those readings of the scripture do not align or square with the scriptural depiction of Christ’s work, words and public ministry. Christ not only talked about the Kingdom of God that occurs in the past, the present and the future, but beautifully noted in Matthew 24:36 that nobody, not even angels, knows when Christ returns.
But, the South African pastor had inside information that nobody else had.
And so I reluctantly jumped into this discourse to explain how dangerous it was to explain, loudly and with frightening confidence, that the end of the world is going to occur on a date certain. I attempted to explain that it created panic and fear in those who would believe, forcing them to sell their belongings and wait for the end of the world.
I attempted to explain with the love of Jesus, how this reading of the scriptures was not based within the confines of the scriptures or the writings of early Church theologians, that the word “rapture” or their notion of it is not ever mentioned in the scriptures.
But the discussions I had and have had all devolved into interactions where folks were defensive, where there was polite name-calling and condescension, where heels were firmly dug in. It wasn’t an “I’m right and you’re wrong” thing. It wasn’t a “I share my opinion and you share yours.” This was an attempt to stop irresponsible theology from becoming what our society believes all Christians believe … because it is articulated loudly and confidently.
We know the outcome of this pastor’s rapture prediction. It was irresponsible. It was misguided. It was also very wrong.
And perhaps if this were the first rapture and end of the world prediction, they would have heard me. They would’ve listened and participated in a thoughtful and civil discourse about eschatology. But, this isn’t the first time we’ve had to engage in this discussion. There have been over 50 separate rapture end-of-the-world predictions. And the rest of Christianity has been working to push these end-of-the-world theories, and the people who spread them, to the fringes of the faith. It hasn’t happened yet.
As long as there are people who are looking for hope, need guidance, and want a better understanding of the scriptures, there will always be a group willing to use that to garner spiritual power and monetary resources.
Instead of waiting on the rapture or to be raptured, let’s us instead work on fellowshiping, of building rapport with each other, continuing to make change as Jesus did. Let us use our time on this earth to be on the side of the oppressed, the forgotten, the unheard and overlooked. Let us be the change, so that when we get to the end of our journey, on God’s time and no other, let us be proud of the work we did and not the undoing of God’s love and plan.
If I drank, I’d need another drink.
