The deadline has passed, the world has survived, and radio preacher Harold Camping was denied his apocalypse. All mainstream, orthodox Christians disagreed (including myself) with Mr. Camping's prediction. We believe that the Bible is right when it says that only the Father knows the day and time of His return. For Camping's followers however, it took 6pm Saturday to see that once again he got it wrong.
But let me tell you what he got right:
Getting the message out there.
Over the last few months, a remarkably tiny group of people have done a brilliant job sharing their message with the world. Inaccurate, wrong, or wacky -- they have told their story far better than major Christian denominations, mega-churches, and supposed "media" ministries have done. I travel more than most people, and I've seen their billboard campaign in cities like Los Angeles, the full page ads in major newspapers like USA Today, people handing out handbills outside subway stations in New York, mobile advertising, personal word of mouth, and more. It may not be the most creative or brilliantly designed, but at least it's unified and strategic.
All from a fringe radio preacher that 99 percent of Americans had never heard of six months ago.
In the meantime, what has the rest of the Christian world been doing to get their their message out?
The Methodist's seem to be trying to redefine church itself. Their advertising campaign "Re-Think Church" (can't remember that one, huh?) was more interested in social justice, in a vain attempt to appear relevant.
It's tough to find anything from the Episcopal Church, even though they've had a denomination-wide ad project since 1979 that seems to have resulted in an "advertising collaborative." They did try their warm and fuzzy "I am Episcopalian" series, but you don't remember that one either, right? At least on YouTube you can find a video of an Episcopal Bishop talking about "honoring your spiritual journey" -- whatever that means.
The Presbyterians haven't been sharing their message much lately, because they seem to be far more interested in making sure we all know that they're ordaining a handful of gay, lesbian, and transgender pastors. Apparently, appearing inclusive is more important than actually sharing a message of salvation.
Catholics seem to be more intent on just bringing back their lapsed members with their "Catholics Come Home" campaign.
The Baptists? Forget it. They can't even decide on a logo. After all, how are you going to agree on a common message nationally, when you can't get two Baptist churches in the same town to agree on what it should be?
The bottom line is that most of these anemic efforts are so focused on trying to convince us that Christians are "just like you" that they've completely lost any unique, compelling, or provocative message about the life-changing experience of following Jesus Christ.
So when it comes to telling his story and getting that story heard, fringe radio preacher Harold Camping and his small band of followers have embarrassed the largest denominations, churches, and Christian ministries in America.
This morning, his story was on the front page of the Los Angeles Times -- and most likely every other major paper in America. His story leads CNN and other news networks today. His story is being talked about on Twitter hashtags, blogs, social media sites, and on the street.
Why? Because Harold Camping and his followers really believe their message. When that happens, you're not afraid to spend money, creativity, passion, and energy to make sure your story impacts people's lives.
It's just a shame that it's the wrong message.
And even more of a shame the rest of us have done such a poor job of getting the right one out.
Follow Phil Cooke, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/philcooke
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Sure you can argue he did a better job getting his message out than the denominations. He also didnt have any competition, any internal impediments nor any complexity.
When is dan the birdman going to come out and say he was wrong? http://danthebirdman.me or is he floating off the coast still? ha ha ha
It's all the fairly sane people who agonize over trivialities like "social justice" and "inclusiveness" - which I notice are treated with barely-concealed contempt.
Interesting.
Houses, cars, people taken out sweeping them into the sky.
Trumpet sounds = Tornado Sirens.
Apocalypse = Whole area destroyed.
Harold Camping prediction happened in Joplin. 5/23/11
'I want to see a billboard sign go up after the 21st that reads'
'Jesus has stood me up for the last time. I'm not hanging out with him any more.'
What one person is capable of if they put their mind to it.
and
The damage one person can do if they put their mind to it.
You're exactly right. The church needs to be about getting out the right message, and soon. It's calling number one.
I can almost here the huge collective "yawn" that will produce.
It was the same thing that happened the first time around when the Israel was expecting Messiah to come and save them from their Roman oppressors.
Impure people were expecting a holy God to be on their side.
It is the harsh reality. Do we really think that we are that much holier than the people around us so that we will be air lifted to safety while the rest of the world suffers and dies from all of the plagues and natural disasters?.
There is not even a concensus as to when the Lord will return in relation to all of these events. What if it is after everything has happened? We need to be ready to go along for the ride, at least to some extent and we need to be concerned with holiness and purety instead of telling our neighbors that we will be saved from all these disasters.
"One will be taken and the other will be left." Which one was taken and which one was left? The righteous are suppose to inherit the earth.
Some things to consider. Not all evangelicals believe in the kind of rapture that is described for lack of scriptural support.
We need to be walking with our feet on the ground and really, actually be saved from corruption through the sanctification that is by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
There is plenty of evidence in scripture for the concept of a rapture or "snatching away." As much or more than what's in the OT for the coming King to be born as a baby. Jesus is coming as a thief in the night...Camping's major oversight.
Being holier than others comes from being justified by God through the blood of Christ. It's available to all who accept it, not just a chosen few...another Camping mistake.
We are not just saved "positionally". We are actually and truly sanctified by the Spirit and faith in the truth so that there is a change in our hearts. Without sanctification, no one will see the Lord.
What makes the difference in us is the truth that we speak and that truth is what sanctifies us by the power that His word has to persuade us to want to do all of the right things.
Hindsight is 20/20 vision. Malachi said the Lord would suddenly show up in His Temple, (before it was destroyed).The character of the Lord is something that people should have noticed. It takes someone of character to know someone of character.
It is not going to make a difference to us when the Lord comes. We have to be ready. We have to have the Light of the Lord burning in us regardless.
Why stand gazing? We have things to do. Speculating is futile.
No! Harold this isn't big. You simply and stealthily took power at Family Radio. After removing or pressuring fellow teachers to leave,"THE FLOOR WAS ALL YOURS." Take your medicine. GO AWAY!
The author of this article seems not to understand that definitive nonsense will always get more attention -- and ridicule -- than vague, untestable nonsense.
On a busy street near where I live there is a billboard about the power of prayer, and down the street there is one about the coming rupture; you can guess which one I stopped to take a picture of.
Now if Vivid Video were to go non-profit, and declare porno a religion, THAT might be a workable model.