As I sit here at home early Sunday morning, preparing to teach my Sunday school class again in a few hours, I'm reminded what a RESPONSIBILITY it is to teach God's Word. And I'm reminded of that TODAY by thinking back to what it was like 25 years ago, right around this time of year.
In August 1994, a large chunk of the Christian church believed Jesus was going to return on Sept. 6th, you see. Thankfully, my wife and I were INSULATED from the error (of thinking we can KNOW the day and hour of Jesus's return) via GOOD teaching we'd had, but many were scurrying to and fro, counting down the says till Sept. 6th, and telling OTHERS to get ready for The End. Homes were sold, churches were divided, brethren who thought the main proponent (Harold Camping, pictured above) was wrong were scorned as "unbelievers" and "unspiritual" by other Christians!! I, personally, went to a "Bible Study" where they'd absorbed Camping's errors and it was SO bad, I literally walked out as quietly as I could. (Those folks didn't want me to have an OPEN mind, they wanted me to be MINDLESS, and that's the difference, you see!!) In short, a GREAT DEAL OF HARM WAS DONE because of one man's well-publicized, albeit WELL-INTENTIONED false teaching.
Obviously, the world DIDN'T end in September 1994, and when OCTOBER came, all that happened is there was no World SERIES because of a baseball strike. Many non-Christians SCORNED Christianity because Camping's prediction didn't come true, and many professing Christians became disillusioned with Christ and Christianity, because of that one man's error. Yet, he refused to step down from his teaching position and no one apparently had the clout to REMOVE him or the INTEGRITY to stop WORKING for him so he'd HAVE to quit. I must admit, his reluctance to admit he was wrong troubled me as much as the FACT that he was wrong. I actually tuned in his radio show a few times in October '94 (first time ever) and he was determined and defiant.
And (pardon the pun) predictably, a generation later, in 2011, Camping made ANOTHER false prediction about Jesus's return. Obviously, he was wrong again but a whole new generation believed him and this time, many who'd realized he was wrong in '94 were pitted against their children who were sucked in, in 2011!! Really sad stuff. I never questioned his sincerity, but only his SANITY that he'd do the same thing again, and expect a different result!! Shortly after this, the LORD stepped in...Camping had a stroke which FORCED him to stop making predictions and thankfully, he admitted he'd sinned by teaching falsehood before he died. I expect to see this man in Heaven because salvation IS by grace alone apart from works....however, I believe that when he stood before the Lord upon his death he had reason to be very, very ashamed.
I never went along with Harold Camping's warnings about the date Jesus will return...although I do know He WILL return, just that we cannot predict the day or the hour.
But I DO see plenty of warnings from Camping's life and conduct which I take to heart as someone who teaches God's Word to a small Men's Sunday School class. Jesus told His disciples to "Remember Lot's wife" as a caution of what not to do, and in like manner there is profit from remembering CAMPING. Here are two things I remember about him, as warnings for ME......
1.) TEACH ONLY THE BIBLE, AND DON'T STRIVE TO BE NOVEL WHEN YOU DO. This was Camping's problem...Pride. He thought God revealed to HIM something that Jesus said even HE didn't know!! Namely, the day and the hour of His own return. And...
2.) EXAMINE ALL TEACHING FROM OTHERS, WHETHER AT CHURCH, FROM RADIO, TV OR THE INTERNET, IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE ALONE. As I tell my class on occasion, "BE BEREANS," be those who examine God's Word to check out the things teachers say.
There are OTHER warnings from Harold Camping that I could mention, but it's time to get ready for church. Perhaps in the future, I will do so....Lord Willing!!
"Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall," Scripture warns!!
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