Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Much Ado About Harold Camping Nothin'

With five days to go until Take Two of the Camping-senian apocalypse, I've clicked through a number of Harold Camping's YouTube videos logging his final radio shows.  Many of his adherents have sold all their possessions and eliminated their savings in preparation for the end of the world, which he predicts will happen on May 21.  These last days, his staff have been hyping up the advertisements for the end.  In today's video, his webmaster speaks with an air of expectation, like a husband who's pregnant wife is at the 'any day now' phase. 

Is May 21 going to be the end of the world?  Oh, it's entirely possible..............just like it's possible that any other random day could be the end of the world.  Other than the fact that Camping is just one end-times predictor just like all those who have gone before him (e.g. Joseph Smith Jr, the Jehovah's Witnesses), he's apparently marvelously captivating and believable. Otherwise, why would there be purportely so many families who have followed his directives to stop attending churches and crowd around the radio listening to him and him only?  Hmmmmmmm.

As I see it, Camping is really no different than any other self-glory-seeking man (and we all have a little of that in us anyway).  Perhaps the fact that he is now 90 years old and may actually see the Lord has prompted him to reclaim the fame that he had prior to his 1994 failed prediction of the end of the world.  I don't know.  What I do know is that the Bible specifically says that the exact day of the end is not known by anyone except God the Father alone.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13:32-33, NIV)

If you're like me and want to know the secret formula for predicting the end of the world, we can thank Camping for generously obliging us.  Here it is:   2 (5 x 10 x 17) = Judgment Day.  Ta da! 

On a more compassionate note, if you know any Camping followers who have seriously ditched all in life to wait by their radios, I beg of you to please be kind and put together care packages for them and deliver them on May 22.  Yeah, it's their fault they are deceived and unbiblical in their belief of Harold Camping, but this going to be a tragedy for many people.  Some of them may even try to take their own lives in the days and weeks to come.  I hope that conscientious believers everywhere would reach out and care for the children of Camping adherents and help these poor folks to get back on their feet.  They will need food, jobs, and homes again.  Most importantly, they will need you to be Jesus to them.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Welcome, The Valley Girl Apologist

My friend and fellow apologist Sarah Ankenman has started her apologetics blog.  Welcome to the blogosphere, Sarah!

Check it out:
The Valley Girl Apologist