A month or so ago, I and the family went up to Washington D.C. to see the sights. Not only did we see the Smithsonian and the Washington Monument, we got to see a whole lot of crackpots announcing the end of the world on the 21st, this coming weekend.
In some ways I admire them. These are folks who are so serious, they are willing to plaster the sides of trucks and RV’s with their message and get out who knows how early every morning to be able to park in the most visible places. I’m sure they get all kinds of abuse from all those who don’t care much for what they’re saying. Oh, and unlike fringe groups of some other religions, they aren’t trying to blow up things.
As a Christ-follower, I have to shake my head, much like we all do when crazy Uncle Joey starts getting tipsy or a lifelong friend starts acting crazy again. Yep, they’re ours… sorry about that. Please don’t judge the whole family based on what a few are saying and doing. Besides, we never claimed to be perfect. We’re just doing our best to take step after step as we follow after a loving God who gave up everything for us.
I’m pretty sure these folks are going to be really disappointed on Sunday, when they wake up still here. It’s happened before, you know… Harold Camping, the group’s leader, made a similar bold prediction in 1994 which obviously was incorrect. I hope his followers can handle him being wrong again, and that other Christ-followers will treat them with compassion.
You might think me to be equally bold in my assurance nothing will happen this Saturday. Well, unlike these folks who are using the supposed 7,000th anniversary of the Great Flood as the basis for their beliefs, I believe the Bible. In Mathew’s biography of Jesus, the Son of God himself says in chapter 24 that no one knows when the end will happen – not even Him. That is a secret God the Father is keeping to Himself. The way I figure, if Jesus doesn’t know, how in the world would I know more than Him?
And so this weekend, God willing, I will do a little yard work, see a friend in a play, watch an episode of Chuck or two from NetFlix, write, and spend some time with my family.
What will you be doing this weekend?
EDC
Edward D. Casey 
I’m with you. Makes one roll the eyes. This could be very damaging to their faith though.
True… but what’s their faith in?
Great post Ted! Seems like our larger Christian family has a lot of Uncle Joeys these days.