Practical eschatology


Different theories and interpretations about the end of the world divide Christendom into several camps. Are you pre millennial, amillennial, post millennial? Pre trib, post trib or mid trib? And so on and so forth. I hope this is not a point of deep division, but it is a point of deep disagreement. It is the kind of discussion that we should take out of the public square entirely.

Treat eschatology as an in-house debate if you like, but do not parade it before unbelievers. It is a stumbling block to people we are trying to evangelize, a complexity they do not need to hear about. We ought not distract them with something extraneous to what is really important that they know and accept.

Any public disagreement, even a rather esoteric one like this, can cause hesitation when seekers try to sort out which church or preacher or theologian is right about it. But in in this case it does not matter who is right.

Here is a fun game to play. When some Christian is defending some or other view of the end times, ask this: "What, in your view, are my immediate responsibilities in the here and now? If the end were right now or tomorrow, what should I be doing about it?"

The reason this is a fun game is that everyone who thinks the matter through must give you the same answer, whatever his views on eschatology. Luke 12:35-46, its parallels and related scriptures give a very clear picture. The servants found doing what their master charged them to do all along will be rewarded  when he returns. We are supposed to be doing the gospel, that is our only job in the matter. There is no doubt what that gospel is; Jesus told us what he expects.

So the impact of eschatology on day to day Christianity of the practical kind is moot, and we should remember that before we get too deeply embroiled in our theories and wranglings.

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