Since the precise beginning of the end did not commence yesterday as Harold Camping had predicted, I was interested to read what his followers had to say. In several articles, the chief rationale given by the few willing to comment is that God is testing us. He wants to see if the faithful will remain true.
It readily should be understood that the Christians who subscribe to Camping's weird ministry represent a very, very small number. Most Christians -- just like the rest of us -- went about their business yesterday without any anxiety of zombies rising from graves. In fact, I would guess that an overwhelming majority scoffed at the whole notion and, over the past month, I have read of many clergy and church leaders who ridiculed Camping and made him the punchline of jokes.
Personally, I think it is disingenuous of any Christian to try to distance themselves from the Harold Campings (or Fred Phelpses) of this world. The whole of their faith is based on a similar kind of test, one both they and their deity seem to fail time and time again.
For all we know, Harold Camping may have believed with his heart of hearts that what he was proclaiming would come true. How is that different from any other Christian who prays for a certain outcome that doesn't come to pass?
How about the Christian wife who prays to the almighty that her cheating and lecherous husband will forsake his wandering eye and return to the bosom of her love and devotion? She is convinced that God is listening. She remains convinced...until she finds out her husband's philandering continues unabated. Is God merely testing her faith?
How about the business owner who has engaged in poor business practices and prays to the heavenly father to save him from certain bankruptcy and embarrassment? He promises to turnover a new leaf, if only God will spare him from laying in a bed of his own making. He becomes convinced that God has heard his prayers...until the day the sheriff comes to evict him from his property. Is God merely testing his faith?
How about the family and friends of a child stricken with a deadly disease? Prayer circles are established and countless individuals take turns so that prayers are lobbed toward heaven 24/7. A website is set up in order that people around the world can pray for a medical miracle for the child. Everyone is convinced that God will heal the child...until the child dies. Is God merely testing their faith?
All of these examples and countless more should lead a rational person to one of two conclusions. The first is that Christians either don't understand how God works or they are ineffective at prayer. The second explanation is far more disturbing for them. Either their God doesn't listen very often, he is rampantly ineffectual or he doesn't exist in the first place.
The chief difference between Harold Camping and most run-of-the-mill Christians is that he put his prayers out there in public for all to see. His batting average might not seem to be very good, but if we were able to compare it to other Christians, I don't think we would see a significant difference.
It readily should be understood that the Christians who subscribe to Camping's weird ministry represent a very, very small number. Most Christians -- just like the rest of us -- went about their business yesterday without any anxiety of zombies rising from graves. In fact, I would guess that an overwhelming majority scoffed at the whole notion and, over the past month, I have read of many clergy and church leaders who ridiculed Camping and made him the punchline of jokes.
Personally, I think it is disingenuous of any Christian to try to distance themselves from the Harold Campings (or Fred Phelpses) of this world. The whole of their faith is based on a similar kind of test, one both they and their deity seem to fail time and time again.
For all we know, Harold Camping may have believed with his heart of hearts that what he was proclaiming would come true. How is that different from any other Christian who prays for a certain outcome that doesn't come to pass?
How about the Christian wife who prays to the almighty that her cheating and lecherous husband will forsake his wandering eye and return to the bosom of her love and devotion? She is convinced that God is listening. She remains convinced...until she finds out her husband's philandering continues unabated. Is God merely testing her faith?
How about the business owner who has engaged in poor business practices and prays to the heavenly father to save him from certain bankruptcy and embarrassment? He promises to turnover a new leaf, if only God will spare him from laying in a bed of his own making. He becomes convinced that God has heard his prayers...until the day the sheriff comes to evict him from his property. Is God merely testing his faith?
How about the family and friends of a child stricken with a deadly disease? Prayer circles are established and countless individuals take turns so that prayers are lobbed toward heaven 24/7. A website is set up in order that people around the world can pray for a medical miracle for the child. Everyone is convinced that God will heal the child...until the child dies. Is God merely testing their faith?
All of these examples and countless more should lead a rational person to one of two conclusions. The first is that Christians either don't understand how God works or they are ineffective at prayer. The second explanation is far more disturbing for them. Either their God doesn't listen very often, he is rampantly ineffectual or he doesn't exist in the first place.
The chief difference between Harold Camping and most run-of-the-mill Christians is that he put his prayers out there in public for all to see. His batting average might not seem to be very good, but if we were able to compare it to other Christians, I don't think we would see a significant difference.
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