ABC Messenger

Prophecy for 2012
by Pastor George Van Alstine

What will 2012 bring us? Care to make a prophecy? Might as well; everybody else is doing it.

There certainly will be plenty of end-of-the-world predictions, particularly around interpretations based on the “Mayan Calendar.” It’s interesting that these apocalyptic prophecies are not coming from the Bible, but from ancient civilizations in Central and South America, based on their observations of astronomy and other natural phenomena. This is all being packaged through New Age, neo-pagan groups as an alternative to Christian visions of end times.

No, Christians have not had a corner on date-setting; Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Zoroastrian fringe groups have also done their share. But Christianity believes the Bible teaches that human history has a clear beginning in measurable time, and that it will have a clear end as well. American Christianity, especially, has certainly set the bar high when it comes to brash, bold, super-specific predictions. An interesting website catalogs over 240 various prophecies year-by-year through Christianity’s twenty-plus centuries, showing the cluster of these originating in America in the past two centuries: http://www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm

There’s a reason for this. About twenty-five years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the “Second Great Awakening” began, and this revival lasted until the Civil War years. Active church membership soared, fed by camp meetings and thousands of personal conversions. Baptists and Methodists, in particular, grew with the westward expansion of the population. Also, many distinctly American groups had their start in this movement, such as the Churches of Christ, the Disciples of Christ, and the Mormons.

One important figure who arose during this time was William Miller (1782-1849), a Baptist leader who developed a very strong emphasis on Biblical prophecy. A group of followers were fascinated with his analysis of dates and numbers, and the spiritual fervor of the time magnified their sense of expectation. A sure date was set for the Lord’s return— October 22, 1844. All of these “adventists” were gathered for prayer on hillsides or in churches, sure that Jesus would come in the clouds. When the day ended uneventfully, all those who had believed in Miller’s teaching suffered what has become known as the “Great Disappointment.” Many turned away after that. Some stayed and transferred their expectations to new dates, set by recalculation and correction of errors. Out of this experience emerged some modern denominations, notably the Seventh Day Adventists and the Advent Christians.

Another group, who continued on Miller’s path and focused on redefining prophetic details, were the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Under Charles Taze Russell and his successors, the Witnesses became the champion date-setters, first announcing that 1874 would be the year, then 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975, and, most recently, 1994. They’ve had a lot of “great disappointments.”

Out of the ministry of evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899), a new emphasis on lay Bible study emerged, supported by annual Bible conferences in various locations and by the establishment of several prominent Bible institutes. Prophetic teaching became a staple in these circles, and it was dominated by the interpretative system known as “Dispensationalism,” popularized in the Scofield Reference Bible. This has become a very strong emphasis in modern evangelical churches of various denominations. A steady diet of such teaching invites date-setting and other end-time speculation. Popular writer Hal Lindsay (The Late Great Planet Earth) comes out of this dispensational background, and he became involved in date-setting in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Harold Camping has had similar roots, and he and his followers experienced their first “great disappointment” when his 1994 prediction proved erroneous. That didn’t stop Camping from coming up with new dates this past year, first on May 21, then on October 21.

Here’s my prediction for 2012. The Mayan Calendar speculation that the world will end on December 21, 2012 (the Winter Solstice), will stimulate the writing of numerous new age books. Christian prophetic teachers will find proof that the Bible prophesied the December 21, 2012, second coming long before the Mayan Calendar was developed, and they will write their own books.

Wait to do your 2012 Christmas shopping until December 22, because all these books will be on sale at bargain prices!

Mercy Wild
by Pastor George Van Alstine

One of our best Christmas carols tells the story in these memorable words:

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”

The author of these words was Charles Wesley (1707-1788), one of the greatest hymn writers of all time. Far be it from me to question such a respected lyricist, but the phrase “mercy mild” has always bothered me. I remember stumbling over these words when I was caroling as a young person. “Mercy mild” seemed too anemic for angels to sing about. “Mercy mild” is what a young girl might feel when she hears a kitten crying for milk. I know Charles Wesley had to find something to rhyme with “reconciled,” but I think he missed on this one.

Actually, even Bible translators have had trouble putting the angels’ shout of praise into English words. We are all familiar with the traditional King James Version, which has “On earth peace, good will toward men.” But more recent translations, using earlier manuscripts, seem unanimous in seeing the Greek word behind “good will” as modifying “God” and not “men.” They translate the phrase as “On earth peace among those whom he favors” (New Revised Standard Version), or “On earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (New International Version). The idea seems to be that the angels are proclaiming the birth of a new King and, at the same time, assuring those who embrace and become part of his Kingdom that they will experience peace by being fully reconciled to God.

Now, Wesley couldn’t be expected to explain all that in one line of a poem, but I think he could have done better. Here’s my suggestion:

“Peace on earth through mercy wild,

God and sinners reconciled.”

The gulf between God and the entire race of rebellious humans was wide and deep. In a wild display of reckless mercy, God sent this Baby into the chaotic and dangerous mess caused by sin. “God and sinners reconciled”: that reconciliation didn’t happen easily. Ultimately, the Baby would have to die to bridge the chasm. It took “wild mercy,” not “mild mercy” for God to accomplish his goal.

I know Charles Wesley is very grateful for the work I’ve done improving his lyrics, and I’m sure he’ll remember me when the royalty checks come in.

Jesus at Home in the Corporate Boardroom
by Pastor George Van Alstine

Tony Perkins has been the president of the Family Research Council since 2003. At present, the media seem to see him, as much as anyone, to be the voice of the evangelical “religious right.” If you follow national news at all, you’ve probably seen him quoted regarding moral issues of various kinds. So, when Tony Perkins makes a statement, he appears to be speaking for all Christians who consider themselves evangelical.

On December 6, Perkins wrote an article on CNN’s “Belief Blog,” entitled “Jesus was a Free Marketer, not an Occupier.” Pointing out an interesting coincidence in use of the English word “occupy,” Perkins portrayed Jesus as the defender of the 1% who hold a disproportionate amount of wealth against the challenge of the 99% whose ownership of wealth or property of any kind has been rapidly eroding. In the Parable of the Pounds,” which is recorded only in Luke’s Gospel (19:11-27), Jesus tells the story of a nobleman (certainly a 1%er) who went on a journey, leaving each of his trusted stewards (certainly all 99%ers) with one “pound” (about three-months’ wages) to use wisely in his absence. Most modern versions translate his instructions to them as “Do business with this until I come back,” but the old King James version has the quaint and enigmatic “Occupy till I come.” The fact that “occupy” is also the word chosen by those demonstrating against economic disparity in many US cities is what gave Tony Perkins the idea for his article.

In the story, the nobleman returns to find a variance in how successfully three of his stewards had managed their money. One had invested wisely, and his pound had become ten pounds; he was rewarded with rule over ten cities. The second was also successful, though his pound had grown only to five; he was made ruler of five cities. The third wanted to make sure he didn’t lose the nobleman’s pound, so he buried it for safekeeping. The nobleman was angry and punished him by taking away his pound and giving it to the ten-city steward.

Tony Perkins applies the lesson of this story, not in a spiritual way, which was Jesus’ obvious intention, but in an outlandish claim that Jesus was defending modern day capitalism: “Jesus chose the free market system as the basis for this parable.” He writes that this parable teaches that “each of us is given the same opportunity to build our lives,” though evidences of inequality of opportunity are all around us. He says, “There are winners and yes, there are losers; and wins and losses are determined by the diligence and determination of the individual.”

Perhaps the most distorted implication Perkins draws from the parable is one expressed in these words: “Parables generally have a twist near the end, a final jolt to drive the point home. This one is no exception. The ruler orders that the capital, or opportunity, given to the lazy servant be taken away from him and given to the most productive servant. ‘To everyone who has, more shall be given,’ the Bible reads, ‘but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.’”

That’s Perkins free market answer: further widen the wealth/income gap in the name of Jesus. Take the increasingly small amount from the hands of the poor and give it to the rich. That’s what Jesus was teaching! That’s what Tony Perkins’ Jesus was teaching. But Tony Perkins’ Jesus is not my Jesus, or the Bible’s Jesus, and I resent his pretending to be a spokesman for the true Jesus who came to seek and save the lost and downtrodden, not to pad the wallets of the wealthy.

Since Tony Perkins wrote this article, many voices in the mainstream press have called him out. The writers of these responses have been shocked that a Christian leader would take such a position. If the secular press reacts with shock, true Christians should be scandalized.

Lessons From a Great Wind
by Pastor George Van Alstine

The Biblical book of Job is the story of a man who had everything, and then lost everything. Whatever bad things could happen to a person seemed to hit Job all at once: nomads from the south attacked and plundered his farmland; a big fire burned up the sheep shelter, killing both sheep and shepherds; an army from the east raided his camel caravan and killed his employees. Finally, all of his children were killed in one great calamity. This climactic event was described by an eye witness in these graphic words:

“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly, a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are all dead.” (Job 1:18-19)

Last Wednesday evening, a great wind from the desert swept through the mountain passes and tore into Altadena, and we all felt like Job. As I write this, we’re seven days away from our great wind, and some of us still don’t have electricity. Others are talking with insurance companies and roofing contractors. The Children’s Center’s youngest group are trying to carry on their program in the church while they are waiting for Southern California Edison to repair electric lines necessary for their heating unit to work.

We all have our “great wind stories,” and I’m sure that when we tell them to our grandkids years from now, the winds will be even fiercer and the damage dramatically magnified. Right now, my dominant memory is not from the night of the storm (though I now have a vivid concept of what “howling winds” are), but from the night after. Judy and I sat in our unheated bedroom, with a couple of candles lit, trying to read by flashlight from books we weren’t really interested in, and the overwhelming reality of it all hit me, the true tragedy—NO TV! Several times, I absent-mindedly reached for the remote before I realized my folly. How much that great wind had taken away from me!

Job had never experienced TV, but I think I can safely say that his loss was greater than mine. And yet, rather than grumble and complain, Job came out with one of the all-time most profound expressions of faith:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

It’s one thing to say what Job said, but it’s another to actually live out this God-oriented attitude, that in all states and circumstances we are able to say “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Actually, the rest of the Book of Job, including his famous dialogues with his “friends,” culminating in his dramatic encounter with God himself, explain the sometimes-agonizing process he went through as he realized the implications of his earlier faith-confession. Finally, his work of redemption and renewal complete, “The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12). Once he learned that he could “bless the Lord” without all his people and possessions,” the Lord let him have them again.

The Lord let me have my TV back without putting me through all Job had to suffer. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Who’s Your Role Model?
by Pastor George Van Alstine

I saw a clever cartoon years ago, which I’ll try to reproduce in words below:

“At the beginning of the school year, I was feeling pretty insecure, kind of like a dork. So I looked around for someone who seemed to have it all together, a guy who was self-confident and knew all the right moves. The one who stood out was Derrick Braddock, the football player. So I tried to be just like Derrick — I wore the kind of clothes he wore, had my hair cut the way he did. I tried to walk the way he walked. I even practiced using some of the same words and phrases. I looked in the mirror to try out some of Derrick’s facial expressions and learn to slouch the casual way he does. I was really making progress.

“Then one day I noticed that Derrick Braddock always seemed to be looking over at that strange kid, Louie Vinson, and I began to realize that he was trying to act like him. When Louie bought some new designer jeans, the next day Derrick showed up with the same jeans. I found out that he was imitating the way Louie acted around girls, how he moved his arms, even the food he picked up in the lunch line.

“It didn’t take me long to notice that Louie Vinson was looking at Marty Brio and trying to be like him. And then I saw that Marty was doing a poor imitation of that skinny kid, Larry Weathers.

“Do you know who Larry Weathers was trying to be like? You’ll never believe it. That guy was doing everything he could to walk and talk and dress and act like Duane Folsom, that creepy pest who’s always following me around. It’s really pathetic how Duane tries to act like me. I leave one shirt-tail out; he leaves one shirt-tail out. I try out a corny line I heard in a movie; a little later I hear him regurgitating the same line to some poor girl. The other day I was a little smelly after coming back from a fishing trip, and dumb old Duane asked me what my cologne was. What a loser!”

So what about role models? We’ve recently had some awful examples from the world of collegiate sports, where coaches who had the chance to influence young people positively, instead wounded them deeply through selfish sexual predation. From our youth we’ve been told to follow good role models, but how can you be sure?

The Bible doesn’t make this an emphasis. There are a few passages where believers are encouraged to pattern their lives after their spiritual leaders (e.g. 1 Corinthians 4:15-16), and, of course, Jesus called his disciples to “Follow me.” But there are also some strong warnings in the Bible about how easy it is to be “led astray” when we put our trust in the examples of others.

Rather than focusing on role models, the Biblical idea is that our lives should be shaped from within. This concept begins in the very first pages of the Bible with the awesome teaching about our being created “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:26-27). This divine image was twisted and dwarfed by the human race’s fall into sin, but it is still there, deep within each person. The Apostle Paul described Jesus Christ as “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Those who turn to Christ for salvation are “being renewed in knowledge according to the image of their creator” (Colossians 3:10) and are “predestined to be conformed to his image” (Romans 8:29).

The most beautiful and graphic expression of this process is found in these words of Paul:

“All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

God, as he is revealed through Christ, is our only true role model, and he changes us, not from the outside in, through imitating others, but from the inside out by the Holy Spirit’s renewing of his image in us.