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| PentecostalTheology.com
Let’s make every day thanksgiving instead of black Friday.
There is a psychology at work every Black Friday based on the principle called scarcity. It can be used positively or negatively for motivation. On Black Friday it is used to incite sales fervor by creating a limited supply of a product along with a limited time offer. Those limitations trigger a fear of lack that cause people to camp out for hours, stampede into stores and even get arrested in order to save…
What happens when the same mentality is being fostered on a national scale by Christian leaders through faulty end time theology?
The result is a latent fear of scarcity which manifests as hoarding, endless conspiracy theories, withdrawal from expecting the kingdom to increase, refusing to have children, distrust of anyone in government, foolish decision making, and yes even deaths.
In over 30 years of hearing tearful confessions Dr Cindye Coates noted one of the main motivations that kept coming up was rooted in scripture. Many of these Christian women confessed privately it was because of their fear that the Great Tribulation was coming soon, and in particular it was this verse: “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” – Matthew 24:19 (https://www.facebook.com/notes/10153483132798438/?pnref=story)
When false “prophet” Harold Camping worked up the whole world with his rapture and end of the world predictions:
- one teenage girl in Russia hung herself because she was afraid of going through the tribulation
- One man drowned after swimming out to the middle of the lake to wait for Jesus to come
- Still another woman tried to kill herself and her children. When asked if he would take any responsibility for the influence his predictions were having he said, “I don’t have any responsibility. I can’t take responsibility for anybody’s life. I’m only teaching the Bible.” (http://www.christianpost.com/news/fearful-teen-commits-suicide-on-eve-of-harold-campings-rapture-50542/) Unless of course he wasn’t teaching the Bible!
Scarcity is a powerful motivator, and when it is wrongly applied theologically it can be a catalyst for acting like every day is black Friday…at its worst. The greatest lack that is threatened is the LACK OF TIME till either a rapture or a Great Tribulation. Think about the message: the end of the world is near and great crisis will not simply happen, but will overtake the world. The antiChrist is alive right now, and you are powerless to do anything about it. Time is running out. The only thing you can do it get ready? How? No one knows, but be ready.
In particular, the “be ready” and “watch and pray” passages had a very specific purpose. In responding to the disciples question regarding the signs of when the end of the old covenant temple age would be, he said “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” (Luke 21:20)
Their readiness was to be prepared to flee. They were to flee to the mountains, which was of course counterintuitive. It required great trust in Christ’s words. The natural response would be to flee to the stronghold of a walled city, but Jesus warned them that the city was going to be destroyed. “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” (Mt 24:15-18)
The reason many ministers are confused about this subject is that they don’t understand how to interpret apocalyptic language such as Jesus’ words of “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Mt 24:9). These are to be taken in light of the entire Bible’s common prophetic language of the destruction of a city or nation such as Isaiah’s prophetic words to Babylon “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.” (Is 12:10). Babylon was destroyed just as the prophet said, but the apocalyptic language is meant to convey the idea in our idiom saying, “your world is about to fall apart.” The rulers and governing powers are about to be put out of place.
The fruit of all this confusion? The fear of the lack of time left in the world will drive people to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Dear friends, we live in the time where the kingdom of God is increasing in the earth (of the increase of his kingdom there will be no end). Let’s make every day thanksgiving instead of black Friday.
Varnel Watson
Tom Steele Alan N Carla Smith Would a Sabbath starting on Black Friday be a Black Sabbath?
Varnel Watson
Bob Wizenhut You are again posting your regular general comments which I have read under most of your posts. Just for fun let’s take one of the most common objections of many Christians and conservatives in general against the idea of open borders (which, by the way, is the original constitutional arrangement of the US): “We can’t have open borders with a welfare state. We need to keep the borders closed until we remove the welfare state, and only then open the borders.” Taken in its abstract form, this proposition makes perfect sense; many immigrants come here only for the welfare, so let’s limit immigration by law, meanwhile work to abolish the welfare state, and then finally, we can open the borders and have only those who would come here to work. In a world of idealized theorizing, this theory is quite convincing. Let’s have a process of sifting visitors and immigrants, until we deal with the problem.
The problem comes when we connect the theory to the real world. Who do you think profits the most from the welfare state? Federal bureaucrats of the executive branch. Thus, who do you think is your real enemy in the war against the welfare state? Federal bureaucrats of the executive branch. And now, listen carefully. Who do you think, according to the immigration law, controls the admission of immigrants? Yes, you got it. Federal bureaucrats of the executive branch. So, what is the logic of trusting the same enemies whom you are fighting politically over the welfare state, to provide an administrative defense of your fight against the welfare state? In whose favor do you think they will tilt their decisions when they admit immigrants, in your favor or in favor of their own political agenda?
I have asked this question hundreds of times. I have never gotten an answer from those who use this argument. And yet, they continue repeating the same abstract mantra. Somehow, for most Christians and conservatives in general, the practical application of their abstract ideas has no value whatsoever. The real world doesn’t matter.
Joe Absher
Thank you . interesting
Varnel Watson
its an important issue Hugh Lowrie need to focus on the missio dei and not so much on cultural anthropology These issues remain in the church as the most segregated hour every Sunday And a politics of dividing differences cannot help the church of today
Anonymous
Robert Cox Jim Price My answer about what color of skin Jesus has. Idk why that’s so important to some. I’m glad His blood is red…
Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit of God and as far as I know God isn’t a Jew as much as ppl like to make Him one. He’s the creator of all races.
I really don’t know why it’s so important to some ppl what color Jesus is but I got into it with yet another black woman that scolded me and told me I was uninformed bc I didn’t believe He was black. Hey, I don’t think He was white either! He was the same color as the disciples! We know the Hebrews weren’t black bc Miriam made fun of Moses’ wife from Ethiopia.
Usually the black ppl that believe like that don’t call Him Jesus. They are fake Hebrews so they try to use (incorrectly) Hebrew names for Him. This particular lady was showing everyone the “hidden” books of the Bible (the Apocrypha) and saying that the Catholic Church and 501c3 have twisted the true gospel. When I told her that those “hidden” books were actually books that weren’t included in the canon and that Catholics are the ones that still use them (making her argument really stupid) she denied it and told me to pray that God will speak to me. I told her I talk to God every day. What weirdos I come across on FB.
Jesus came for sin, not skin and if you’re worried about what color His was then you’re worried about the wrong thing.
—Pastor Robert—
Anonymous
arent you too 501c3? Robert Cox Robert Borders Robert Dickinson
Anonymous
Troy Day we just recently returned to 501c3 status after relinquishing it for many yrs. And no, they don’t tell me how or what to preach. Lol.
Anonymous
oh just wait they will!