So what does the Bible say about preparing for the end? Basically, be on your guard: “Ye know not on what day your Lord will come,” as Matthew 24: 42 puts it. “The Bible teaches followers to wait expectantly,” says Kathy Maxwell, assistant professor of biblical and theological studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida. “We’re not supposed to be quitting our jobs, selling our stuff and moving onto compounds to wait, we’re supposed to be taking care of people and contributing to society.”
– Excerpt from Time’s “Apocalypse Weekend: Harold Camping Says the World Ends Saturday. He’s Said that Before” article by Kayla Webley
Faith-based believers need to live deliberately each day. Rapture or not, we should be focused in advancing God’s Kingdom one day at a time. Does that mean making a lot of noise that strikes fear in those who don’t know Jesus? No way. Doing so will more likely cause non-believing loved ones to further doubt the concept of God.
Jesus is awesome. But the reality is that many of His followers do the most ridiculous things that prompt people to run away from church. I believe Harold Camping, even with the best intentions, fuels most people’s beliefs that Christianity is not for them. If anything, Christianity is becoming a joke and many non-believers will enjoy a good laugh on May 22nd.
While Camping and his funded campaigns grab the world’s attention, I pray that the rest of the church truly shines and attracts others to seek Him. The only way I know how to be part of this bigger plan is to obey God’s greatest commandments: to love Him and to love others. This requires us to be counter-cultural to all the negativity toward Christianity by being understanding, open, transparent and compassionate. And the pressure never stops as the world is watching us this weekend and the next. But that shouldn’t matter. We do what we can (and that can be a lot when you believe God is supporting you 100%).
In the end, if you’re actually taking care of people and contributing to society, even the most cynical people can appreciate what you do. And that, my friends, gives me hope.