This Is Not The End

 

Today's sermon is about eschatology, a loaded theological term that essentially means studying the end times.  

Lots of people think the world is going to end soon.  

As long as I can remember, I have heard evangelical Christians talk about the end of the world with no small amount of glee.  They read books by people who claim to be prophecy experts, and who are constantly looking for signs that will confirm their theories. 

This is not new, but with the advent of the Internet and social media, it's reached new levels of foolishness.  

For the past four years, conservative Christians proclaimed the end of the world was imminent until the election, and now they at least feel like the world got a reprieve for at least four more years.  

Now it's the progressive's turn.  

This kind of talk about the end of the world is tied to horrible theology and extraordinarily awful interpretations of Scripture.  

Every change in the world is a potential sign. 

Leper Messians are seen as saviors.  

And for a lot of Christians, any leader they didn't vote for is the Antichrist.  

So today, we will talk about the end of the world.  

But we're going to read Jesus's words about it.  

Can I just say again how important it is to read the words of Jesus?

I want to say this because we need to understand this now more than ever.  

We are in an age of poets, prophets, and preachers unafraid to open the veil between this world and the next.  

Billy Corgan, the lead guitarist, singer, and founder of the Smashing Pumpkins, did an interview some years ago where he revealed something fascinating.  

“So what are you exploring now?”

God... God is the third rail in rock and roll. You’re not supposed to talk about God. Even though most of the world believes in God, it’s like, ‘Don’t go there.’ I think God is the great unexplored territory in rock and roll music.”

So what would you say to Christian rockers?

Make better music. Personally, my opinion is that I think Jesus would like better bands.

I just had to put that last thing in there.  

But the truth that Corgan hit upon then, and is even more true now, is that our best poets, prophets, and preachers can offer us something more than lousy theology, paranoia, and a roller coaster of fatalism.  

They can offer us hope if we will let them.  

I came across a poem by poet jh Hard that had a line that resonated with me so much that I decided to make it the tagline for today's sermon: 

REFUEL YOUR SOUL, LOVE.  THIS IS A LONG DRIVE. 

Let's take a look at the lectionary text for today, Mark 13:1-8

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2 Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

The largest stone was nearly 40 feet long, 7 feet high, and 13 feet deep.  It weighed 660 tons. 

Jesus offers a prediction here about what would eventually happen to the Temple.  

Naturally, the disciples want to know when the end is coming.   

3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 

6 Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Jesus tells them that when they think it's the end, it's just the beginning.  

Everything will be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it isn't the end.   

What We Need To Know 

1. When all seems lost, and the world is falling apart—it’s just new birth. 

2. Two of the greatest words in the Bible: Fear Not. 

3. Do we actually trust the things we say we believe?  

REFUEL YOUR SOUL, LOVE.  THIS IS A LONG DRIVE.