Before the disciples of Harold Camping were on the streets handing out literature about Judgement Day on May 21st, they were on the streets handing out literature that asked the question: does God love you?For me, the second message was more troubling. It was troubling that both messages were being given to people. But the second one was more so. Does God send men to preach His Gospel with a question mark? It is hard to imagine something more nefarious, then to INSERT DOUBT at the point of entry for a message from God which must be RECIEVED BY FAITH. Who would do such a thing?Preaching the Gospel with a question mark is not much different than the Devil's question to Eve: has God said? only now it is: has God said it, to you.Taking the two messages togther presents an irony: on the one hand, a man's opinion about the Day of Judgment was being preached with absolute certainty. And God's message to men about their salvation, was preached to them, with a question mark.Instead of an exclamtion point.
_________________Christopher Joel Dandrow
Thanks Chris for this post. It is something I haven't considered. Here is an idea.Deep within the cults....almost all of them, including Islam and the RCC....is a duty/works based theology, that implies that OUR religion is the only way..[Camping believes that every Church in America is controlled by Satan, except his radio fellowship...that isn't really a church....ugh!].....and certain things you have a duty to fulfill and acts that you must accomplish to be extra holy..[ Jihad for eternal sexual bliss with a virginal harem in Islam, and the "sacrificial" lifestyle with "extravagant" devotion to be superior Catholics..]Maybe the tract implied that to really know God's love, you needed to jump board the one and only ship headed to Heaven....Camping's.Add to that the fear factor, and the glassy eyed dogma trembling as they confronted you with this tract....... [which reinforced their own martyr complex as the elite ones KNOWING the truth....] and it all seems to fit.Does God love you?....only if you join us....Camping is a demonic Cult leader...and rather than back down, or God forbid, repent, he becomes more militant, more aggressive...which is the only way he sees to save face, and stay in control.Beware of Antichrist Deceivers 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Anti-Christ deceivers may also mean..."TAKE THE PLACE OF CHRIST!"
Well said, both Chris and BrotherTom.
