Back to the Bible by Pastor Jon

Instead of seeing this latest attempt at setting a date

for the end of time as an embarrassing thing I believe
that we should see it as a call to get back to the basics of
the Bible. When our unsaved friends ask us about these
ads it is a perfect opportunity to share the truth with
them.

There are a couple of very simple things that we can put

into practice in order to get back to the Bible in our faith.
If you are reading this article then the prediction made
by Harold Camping was wrong and the end of the world First, read and the study the Bible verse by verse chapter
did not happen on May 21, 2011. Camping who owns by chapter book by book. We are all familiar with the
several radio stations has been promoting judgment day way that the news media does an hour long interview
on billboards, radio, and even a full page ad in the USA and then they only air one comment from the interview
Today. He claims to be certain after studying the Bible pulling it out of context. That is the same way that
for 50 years that Christ will come back on May 21, 2011. Camping comes up with the date May 21 st. He pulls
He is so certain that his prediction is right spent millions verses at random from the Bible and then through a few
advertising for judgment day. On the Family Radio simple addition and subtraction math
website they even have a count down clock to May 21 st. problems he arrives at this date for Christ
in to return. It is possible to make the Bible
tri ve s say whatever we want it say when we
The most important question for us to ask
l and s ching i el pick and choose verses at random.
is: What does the Bible say about the go a te a un s
date and time of Christ's return? The Our ing and hole co
ch w This is the main reason that my
disciples, like us, wanted to know prea ach the od. preaching style is verse by verse
when Jesus was going to return and the
to pre of G through an entire book. Its the only way to
end of time would come. When they
asked Jesus about it he responded, “But keep every verse within the intended context. It is
concerning the day and hour no one knows, also an effective way of not preaching on the same topic
not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the every Sunday and avoiding controversial ones. Our goal
Father only” (Matthew 24:36). This one verse alone is in preaching and teaching is to preach the whole counsel
enough for me to settle the issue. It is shocking that of God (Acts 20:27). We are on dangerous ground when
someone who claims to have studied the Bible for 50 we pick and choose a few verses at random to make up a
years failed to see this plain and simple message that message that is contrary to what the Bible teaches.
Jesus gave in this passage.
The second thing we must do is not believe everything
By setting a date for Christ's return Camping has done we hear. I often tell our kids to not believe anything they
more harm to the faith than good. It is going to be one hear and only half of what they see until they verify the
more thing that the world can use as an excuse to not information. When Paul and Silas preached in the Jewish
come to church or read their Bibles. This is why as synagogue in Berea the people there did not just believe
Christians we need to study and know the truth. Jesus everything they were told. Instead the Bible says they
said in the last days that there would be many people examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul and
who would come in His name and lead many people Silas preached was the truth (Acts 17:10-11).
astray (Mark 13:6). John said that we should test the
spirit to see if they are of God because there are many It is my desire that we all be people of the Book. There
false prophets in the world (1 John 4:1). If we were to will always be men and women teaching things that
put Camping to the test he would be classified as a false aren't true. Date setters will come and go. The only way
prophet because he also predicted judgment day would to be sure that we are not carried away with every wind
come in 1994 and it never happened. of doctrine is to have our feet firmly planted in the truth
of God's Word.