Author: Wick

I was watching the travel channel the other day, and it had that lady who gets to travel all over the place, and tell us how neat it all is. I envy her sometimes. They should do the same show, with my wife and I carting our kids everywhere…THAT is a show parents would watch. We’d give tips, etc…on where/how to travel. It’d rock.

Anyways, she was watching a man sculpt intricate designs out of a giant block of ice. It was really neat to watch, and you could tell the man was an artist of sorts, with solid talent. Unfortunately, he was carving ice. On a cruise ship. In the Caribbean. It was doomed from the start.

I think that’s very much why my previous post could be an important topic to so many of us. There is a large section of the church today who, if they were honest, would confess to feeling like the work they’re doing (or would be doing) in this world is very much like carving a sculpture out of ice. Sure, we could put great energy/care into things, and add artistic touches, etc. But why? It’s just going to melt anyways.

But to actually realize that throughout the New Testament, God is continually speaking of the New Creation as being VERY MUCH connected to this current one, wow. To understand, and live out the belief that somehow, the work that I’m doing for the Kingdom today, the expressions of worship (art, music, relationships, acts of mercy, love, grace, etc.) will actually be present somehow in the New Creation, WOW. We are NOT simply carving amazing images out of a giant block of ice that is melting even as we work. We are building, enriching, bringing about, contributing to, and being used in ways indescribable; as God works, and will work, to make all things new. Check out 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 to read more about involving ourselves in things that will last into the Kingdom.

These things…this life around us, etc. This will not all be crumpled up into a ball and thrown out, as God brings in a completely new “thing”. (Revelation 21:5 – I am making all things new! Not – I am making all new things..) Rather, all that we see and experience, and create…will be made new itself, as God pours out Himself completely on all of creation, and completes the work He began in Christ. That same work we find ourselves called to become a part of.

So I danced around an issue a while back, and it’s been gnawing at me a bit. It’s a subject I was a bit afraid to post on, not wanting to offend any, or freak anyone out. But if it’s honestly something I believe, and not only believe, but believe offers a renewed sense of hope for what lies ahead, then I’m not sure I can sit on it. For the 40+ of you who may read my blog on a daily basis (or 80+ on a every-other-day basis) – if I’m to be faithful to my calling to speak the hope of Christ, I think I should say a word or two.

Before I go too far, I know that many of you may read this, and think “old news”. But I think to a few of you, if you’re like me, you went a long time without hearing this. Know that I believe Christ IS returning, and has promised to make all things new, restoring/redeeming all things, and giving us a new creation. But an aspect of that belief has changed.

Growing up, I heard a lot of speculation on something called “the rapture”. A belief that someday, a trumpet will blast, and our souls will be sucked up out of our physical bodies, and taken to an ethereal location somewhere in the skies. (a Platonic version of soul & body). Our job is to be “rapture ready”, so that we’re not stuck in these shells when that happens. People I looked up to then, and others I look up to even today, still hold this belief. What I didn’t know until the past 6 years or so, was where this interpretation of certain scriptures came from. Or that this interpretation didn’t even exist in name really until the very late 1800’s.

A little over a hundred years ago, John Darby, and some others defected from the Anglican church. With the beliefs of dispensationalism (the belief that the world/these bodies are all of no value and are degenerating – God must want to save us from them, only “spiritual” things matter) came a different understanding of certain texts that Darby, along with Mr.Cyrus Scofield made popular instantly through the publishing of the Scofield Reference Bible. Religious ranking has always been a popular thing, and so a system of denying “worldly things” as a way of increasing your Holiness like this became a hit from the beginning.

What’s left then, if the rapture is just something made up in the late 1800’s? Read 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Paul talks at great length about the new, physical “resurrection” bodies we’ll be given, to enjoy/live in the new Heaven/new Earth mentioned in Revelation 21. What God has in store is a lot more than just floating around in a golden bliss for eternity. And it’s all somehow related to the Kingdom-building work we’re involved in RIGHT NOW in this world, in these bodies. I know there are a few scriptures people point to, thinking they refer to a “rapture” type event, even though the word is never used. If you’re interested in how these are read outside of a rapture-mindset…just ask.

Do I still believe God is “coming again” to finish everything He began in Christ? Oh boy yes. But I believe focusing too much on being “rapture ready” – anticipating an escape of this physical world – allows us to let go of our calling to take care of these bodies, and this earthly home. God IS coming, to make all things new, and to draw all things completely into His presence. (or pour out His complete presence over all things)

All that being said….we are NOT saved based on our beliefs of what “end things” will look like. But if you’re like me, the Hope offered by all of this for the work we’re doing today can be VERY refreshing. I’m sorry I’ve waited this long to say much about it here.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I’m fairly confident that belief or disbelief in the rapture and events like it do not count as heresy. But I think that there are people on both sides that can miss the hope of a future that has already begun NOW in Christ Jesus.

After a quick continental breakfast (some awesome canned sausage gravy over stale biscuits), I figured I should throw a few thoughts out. This week is “Annual Conference”, which is pretty much the Free Methodist version of “District Assembly” from the Nazarene days.

We come together from all our churches across the Conference, and talk about how it’s been going in our churches/ministries, and our prayers/hopes for the year ahead. We celebrate and worship, and sometimes mourn together. Oh, and some minor budgetary stuffs. Sometimes not so minor. But still just stuffs.

There are some hopes I’m excited about. Some hopes I probably won’t make public. But they’re hopefully all related to the Kingdom coming/being realized on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Overall, I’m pretty sure this past year was swell. Not to say that Moundford Free Methodist Church has a “booming” youth ministry. We may actually even be thinning out a bit. But I think we’re definitely moving forward. Building a new foundation…albeit probably slower than many (who want to see booming things) would like. With our new class coming in, we may actually balance out our male to female ration, which would be nice. Until they all get dates for church (wednesday nights usually), but most of them don’t return once the relationship goes south, anyways.

I’m also our Conference NSMT Director (which is akin to the Nazarene “NYI President” of a District) which stands for “National Student Ministry Team“. So I write out a quick little ditty of what we’ve done together as a conference, and a short schpiel of what lies ahead. I think things are going well there too, although honestly I need to nail down the hour or so a week I’m supposed to focus on this area. I’m pretty sure I have this position, cause no one else wanted it or had time for it…..but still…I want to be faithful to God in it.

It’s a nice little get-away in the middle of life. My wife and daughters are here with me, crashing at the Super 8. Not quite the luxury we enjoyed in Hawaii just a couple weeks ago….but at the same time, a bit more relaxing this morning. No pressure to go out and see/do everything. Just to be together. (and get to the meetings in time, hopefully)

Last night, my wife let me go out and be the crazy/social youth pastor I still am sometimes. Meetings ended at 8pm, then I headed over to Senior High camp to embarrass the girls from our church. Then went to Dairy Queen to hang with some pastors/etc. and socialize. Then back to the camp at 10:30 for a pizza party, and some more efforts to embarrass our teens. Back to the hotel by midnight.

I love my job.