YRP: A New Kind of Christian for the World

Enough with the fundamentalism; bring on His love.

Religion in today’s world. Regardless of whether you believe in a deity, a spirit, or the flying spaghetti monster, everyone has their own theory on how the world was created, why we are here, and where we are going.

Most of you know I go to a Christian liberal arts college and so, one would assume, I am a Christian; and this assumption is true. Therefore I, like many other Christians across the world, were “flabbergasted” to see how the media seemed to lump the likes of Harold Camping, our modern-day Nostradamus whose failed prediction of Judgment Day shook the paranoid realms of society last Saturday, with the rest of us Christians. In our current era of mass media, its pretty clear that our society has an affinity for the unusual; how often do you see superlative words like the “biggest”, the “worst”, or the “craziest” in our media? The problem is that when applied to religion, it shows the “crazies”; Middle Eastern terrorists, Fred Phelps, or even Glenn Beck.

Anything to success is a bad thing, especially religion since it is such a powerful and illogical force. I can tell you from experience that my faith is not logical; there are very few things about Christianity that are completely logical; but that does not mean that all the good that it can bring is for naught. People like Harold Camping destroy the very fabric of what being a Christ-follower means. We cannot know what God plans for this world; it is our job to do our best to love God and love others because, in the end, that is all we can do.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

Rob Bell, a prolific, “postmodern” Christian writer puts it best when he says that “you rarely defend the things you love. You enjoy them and tell others about them and invite others to enjoy them with you.” I suggest that Camping, and many other Christian “apologetics”, or “defenders”, take a step back and use their time, money, and energy, for things that can help bring the kingdom of God here to Earth. CBS News reported that Family Radio, the company that Camping is a part of, spent over $1 Million on billboards all over the world, and that is a conservative estimate. Think about how many charities could have benefited from all that money? Its sickening.

Regardless, the only way to truly be “Christ-like” is to extend His love to all around you. Don’t be arrogant, judgmental, or fake; instead, act like a true messenger of God by helping others. Be the new, the true Christian for the world.