It seems to me those who believe in Armageddon and the Rapture have very little cause to worry about the condition of the planet, since Armageddon will wreck it and the Rapture will renew it, and the belief in the imminence of both precludes the existence of future generations who will have to live here.
So can it be said that the belief in Armageddon and the Rapture keeps America and the West from taking more useful steps to protect the biosphere of this planet and preserve it for generations to come?
2006-08-26 03:31:14 · 9 answers · asked by bobkgin 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As a Christian who doesn't believe in premillenialism, I agree. I think the belief is problematic in other ways, as well.
It seems to lead to an unhealthy response to unbelievers - that they are our personal enemies (instead of enemies of God who need salvation), that we are at war with them on a personal level, and that we can gloat over their lost condition.
I don't think we can preserve the earth forever. It wasn't meant to last that long. But we are responsible for what we leave for future generations and to be considerate of them.
2006-08-26 03:42:38 · answer #1 · answered by Contemplative Chanteuse IDK TIRH 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Protecting what God is going to destroy isn't sensible. We are instructed to use the planet wisely and take care of it. There is no real future as the unbeliever thinks (millions or billions of years) It just isn't going to happen..
The little conflict in Lebanon has done more than we can undo with all the smogging of cars..
When Iran or N. Korea pop off a nuke, what will that do to the atmosphere?? They just can't get it into their heads that nobody wins a nuclear war.. Human life to them is nothing and they don't even think like an American does.
You want to save the whales, they think it nothing if a few thousand of their own people starve to death or don't have medical treatment. Global warming?? Do you think Iran or N Korea care about it??
You are wrong about the rapture, you don't understand what it is. The rapture will renew nothing, the New Heaven and Earth will renew everything..
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Rev 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Rev 8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
Rev 8:9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
2006-08-26 04:05:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hmm, good point. It doesn't show us as good stewards of the items we've been entrusted with.
Even though I know my car will wind up in a junkyard several years from now, I still maintain it and try to keep it nice. I figure I'm going to use it for a long while! I hope more people adopt that attitude about the Earth - we only have one of it. We can't buy another when this one wears out.
2006-08-26 03:37:32 · answer #3 · answered by Dave 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not Christian anymore, but I never heard a sermon where the preacher said anything like "don't worry about the planet because of the rapture".
That would be quite irresponsible...like saying "I will eventually die, so I will not pay my bills".
Is this your deduction?
2006-08-26 05:17:20 · answer #4 · answered by I I 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmm- I checked out your other questions and you are not like a lot of the christians on here- so I will answer anyway:)
Yes, I think that is one of the big problems. They believe they have"dominion over the earth" and therefore do not need to respect it. They think they can just wreck it, but that's fine cuz god will come along when they are done messing it up and fix it for them. Why change their ways when they think by messing with isreal and the middle east they can force Jesus out of the sky?
Check out the link on my animism question. :)
2006-08-26 05:38:33 · answer #5 · answered by kermit 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, Reagan's Secretary of the Interior wondered aloud why we bothered with environmental concerns at all. After all, Jesus was coming any day to fix everything.
This from the man whose job partially included the quality of the environment...
Theodiocy.
2006-08-26 03:37:50 · answer #6 · answered by Scott M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God has given us the job of being stewards of this planet. That means we need to take care of it. We are permitted to use resources, and be creative ( we do not have to do away with every thing man made).
2006-08-26 04:41:52 · answer #7 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. I think that the rapture renews what armegeddon destroys, not what us humans destroy
2006-08-26 03:38:14 · answer #8 · answered by J&B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Socialize more with different kinds of people.
Conside totally different paradigms
Think for yourself.
Totally worthless question (if you're actually interested in the subject you posit).
2006-08-26 03:36:53 · answer #9 · answered by Hymn 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋