Test Every Spirit

             Well I think it is safe to say that the world has not ended and the rapture has not yet occurred. Harold Camping sure managed to stir up quite a buzz with his prediction. This was not his first time making such a bold claim, and it doesn't seem that it will be his last. It's sad for a couple of reasons. First there have been many thousands led astray by his predictions. Many have given significant amounts of money and time following his claims that the end was to come on May 21st. Secondly I'm sure there are those out there so hurt by this that they will never trust sound biblical teaching because of his false teaching. 1 Timothy 6:3-4 states that, "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing." Those are indeed harsh words for anyone who would teach something outside of what Jesus taught. That's why it is so important for those who teach to carefully watch and be sure that their teaching lines up with the Bible. But it is also the responsibility of the audience to check and test against scripture what they are hearing. In Acts chapter 17 we see that the Jews receiving the gospel in Berea accepted it with eagerness but daily examined the scriptures to see that it was true. Unfortunately most people don't examine things they hear in any situation. That's why we spent so many weeks trying to get kids to ask questions and think about the messages they get through movies, t.v., music and the internet. We've got to examine things especially when someone claims that those things come from the Word of God.
The third way in which I see this false prediction hurting people is that it gives fuel to the thought that the end will never really come. This hurts both believers and non-believers. First believers may become to relaxed and not be ready, like we are commanded to be, for the return of Christ. We find in scripture both calls for perseverance along with the expectation that Christ will return and judge the world. But rather than living with the very real expectation that his return could happen any time people can get caught up in thinking, "see it didn't happen this time and it will never happen while I'm alive." Which might be true, but we are still called to live ready to stand before Him at any time. For non-believers the risk is that they will disregard all bible teaching now on account of one false teacher. I pray that is not the case, and that this failed prediction of God's judgement will not over shadow the truth that we all stand condemned before God and need the forgiveness that only comes through Jesus' death and resurrection.