I loved the Left Behind series. Those books were real page turners. The idea of being swept away with true believers was captivating. It's also dangerous. I have seen this view as pervasive in much of the church at-large today. It is as if we don't care about the world around us because we are just here temporarily. I agree we are pilgrims and sojourners but that isn't the same as escapism. This is a part a of why the church is in decline. It feels utterly selfish because it is. Jesus said to pray for the Father's "Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven." We are to participate with God in this kingdom come, by his grace.
According to Oxford the philosophy of nihilism is this; extreme skepticism maintaining that nothing in the world has a real existence.
This is very similar to the escapism we see in the church. Why worry about the environment or climate change? Why work for the benefit of all people? Why not compartmentalize our faith as irrelevant? Why not fear the other?
We mustremind fellow believers that the Kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21) and at minimum among us; if we have 'eyes to see and ears to hear'. Jesus promised to be with us until the end of the age not just at the end of the age. At least a pure nihilist isn't deluding themselves and pretending to care.
It is time to reject this false teaching that has rooted in the Church. Not through schism, but through love. These beliefs are rooted in fear, fear of God and neighbor. We called to love God and our neighbor. To be perfected by love, we won't get there but we can be changed and made new. Our hard hearts can soften into flesh. Perfect Love casts out fear(1 John 4:18). Dear Lord exorcise our fear.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
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