When Your Theology Stops Making Sense

"Coming Soon" cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward I remember when I first got saved. I was so excited about Jesus coming back that I wouldn't wear a seatbelt. That's right! Can you believe it? What courage! But then I started to do the math. If Jesus said he was coming back soon 2,000 years ago, what's up with that?! So I asked. Oh, the answers I got. The biggest one was that to the Lord a thousand years is like a day and a day is like a thousand years. So I asked, ā€šĆ„ĆŗOkay, so... if soon to him meant next week, does that mean he meant 7,000 years? Or if he meant next month, does that mean 30,000 years? Or if he meant next year, does that mean 365,000 years?ā€šĆ„Ć¹ They were not happy! And neither was I. Wait 365,000 years? I don't have time for that. So I asked more questions. Like, ā€šĆ„ĆŗDid he mean it? Was he just saying that to comfort his distraught disciples because he was leaving them? Or did he mean metaphorically, meaning the coming of the Spirit was actually his return?ā€šĆ„Ć¹ They were not happy. And neither was I. There are many questions we can fairly ask. Here are just a few: Was Jesus caught up in the apocalyptic expectations of his day and spoke accordingly? Did Jesus even say these words, or were they put in his mouth by later writers to comfort and manage the people of the church? Or, was there even a Jesus who said those words? These are not stupid, but legitimate questions that serious biblical and theological scholars have asked and written about extensively. I know I know I know. It's scary to let go of the way we've believed things for so many years. It's actually traumatizing for many. But I'm confident that when we ask the questions, press through and wait, clarity will come, and with it a peace of mind that we've never, ever experienced before. If you're struggling with this alone, DON'T! Join the rest of us in the courageous collective, The Lasting Supper... a safe place to ask your questions. We'll help you feel at home!
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