People think I am morbid sometimes when they see my stack of books about Eschatology and my commentary collection on Revelation. I have had to answer questions from many people and it is even more interesting to have random people in public (especially at coffee shops like Main and Maple) talk to me when they see my spread of stuff out on a table. But my fascination comes from a deeply personal level.
I really freaked out a couple of years ago. Seriously freaked out......I started buying water and ammunition because I was terrified of some sort of scenario when it would all “hit the fan”. There were factors leading up to all of this, but some friends had to almost stage an intervention. My wife bore the brunt of it, and she was gracious in love and care during this time. I had close friends praying for me and walking through the journey with me. I had professors commend me to spend time in prayer regarding the situation.
So this is how I deal with it. I take an approach that is both playful and serious.
I do alot of academic work on the subject. This blog is counting for class credit (I am a 4th year M.Div at Asbury Seminary) and most of my papers deal with eschatology in some form. I have a passion for helping people understand what “The End” (as I like to call it) will be like, and why Christians today have to engage it at multiple levels. Fear is not a part of the Christian vocabulary, so my intense academic focus is part of me dealing with it. My friends laugh and tell me that I can get to Eschatology in two steps usually.
AND......
I have a thing for zombies, Mad Max, bad Kevin Costner movies and the entire genre of Post-Apocalyptic fiction and anything that goes along with it. Funny thing is, besides Mad Max, I was never interested in this stuff until after my paranoid redneck episode. It is very playful but slightly obnoxious at times. I preached a sermon once about Baptism and Zombies (you can read it here on my main blog)
I think I developed these two very different realities in response to how I dealt my fear. The side of me that is very analytical had to really get to the bottom of it and my other side went full tilt to the other end. Allowing both of these to exist and sometimes interact have moved from a safety mechanism to part of my call to ministry. I really think that clearing up all of the problems as well as engaging culture is something that the Church must do in our society now. It is a crucial part of our definition and we shouldn’t be scared any more.
So thanks for hanging around these last few days, and please join in the conversations. I don’t want this to be a 1 way street.
Tomorrow:
Pop Culture and Eschatology
Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall ever be, world without end.
Amen
I really freaked out a couple of years ago. Seriously freaked out......I started buying water and ammunition because I was terrified of some sort of scenario when it would all “hit the fan”. There were factors leading up to all of this, but some friends had to almost stage an intervention. My wife bore the brunt of it, and she was gracious in love and care during this time. I had close friends praying for me and walking through the journey with me. I had professors commend me to spend time in prayer regarding the situation.
So this is how I deal with it. I take an approach that is both playful and serious.
I do alot of academic work on the subject. This blog is counting for class credit (I am a 4th year M.Div at Asbury Seminary) and most of my papers deal with eschatology in some form. I have a passion for helping people understand what “The End” (as I like to call it) will be like, and why Christians today have to engage it at multiple levels. Fear is not a part of the Christian vocabulary, so my intense academic focus is part of me dealing with it. My friends laugh and tell me that I can get to Eschatology in two steps usually.
AND......
I have a thing for zombies, Mad Max, bad Kevin Costner movies and the entire genre of Post-Apocalyptic fiction and anything that goes along with it. Funny thing is, besides Mad Max, I was never interested in this stuff until after my paranoid redneck episode. It is very playful but slightly obnoxious at times. I preached a sermon once about Baptism and Zombies (you can read it here on my main blog)
I think I developed these two very different realities in response to how I dealt my fear. The side of me that is very analytical had to really get to the bottom of it and my other side went full tilt to the other end. Allowing both of these to exist and sometimes interact have moved from a safety mechanism to part of my call to ministry. I really think that clearing up all of the problems as well as engaging culture is something that the Church must do in our society now. It is a crucial part of our definition and we shouldn’t be scared any more.
So thanks for hanging around these last few days, and please join in the conversations. I don’t want this to be a 1 way street.
Tomorrow:
Pop Culture and Eschatology
Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall ever be, world without end.
Amen
Chad, I've been enjoying all this eschatology stuff.
This post kind of inspired me. I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.bigsandygilmore.com/chad.png
Posted by: Matt | 12/02/2009 at 04:22 PM
Matt-
That is truly amazing. Glad you were able to get your favorite movie in there.
Chad
Posted by: Chad | 12/02/2009 at 05:05 PM
I'm glad I was gracious...the shotgun shell purchases (every time you went to the store! plus the water and gasoline stock piles was a little much.
= )
Posted by: Meredith | 12/03/2009 at 08:56 AM