Sunday 24th January 2021 – Apocalypse Now!
Psalm 62:5-8
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honour depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
Apocalypse Now!
Apocalypse and the end times are on Paul’s mind as he writes to the Corinthians. These two things are connected but they aren’t the same thing. The Greek New Testament refers to the end times as the ‘Parousia’, meaning: presence, arrival, or official visit. In the case of Christian theology this is the visit at the end of time of the Great King – Jesus Christ. The end will come of course, but like Paul I’m mostly concerned with how we live until he comes.
- What is an Apocalypse?
Now let’s separate the two ideas, end times and apocalypse. The end will happen at a time of great change and apocalypse. But apocalypse isn’t limited to the very end. The word ‘apocalypse’ comes from the Greek of the New Testament and means the peeling away of layers. Like an onion, but in the case of apocalyptic events or times, it’s the peeling away of the old human culture. A culture, that has corrupted over time and has ceased to honour God and serve us well. The old is often a culture of ‘dominance structures’ and the resultant abuse of the poor and powerless by the rich and powerful. Not always deliberately. Rich rulers are often well educated, charming, nice people but the system has become the status quo. It is what it is, and change seems too difficult and complex. Apocalyptic events that reshape the world are needed to force the coming of the new.
Let me point out, at this point, that when human beings attempt to force change, we end up with more dominance structures, more abuses – more of the same only worse. Tyranny from government and violent opposition from oppressed people as armed resistance or terrorism. On the other hand, when circumstances outside of human control force change, God has room to move and through compassionate and respectful people can bring about the refreshment of His ‘new things’.
So, an apocalypse is the peeling away of the old and an act of revelation. An act that reveals what new things God has instore. Things like a return to compassion and respect, dialogue for mutual understanding, growth and healthy unity. Conversations where everyone wins, instead of the aggression of hostile debates that end with division - winners and losers.
Apocalypse is the passing away of the old and the advent of the new.
- Paul’s Apocalypse
As Paul writes to the Corinthians, it is these things that are on his mind, the difference is that his personal timeline for the return of Jesus and the coming of God’s ‘New’ is skewed. Perhaps by genuine and excited hope and a heightened sense of anticipation because of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple – the old dominance power structures. While his sense of God’s timeline didn’t match his own, this doesn’t alter his message, ‘For this world in its present form is passing away.’
Paul is urging his readers toward preparation for the changes that are coming. Preparation emotionally and spiritually and preparation in our relationships. Don’t take anything for granted – get yourselves ready to be a part of what God is doing.
- An Apocalypse is initially confusing, frightening, and exhausting.
Easy to say from the sidelines but when we are in the middle of great change – either a personal apocalypse, or a global one like this pandemic and the changing of the guard in the US, the most powerful economy in the world, great change is initially, at least, confusing, frightening and exhausting.
Our energy dissipates in the face of fear and an unknown future. It feels as if our very life force is dissipating. We feel physically weak, emotionally drained and our thinking becomes clouded and confused.
- An Apocalypse is full of Hope
The true nature of apocalyptic literature however, is that it’s full of Hope. It reminds us that all of life is temporary and that oppressive structures pass away. Knowing that life is temporary gives us the great capacity to let go of what doesn’t matter. Let go of the unimportant things of life and take hold of the people who matter to us, take hold of all that has true and lasting value. Love God, love your neighbour and love yourself.
Jesus prayed that the eyes and ears of our hearts would be opened. This is not some super-spiritual wish. It’s Jesus asking his Father in illuminate us and enable us to evaluate the cultures in which we live and see them for what they are. Significant human structures, systems and cultural beliefs that are passing away. God wants us to see the fatal flaws in politics, economics, social culture, institutional cultures, including Church culture. Yes, even church culture. Not everything we have inherited is of God. There is going to be much human cultural overlay concealing God’s good work.
For the followers of Jesus who have been endowed with faith, hope and love by the Living Word, Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit – Jesus with us always – the transition that an apocalypse is, is always going to be a struggle but also rewarding and rewarding beyond expectation. We pray, give us this day our daily bread. The Greek word for ‘daily’ in the Lord’s Prayer is literally translated as ‘super-substantial’.
When confronted with change, either personally or globally, we face the future with the eyes and ears of our heart wide open to see the falseness of what is passing away and the hope that lies in the possibilities of the new that is being revealed and in the knowledge that God will supply our daily needs – super-substantially.
The spirit of God which overcomes fear and gives us courage to face and prevail today in any apocalypse and into the Parousia – the return of the Great King.
We are called as followers of Jesus and as his church together to be an ‘apocalyptic presence’ in the world. Facilitating Godly change with Good News. Leading those God has given us to follow King David’s advice in today’s Psalm and ‘Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge’.
Let me finish with the words of the youngest Poet Laureate in US history, Amanda Gorman, who spoke so eloquently at President Biden’s inauguration, ‘There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it!’
- For Monday
- How has the current pandemic apocalypse impacted you?
- Confusing, frightening, frustrating, exhausting ……. ?
- Reflect upon the ways in which God has been your refuge
- How as the very Good News about Jesus given you hope
- What’s my win from this?
- How am I wiser and stronger? Or how can I be?
- What possibilities lay ahead for you walk with Jesus and the community in which you live?