Who Are Our Teachers?

Without much thinking, we can easily see that our teachers in society are preachers, parents and professors. By professors we mean all of societies teachers including those of professional status.

The influence of our educators is largely religious. The nations most prestigious universities were started by preachers for preachers or were in some way an adjunct of the church designed to perpetuate religious instruction. Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Columbia Universities all fall within this category.

These institutions have for the most part, graduated to "higher learning" as they would put it. That being said, it is only necessary to show these schools were once highly influenced by religious thinking.

So, our professors were once our preachers. Does it not also stand to reason that our preachers were also our parents and likewise our professors who then both became our preachers? Thus the cycle of our teachers was established and perpetuated.

Shaping Our Worldview

Our worldview has been shaped by religious influences. Primarily there are but two basic worldviews eschatologically speaking. One is that of pessimism and destruction, fostering lack and limitation. The other is one of optimism and growth, fostering endless opportunity and hope.

To which of these worldviews do you subscribe? What are your views on eschatology? If you believe that the world is soon to come to cataclysmic destruction, that things will progressively get worse and worse, that approximately 3 billion people are fated to die in the coming great tribulation being left behind in the rapture, then it is inevitable that your worldview is limited and destructive.

You are accepting the fated end and perhaps in some way creating self-fulfilling prophecies of destructive outcomes. The futurists millennial views of eschatology, whether pre, post or amillennial, all share a common paradigm, --doom and gloom on the imminent horizon.

Eschatology and History

History confirms that during the introduction of these views in religious thought, a shift in hope for the future occurred. The pendulum swung to hyper negativity, fostering a de-emphasizing of the importance of education, wealth accumulation, preparation for the future, involvement in the political process, the creation of socialist governments including communism, and escapism, --the church's retreat from society.

The title of Jack Van Impe's book, "The Great Escape" says it all. So, let us abandon the mother earth ship enterprise and head for the heavenly hills. To hell with those left behind! The decadence of the world today bears the fruit of escapism at every turn.

Consider Six Points Derived From the Idea of an Imminent Future Return of Christ

(1) It is useless to work for things in the distant future.
(2) It is sin to be involved in such worldly pursuits as math, art, science, history and civil government.
(3) Wait for Christ's return, hence withdraw from society
(4) Retreat from evangelism
(5) Renounce all material possessions, as the materially prosperous cannot be a good Christian. This was a basic premise of the French Revolution -- poverty was proof of virtue and sincerity.
(6) Missionary efforts are reduced to spreading knowledge versus saving souls and reforming lives.

Optimism and Hope

On the other hand, those who understand that eschatology lies in the past, being fulfilled in the first century, are influenced by a worldview of victory, hope and unlimited opportunities. Such worldview fosters abundance, responsibility and accountability. Its proponents seek involvement in the world knowing they can make a difference and understanding that they are victors before they begin.

Like Paul, they have a balance of desiring to be with Christ, (transformed out of this world) but understanding that remaining in the world to offer service is more needful for society. Paul chose the latter until his death became inevitable. (Philippians 1:21-25). For him, he saw only progress in remaining in the flesh.

Paul's eschatological predictions were limited to the imminent end-time events which characterized the end of the Jewish age but were overshadowed by his bright outlook for the future glory of the church on earth after the parousia. (See Romans 8:17, 18; Ephesians 3:21;

John concurs in his message of glory to the church. The kingdom of God is described as the holy city which comes down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride. In it, the tabernacle of God is with men, and through it God dwells with us. (Revelation 21:2)

God and Christ reign from heaven over the holy city, --the church, where the nations walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. The gates are not shut by day, there is no night there. (Revelation 21:24-26)

Choose Your Worldview

Which worldview of eschatology do you choose? If your decision is to opt out and not make a choice, what does that say about your worldview? Consider your present eschatological paradigm and ponder the choices which are made for you.

We invite you to venture into the world without end, in the age of the ages.(Ephesians 3:21) The kingdom is present, immovable and can never be destroyed. It is only possible in a worldview shaped by glorious fulfillment versus the inglorious non-fulfillment of a deferred eschatological worldview.