Still Here, and Glad to Be So.

Before I offered my Baccalaureate address this past Saturday, I told those gathered that I had never before presided at a Baccalaureate service held on a day that the world was predicted to end. I told them that, should something happen and some of them be taken away, I would still be there preaching for those who remained behind. Truth is, I would much rather hang out with those who are seeking answers than to spend eternity with those who want to be a part of the 2 - 3% of the earth's population spared from a final cataclysmic event. I hung out with enough of those types in college to last me for a lifetime. How is it that the faith that teaches the most benevolent and grace-filled message of all religions attracts those who like to keep score even more than my mean old third grade teacher? When I took a course in Pauline theology in college, our professor talked about the now-famous verse in I Thessalonians 4 that has come to be know as the "rapture" (a word which never appears in scripture!). Paul expected the coming of Christ at any minute at that point in his career. However, as one reads other, later letters of Paul, it becomes clear that he expected to die before Christ ever returned. I guess that my wonder at such Bible illiteracy is tied up with my on-going question as to why my theology and knowledge of the Bible is suspect by some, while that of those with no training in biblical studies is not. I learned a long time ago in my parish work that, no matter how many years of theological training one has under his or her belt, one always loses out to what "grandma" told a family member. I find it fascinating that, although the mainstream media dismisses the modern day prophets of doom, they spent countless time covering their predictions. They also have no interest in what educated people have to say on the subject. Face it, the world WILL end someday. While I doubt very much that it will happen in my lifetime, I don't know that for certain. If I am a person of faith, as I claim to be, then I must assert that, whenever it happens, God will care for all of God's people, not only for a fortunate few who enjoyed reading the tea leaves.