My Take (and a Rather Unsympthetic One at That) On Harold Camping and His Followers

Frankly, this whole Harold Camping mess ticks me off.  Since I write and teach in the field of eschatology, people expect me to say something.  Yet, I'm not sure many of you will appreciate my take on this.  I'm not a happy "camper."

I see this tragic episode as one gigantic mess, which God's people will be cleaning up for years.  I, for one, am not very sympathetic to Mr. Camping, or to those who follow him.  Here's why:

1).  He's done this before.  1994? anyone???  If Camping lives much longer (he's 89), he'll likely do this again.  As one of my favorite philosophers, Dirty Harry, once put it when his police superior questioned whether the serial killer (so wonderfully played by Andy Robinson) would continue to kill, Harry replied, "Of course he will.  He likes it."  You cannot tell me that however Camping came to this particular date for the Lord's return, and however sincere he might he be in his calculations, that the man does not love the media attention.  Why else spend all that money on an "in your face" ad campaign with buses and billboards across the country?  Camping likes the hubbub way too much.  Since someone's past behavior is the best predictor of their future behavior, if given the chance, Camping will do it again.

2).  Camping was disciplined by his church, and never once demonstrated the slightest hint of repentance.  When Camping was removed from his office for his unbiblical speculations, Camping's response was to declare that the church age was over, and that people should leave their churches!  (see Bob Godfrey's account of this--Godfrey on Harold Camping).  Harold Camping is not some grandfatherly old man who has weird views on things (every church has a few of these).  This is a man, who, when he did not get his way, sought to create widescale schism and division in the church.  How can we not conclude that many among his followers are schismatics who have followed their master in his sin?

3).  Camping is not a theological conservative defending the faith, he's a theological radical, and has a dangerous hermeneutic.  Camping gained a following among Reformed cultural conservatives by defending the view that only men should hold the office of minister, elder and deacon, that evolutionary thought had no place in Christian colleges, and that the rampant immorality of our age cannot go unchallenged nor be accepted by Christians.  Meanwhile, the "conservative" Camping was using some outlandish and distorted hermeneutical method to calculate the day of Christ's return and telling everyone who would listen that he was right and that anyone who challenged him had no authority to do so.  Since when did theological conservatives attack the perspicuity of Scripture?  Or champion "private interpretation" while mocking the teaching office and disciplinary authority of the church?

4).  Someone  has to say it -- the man is a false teacher and a kook.  My sense is that Camping falls within the exhortation given by Paul in Romans 16:17 (and elsewhere) -- such people are to be avoided.  Camping is a false teacher, plain and simple.  Anyone who repeatedly pulls the kinds of shenanigans he has should have no credibility.  Non-Christians see him for what he is.  Yet, Christians feel ashamed about calling him out on the same grounds--when Scripture requires that we do so!  Yes, we need to pray for his repentance, and yes, we need to be merciful to those whom he has deceived.  But given the way the man handles God's word, he is self-edvidently a kook.  He has no business being labeled a "teacher."  And it is tragic that he has used his vast radio empire to deceive so many.

5).  The only prophecy which will be fulfilled in association with Harold Camping is 2 Peter 3:3!  Scoffers will come, and sadly, Camping has given the scoffers a whole bunch of ammunition.  This is why is is so vital that Christians be clear to everyone who will listen, that despite this man's false prophecy, the blessed hope awaits all those who are Christ's, and the day of judgment will come upon those who are not.   This is a serious matter, and Christ will not be mocked.

This, then, is why it is so important to expose this man for who and what he is--a false prophet, a schismatic and a kook, lest anyone think that Jesus will not return when we least expect it, to judge the world, raise the dead, and make all things new.

And frankly, it is sad that so many Christians expect non-Christians to do our job for us.

Comments

[Brynn]

I don't find it odd at all that Camping is missing after his failed prediction. Perhaps he is afraid of the aftermath of his actions. It has been reported that several deaths were the direct result of his prophecy--the most gruesome being a mother who slit her two children's throats before slitting her own. Quite frankly, I think Camping is just as responsible as if he had put a gun to these people's heads and pulled the trigger. A person of his caliber, however, probably feels no remorse or accountability. He is a SORCERER, who used nothing less than devination as a basis for his prophecy--and even if he is not held accountable on this earth--he will face his maker someday. Unfortunately, there are many spiritually ungrounded people on this earth that will FALL for anything--and depend on others to interpret the Bible for them. When they do this, they open ourselves to all sorts of atrocities. I cannot feel sorry for Camping, but I do pray that he will NEVER be allowed such publicity again. He had his fifteen minute walk of fame, and look at the devastation he left behind as a result. It is a shame that those who committed suicide didn't wait around long enough to find that their "prophet" was in this for "profit".

[Robert]

Quote:
Let's just make sure we're throwing stones at the fallicy of these types of predictions - and the "theology" of doing such - and not at the man himself.


Huh?

Paul called people out by their name...Jesus confronted the Pharisees and called them names to their face...He didn't separate what they had done with who they were...

[Fred]

@Bill Weber
Truth hurts, doesn't it? Your God has killed more people than Genghis Khan, Hitler and Stalin... They had sycophants just like you, defending and upholding that their cause was just... And i suppose now would be a good time to point out that Hitler was a christian, just killing homosexuals and followers of other faiths like his bible told him to do...

[George]

@Mike and Bill
I am aware of those passages from the Bible, I might not a be a non-doubting believer, but I have done my research and I have read the Bible. Mike, I do respect your opinion and I think your post was very honest, which I respect immeasurably. As to Bill, I don't like your extremist approach to the subject..I am not saying question your faith, but the way you are speaking of the matter suggest that there is no amount for error. You should have learned by now that people make errors...quite a bit of errors in reading the Bible too..
Nevertheless, I can't agree with what you write. What you are saying is selfish as you are looking after your own well-being, wanting to supposedly reunite with Christ when the second coming comes. If I was an unquestionable believer like both of you, I would probably still not have wanted that day to happen. It is not like there will be a big difference if I die when I am 30, 50 or 90. If heaven was such a worthy prize it would be worth waiting for it.
I would suggest that both of you look into different interpretations of the Bible. My personal favorite, the one that has to do with the Revelations is that the Apocalypse won't be the end of the world, but merely as huge social, economic and power change around the globe. After suffering through wars, famine and all the other things to befall us I believe the second coming of Christ won't be as you people expect it...What I believe is that for the first time peace will be created throughout the world, and people will realize the importance of love and compassion...Their hearths will change, Christ will have come to their hearths.

Anyways, thank you for your time...I do not wish to spur a conflict so I probably won't post again. Again, this is just one man's opinion :)

[Robert]

@Bill,
Plueezzzeee.....get your facts from somewhere except the internet will you?

Quote:
Truth hurts, doesn't it? Your God has killed more people than Genghis Khan, Hitler and Stalin...


Really?


Oh....you mean that ANYONE CLAIMING to be Christian and does anything reprehensible means that God did it?

Not very clear thinking....



Quote:
They had sycophants just like you, defending and upholding that their cause was just...


Huh?



Quote:
And i suppose now would be a good time to point out that Hitler was a christian, just killing homosexuals and followers of other faiths like his bible told him to do...


Lol...if Hitler was a Christian then pigs can fly!.....lol....that's the dumbest assertion that I've ever heard.


If you want to be taken seriously, get your facts straight.... :)

[James Swan]

When I think of all the lives Camping has ruined, I'm sickened. He ruined lives even before 1994. The Reformed community should have tried to pull his plug years ago. But since he spewed out all sorts of conservative old fashioned religion, the Reformed tolerated him. Even churches that I love and respect tolerated Camping, and broadcasted their church services on Family Radio. His hermeneutic alone should have provoked Reformed congregations to not associate with him. But, Camping was "conservative" and conservative people sometimes embrace being conservative more than they do proper Biblical hermeneutics. It's more important that Camping spoke against divorce, homosexuality, and worldliness. How does he interpret the Bible? Who cares? This sort of free pass from serious Reformed people always bothered me.

[Alex]

I just couldn't resist. "I wish we'd all been ready"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiSdcxbZ6FY&feature=related

[Brian Davilla]

From some of these comments, we can clearly see what Camping has wrought. We have the blasphemous rantings of atheists and skeptics who twist and pervert the Word of God and think they're somehow smarter than the Creator! Of couse, they will think differently after they draw their last breath and Harold Camping will have much to answer for in light of the damage he has done to the cause of Christ.

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

The Voice of Reason and Fred:

Why don't you folks indentify yourselves? Please give us your first and last names. Anyone can throw a bunch of stuff on a blog and hide behind a computer.

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

Bill Weber -

Don't waste your time talking with folks that don't identify themselves. I have made that mistake in the past. Their words are a bunch of hot air without a face.

[Robert]

And just how would knowing my last name change anything? Lol....since you don't know me.....

[Robert]

Quote:
Don't waste your time talking with folks that don't identify themselves.

And so now that I know you are Bill Weber (if that is your real name...Lol...) How does that help move things along here????

[Wendy]

Ironic... on his website it says he was a member of a Christian Reformed Church until 1988. Ha!

http://www.familyradio.com/english/connect/bio/haroldcamping_bio.html

[John D. Chitty]

www.redeemerbroadcasting.org Their weekly program, A Plain Answer, http://www.redeemerbroadcasting.org/podcasts/apa_052111_May_21_Harold_Camping.mp3

They interviewed Bill Shisko who had some personal interaction with Camping regarding his heresies in the past, and he made a point that is so obvious it’s easy to overlook. As you point out, the world is quick to criticize orthodox Christianity by the absurdities of the unorthodox who profess faith in Christ, but Shisko made the point that, aside from the issue of his heresies, Harold Camping is not a Christian for the simple reason that he refused to submit to church discipline back in 1988. Consider the words of Jesus on the matter:

[15] “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. [16] But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”(Matthew 18:15-20 ESV)

[Theodore Zachariades]

I'm glad you went to print on this. Very well said; But I am surprised that you had a fear that it might not be accepted in the right spirit in which it is delivered. Here, at least, Postmills and Amills can agree, Camping is definitely wrong. There is no warrant in Scripture for such speculation. As far as the scoffers are concerned, with or without Camping they will continue to mock our faith in the return of Christ. Only His coming will decisively put to death all opposition. In the meantime continue to teach the church, and any one else that will listen, the glorious truths of God's Word, including eschatology.

[Barry]

So, that is where Harold Camping got this "Church age is over" stuff. I've vaguely heard of this guy but gave no attention to him. I've had a friend who told me of this claim.

From what I've read of your article; I'd say you got the man's number. Camping is a false prophet and I've said as much in my own blog post. Except, I was a little more concerned about those who's faith were harmed by this guy.

This morning, I've heard the expected news that Camping is at it, again. What a surprised. I was thinking of the old Joan Bias song, "How Many Miles". There is a verse she sang "When will they ever learn!" I may be mixing up my songs.

[Steve Dalton]

I wonder if it's right to lump all of Camping's followers in with Camping himself. While I agree that Harold Camping is a heretic, I'm not sure we can say all of his followers are well enough informed to have knowingly sinned. I think that cult leaders prey on the disenfranchised, and many who believed the Doomsday message of May 21 were simply deceived. I imagine (just my guess) that most people who followed Camping have psychological weaknesses. Perhaps they deserve some compassion, especially the ones who emptied their bank accounts and left their jobs.

[Anonymous]

From Drudge's link, "Oops. Did I say May 21? I meant October 21" -

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110524/ap_on_re_us/us_apocalypse_saturday

[Mark]

Very gracious, even if not unsypathetic.

I couldn't help but think of possible captions to the image you used, like "Please pay no attention to what this book says; I'm going to tell you what you need to know." or 'You only THINK I'm going to tell you what this says."

[Patrick Yamada]

[sarcasm] Apparently he made the simple mistake of forgetting to add five more months because of the five apostles... I mean the five plagues of Egypt... I mean the five Jacksons. There HAS to be some major five that he forgot to add. [\sarcasm]