Friday Feature -- The "Left Behind" Trailer

Well, the old Kirk Cameron "Left Behind" movie has been re-done, this time with everyone's B-movie favorite, Nicolas Cage.

Three take-aways from the trailer.

1).  If you are taken in the Rapture, your clothes will be left behind.  This means grandma was right--make sure those skivvies are clean.

2).  There's no such thing as original sin, since all babies are raptured--presumably because the film-makers hold the Pelagian view that children are born innocent, and are not guilty before God until they reach the mythical age of accountability.

3).  I was very disappointed that Third Eagle's "Doom and Gloom" was not featured as the soundtrack (William Tapley's Doom and Gloom)

Comments

[grant]

Regarding Children - Jesus makes several references about Children, one being in Matthew 19:14 stating The Kingdom of Heaven is for people like this, and David said he would see his child in Heaven, those on top of knowing our God is Gracious and Loving, I have a very difficult time believing newborn and young children are going to be cast into Hell.

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Grant:

Here's what the Synod of Dort says about this (CD 1.17):

"Since we are to judge of the will of God from His Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature, but in virtue of the covenant of grace, in which they together with the parents are comprehended, godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom it pleases God to call out of this life in their infancy (Gen. 17:7; Acts 2:39; 1 Cor. 7:14)."

Our film-maker friends mistakenly believe children are innocent, and don't need to be saved by Christ. No one denies that God is loving and will save multitudes of children who die. Since they are sinful from birth, they cannot be "innocent," so the point is that they must be saved by the death and merits of Christ. Are all children elect?

[grant]

In regards to this statement : "presumably because the film-makers hold the Pelagian view that children are born innocent" I think you may be overgeneralizing and holding people to account for ignorance, rather that false beliefs. I believe most Christians would believe all who are granted access into Heaven are there due to God's grace and not their own "innocence", I am unsure of Lehaye's position on this, but I know he is not un-learned in this matter. Are all Children Elect ? I have no idea, but given that humans have a progressive Revelation, I do believe God will not hold an infant, and even small children accountable for something they have no knowledge of. I have 3 boys 6-9 and they have largely been neutral until just fairly recently, I am now starting to see the roots of rebellion sprouting in them, that in an of its own does not form my theological beliefs on it, but I do believe Children are under a Grace of God, until the reach a certain condition of rebellion...Even if I am wrong, I know that God is right and gracious and whatever is in Heaven will be right and just.

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Grant:

God holds all accountable for our sin in Adam--including our children! Our hope is not in the goodness of our children, but in God's mercy and covenant promises. You are on the right track, but need to shake the Pelagian tendencies of American religion.

You have to develop these doctrines from Scripture, not from the "if I were God, I'd do it this way" frame of mind.

[Robin]

Pastor Kim,
I don't think Third Eagle has read your book yet. Or if he has, it hasn't sunk in.

He's now claiming "Taz" (tasmanian devil character) in the new Geico commercial is the Antichrist.
http://youtu.be/UuHTGYqZ5yg?list=UUau23h1uU0VjL7uGR3We2Dg

Wait till you learn what "ACME" really means!

:)

[grant]

Kim,

God does not hold all men accountable for Sin, he holds some men accountable for their sins, and holds Christ accountable for other sins. I believe Children fall under the latter. The reasom I did not answer the question about children being elect above is because you will say " so you say then Children can become non-elect"etc...I have already been through this.

In this particular topic I am going to a) rest on the words of Christ and David and b) appeal the graciousness nature of God.

In the same vein that I don't believe God is going to admonish me for taking his word too literally and not symbolizing enough scripture on Eschatological issues, I don't believe he is going to admonish me for a) taking the words of Christ on this topic literally and b) appealing to his mercy and kindness

[Norm]

Really, Grant? Me thinks you don't understand the nature of sin and the purpose of the atonement. Pretty clear to me that you're not Reformed in any sense of the historical meaning of that term since you reject a major Reformed confession such as the Canons of Dordt.

In any case, I think Dr. Riddlebarger is pointing out one of the major flaws of modern dispensationalism. It seems to have a deep strain of semi-pelagianism. This in true in part because of the view that the Jews "rejected" the Kingdom Christ offered and He had to turn to Plan B. The makes God mutable which is so far from the truth that calling it semi-pelagian is a courtesy.

This movie has deeply flawed premises. I object to the Dispy view of Israel and the Church which is not taught anywhere in the NT. Also, even a cursory reading of the proof text for the "rapture" in I Thess. 4 indicates that it is a very public and "loud" event. Nothing like this movie depicts. The Church has historically agreed when Christ returns he will judge the world (when He returns from the right hand of the Father) as expressed in the Apostles Creed. II Thess 1 destroys the concept of a pre-millenium kingdom on earth since judgement and the final state happen when Christ returns.

The Bible simply does not teach this kind of perverted view of the return of Christ in all it's glory and terror for unbelievers.

[roger o.]

i have a question. what about those who are , say 1 year old and die. Now where do you think they will be? I don,t know anything about 'Pelagian.


and Yes all those who are born , are born with a sin nature. I believe in the mercy of God in Christ Jesus.

[Chris S]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the theater.

[grant]

Norm,

Your input and passion on this topic(s) are both noted and appreciated.