A Paradigm Shift - Was Jesus wrong?

Regarding Matthew 24:

"Say what you like," we shall be told, "the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, 'this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.' And he was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else."
It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible. Yet how teasing, also, that within fourteen words of it should come the statement "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." The one exhibition of error and the one confession of ignorance grow side by side....

The facts, then, are these: that Jesus professed himself (in some sense) ignorant, and within a moment showed that he really was so. To believe in the Incarnation, to believe that he is God, makes it hard to understand how he could be ignorant; but also makes it certain that, if he said he could be ignorant, then ignorant he could really be. For a God who can be ignorant is less baffling than a God who falsely professes ignorance. The answer of theologians is that the God-Man was omniscient as God, and ignorant as Man. This, no doubt, is true, though it cannot be imagined." ~ (Essay "The World's Last Night" (1960), found in The Essential C.S. Lewis, p. 385)

So was Jesus wrong as our beloved C.S. Lewis suggested?

Personally, I don't think so, here is why:

“So when you (them, not you) see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matt 24:15-16)

Eusebius Pamphilius (325)
"But the number of calamities which every where fell upon the nation at that time; the extreme misfortunes to which the inhabitants of Judea were especially subjected, the thousands of men, as well as women and children, that perished by the sword, by famine, and by other forms of death innumerable,--all these things, as well as the many great sieges which were carried on against the cities of Judea, and the excessive. sufferings endured by those that fled to Jerusalem itself, as to a city of perfect safety, and finally the general course of the whole war, as well as its particular occurrences in detail, and how at last the abomination of desolation, proclaimed by the prophets, stood in the very temple of God, so celebrated of old, the temple which was now awaiting its total and final destruction by fire,-- all these things any one that wishes may find accurately described in the history written by Josephus." (BOOK III, Ch. 5)

C.S. Lewis was right in that, "it is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime" (and I've never know anyone to disagree with that). What has been taught over and over again is that Jesus and his disciples had it wrong.


Most excuse this by hanging their hat on this verse:


"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone". (Matt 24:36)


The problem is, Jesus also made statements like this:


"Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." (Matt 16:28)


Now you probably believe this was the transfiguration that happened six days after Jesus made this statement (See Matt 17:1).


Well, if it was, then where were the angles and did Jesus reward every man according to their works during the transfiguration? (see Matt 16:27)


I've asked this question before, and I'll ask again because I think it's important: If Jesus was predicting the end of the world, why was He telling THEM to flee Judea??? (See Matt 24: 15-16 above).


I've quoted Eusebius above, who has also stated that Christians in Judea fled (during what was taking place in the first century) just as Jesus instructed them to. The problem is, it's often ignored and it's not taught what actually took place in 70 AD.

The burden of proof is on the shoulders of those who year after years need to adjust their predictions, often called "prophecy updates".

Jesus gave his disciples "signs" to look for, they saw those signs and proclaimed that the time was near.

To be continued...

10 Things a young Christian should know

10. You don't have to get rid of all your secular music. God probably isn't impressed by you tossing it and you'll regret it. The only ones that will be impressed will walk away from the faith anyway. Store it somewhere until you mature; pull it out one day and you'll realize you don't relate to it anymore. But... it's still fun to listen to every now and again.

9. When your pastor says he's not perfect, and that he sins just like everyone else. He's not just trying to be humble, it's true. Also, don't believe his greatest sin occurs when leaving the parking lot after church when people cut him off; his sinful nature is much more sinister than that. After all... he's just like YOU!

8. The bible you hold in your hand is not copies of the original text. But it's the closest thing we've got, and there are brilliant men who've devoted their lives to preserving it and putting it in our language.

7. There truly are different ways of interpreting some passages.

6. You may hear your pastor or someone say, "don't believe it because I say it, study it for yourself". Now, that sounds assuring like they've actually done their homework. DO WHAT THEY SAY, you might actually come to a different conclusion, you'll be called different things like HERETIC if you do but; If you truly are applying sound hermeneutics, there are other good Christians that have typically interpreted and thought the same way.

5. If the God of the universe wants to do something, HE can. Don't believe for a minute that the whole world is just waiting on you to be more surrendered.

4. The more you learn, the more questions you'll have.

3. There are all kinds of freaks in the church. If you thought the world was bad, you ain't seen nothing yet.

2. That narrow gate Jesus talked about, it isn't your church!

1. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

A Paradigm Shift - Nonessential??

Now, if you hang with the church long enough, you'll at some point in time hear that some teachings are "nonessential".

Translation: I'm right, you're wrong, but we don't have to divide over it. I still think you're going to heaven.

Reality: Things will be awkward between us after you find out what I believe.

I've heard those outside of the church often accuse those in the church of being "closed minded". I hate saying this, but my experience is that, that accusation is sadly true.

I've lost many "christian" friends because my views in SOME things have changed. Now, admittedly, I'm not the most gracious with my delivery. Truthfully, I've been downright obnoxious at times. But... I've tried it both ways, and the result is usually the same. Typically, people will disagree and they can't tell me why.

Some of you reading this blog think I've gone off the deep end, but you can't tell me why.

Let's take one of the essentials of the faith. How about the doctrine of the Trinity. Now, most "Christians" will say that's an essential doctrine to the faith. It very well may be, but let me ask a couple of questions.

1. Do you fully understand/grasp the doctrine of the trinity?

2. What you do understand/grasp; who's standard will it satisfy? Yours, your pastor's, the theologian?

3. Maybe you don't understand it at all, but you confess it, is that good enough?

4. What is it essential to?

5. If you don't really know what it's essential to (or maybe you do, but you couldn't possibly hold yourself to that same standard), is it really essential to anything other than you denomination (i.e., your club)?

6. After really thinking through questions 1 - 5, do you hope it really isn't essential?

A note to the Christian:

It's OK to think!!! These are valid questions!

Happy Mothers Day

A note to my wife:

If you noticed that I was in deep thought today, I was simply thinking about you. I was reflecting on you as a mother.

As some women are pampering themselves, getting their nails and hair done; you're often bathing your children.

As some women are enjoying a lunch out with a girlfriend; you're often feeding your children.

As some women are shopping for a new outfit for themselves; you're often clothing your children.

As some women are traveling the world; you're often at the park, or taking a hike with your children.

As some women may notice, you don't have all of the finest things in life; you're rich with the love of your children.

You're a GREAT mother of four. You work long hours away from home a couple of times a week. You go to school and get good grades. Goodness gracious, you even do cloth diapers!

Happy mothers day and I love you.

A note to my mom:

Mom, I've watch a lot of people hypocritically criticise you over the years. But... none of them have walked in your shoes, and there are many things they've never had the privilege of observing.

Like:

When you would get up at 4AM, to do exercises and laundry before you drove an hour to downtown LA.

When you would get home after a long day and make dinner.

When you would read us a book before we went to bed.

When you had an abundance and never held anything back.

When things were lean and you sold what you could so we would never notice.

When we've made poor decisions but you've continued to be my there.

Happy mothers day mom, I love you.