the audacity of imminent catastrophe

It seems that the need to capitalize on a good crisis goes beyond our current White House, as the marketable church is jumping into the current fray of political chaos. (And just when I thought that I'd have nothing to blog about this week, along comes this bit of providence.) David Wilkerson, who has done some fine work in the roughed up areas of NYC (reaching out to the gang culture and such) is now proclaiming imminent catastrophe on our society as judgment from God.

According to the article Wilkerson stated, "God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations." So it appears that he has been reading Romans 1 and agrees with the Pauline premise that the wrath of God is coming in his imminent righteousness. This is not - in and of itself - a breakthrough statement of prophecy. Neither is his conclusion: Wilkerson is urging everyone to stockpile a 30-day supply of food and other necessities to deal with the coming catastrophe. It seems that some churches need an ongoing social cause or imminent catastrophe like Jim West needs a public figure to muckrake in order to make their faith work.

Quite disappointing for Wilkerson is that he is using the gospel message to highlight imminent catastrophe, which can only bring about an atmosphere of fear and dread regarding the future. Yet, a properly understood kingdom message does not allow judgment to be the final word (not to mention, simple catastrophe). When the words in Scripture are used to the end stockpiling and bomb-sheltering, then we have missed the point. Especially in the current state of our world where so many politicians and pastors, news reporters and bloggers are announcing the doom and gloom - each with their hope of being the savior - it would do well for the church to remind the world that legitimate hope has already broken in.