By Benjamin Davis

I can still remember the bus we sat in to have our discussion.  We were at youth camp and our spiritual leader had gathered us there to ask us a question: “If you knew that you only had one more day to live on the earth (because the world was going to end), what would you do in that last day?”  I remember mustering up as much sincerity as possible in an attempt to truthfully answer the question.  In one instant we became bold witnesses for Jesus Christ, telling everyone who would or would not listen that they needed to repent and be saved before it was too late.  We became great philanthropists, giving away all that we had to help spread the gospel quickly.  Our energy to pray increased ten-fold, boldly praying for everyone’s salvation at every spare moment.  Then our sincere, Christ-loving spiritual leader told us that we should live like this every day, for every day could be that day.  So we left the bus feeling the weight of what we had just become, destined to fail under this weight within the first thirty minutes.  To ease our consciences, we subconsciously had this thought (which later became a popular bumper sticker), “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”

As I have reflected on this time in my youth, it is equally thought-provoking to note what we did not say in that bus.  We did not say that we would purchase a quality car that would last us a long time.  We did not say we would obtain a thirty-year loan to purchase a house and view this, because of appreciation, as a good investment with the dual purpose of raising our families and using it for ministry.  We did not even say that we would get married, let alone save for college (or our children’s college), plan for careers, develop long-term relationships, or practice any form of accumulation of stuff! None of this is good wisdom when we are facing an imminent end of the world, an imminent great tribulation, and/or an imminent return of Christ.

With this type of thinking, I did pursued the Lord’s calling in my life to prepare for full-time service in the ministry, but with a conscience that held me firm against all the things that we did not say on that bus years before.  I graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 1989 having accumulated much head knowledge, some spiritual understanding, a fourteen-year-old car, and a radio.  My wife and I were married the day before I graduated from college, and she graciously threw out most of my clothes because they were so old and out of style that she determined to buy me new ones.

At the time the New Testament was written, the doctrine of imminency (defined as “the state of something about to occur or likely to happen without delay) produced wisdom in the way the early disciples were to live their lives. An example of this is found in Acts 4:32ff:

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common…for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet…

These early disciples were not just sacrificially giving to establish the new church and take care of the poor (though the Lord does often require this).  They were also making a wise investment with their land.  They understood from Jesus’ teaching that in a few short years the Romans would come to tear down Jerusalem and destroy its temple, and all the land of that area would be worthless! (See Matt. 21:33-43, 22:1-14, 23:37-38, 24:1-34, and Luke 21:20-28.)  Therefore, their understanding of the imminent return of Christ (Matt. 24:29-31), the imminent great tribulation (Matt. 24:21) with its antichrist (Matt. 24:24; 1 John 2:18), and the imminent end of old covenant Judaism (Matt 24:14) produced wisdom in their lifestyles and their choices.

Today, much of the church has the doctrine of imminency out of context, because these prophecies have been fulfilled.  There is no longer an imminent great tribulation, antichrist, end of the world, or return of Christ.  While the doctrine of imminency in context produces wisdom, the doctrine of imminency out of context produces one of two things: fanaticism (unwise decisions) or hypocrisy.  In my case, it produced a little of both until I came to grips with how God wants us to think generationally.

The doctrine of imminency that is widely preached today is imminency out of context, and it has produced (unfounded) fear of tomorrow.  The doctrine of imminency understood in the context of the first century teaches us very practical lessons from the lives of the early Christians.  These lessons can be applied with wisdom today as we plan generationally for our future in Christ.  It gives us faith and hope for tomorrow!

Benjamin Davis is an associate pastor of Abundant Life Covenant Church.