The Do Nothing Eschatologist

End Time Apathy  

by Anthony Coleman

When I discuss our responsibility as Christian citizens who should engage in civic duties I am often confronted with a somewhat puzzling kind of response from some Christians.  My best description of what they tell me is that it resembles a mindset of a (do nothing eschatologist).

Charles Finney, in Lectures on Revivals of Religion, made this statement:

"The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it - and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics]."

Recently, I was listening to David Barton, founder of WallBuilders, which is a pro-family organization that presents America's forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage. 

During Barton's presentation he mentioned that many well meaning Christians have told him that he is wasting his time.  The end time events have been pre-ordained and all of this bad stuff has to happen. 

Another well spoken televangelist has preached that America doesn't appear to be mentioned as a key component of end time prophecy so there must be a demise of the Republic precipitating the fulfillment of his view of eschatology.  For the sake of discussion, let's accept this premise with a question; how then should Christians in America respond?

Regardless of your view of Eschatology, we can't interpret end time prophecy to mean, do nothing, sit down and watch, or apathetically operate with hope that events will move along quickly so we can get out of here.

In response to his dissenters Barton states that every Christian individual ultimately must respond to the command (or principle of Luke 19:13) to occupy until Jesus comes. 

Think of this.  The Great Commission does not have an expiration date.  Kingdom building is a responsibility every generation must embrace.  In as much, our duty as citizens precludes the idea that we voluntarily surrender society to darkness.  It is a great deception to believe in a do nothing eschatology.

Samuel Adams made this statement regarding civic duty;

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual - or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country."

[Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1907), Vol. IV, p. 256, in the Boston Gazette on April 16, 1781.]