Burn "Left Behind" Books!!!

[JeffreyLloyd]

Okay, maybe not burn, but let's get rid of these anti-Catholic pieces of garbage!

Code: ZE03062422

Date: 2003-06-24

Illinois Bishops Urge Institutions to Drop "Left Behind" Items

Cite Anti-Catholic Message and Bad Theology

CHICAGO, JUNE 24, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of Illinois are warning Catholic institutions to remove "Left Behind" books and videos from their shelves, citing the series' anti-Catholicism and faulty end-times theology.

In a statement, the Catholic Conference of Illinois says the series published by Wheaton, Illinois-based Tyndale House Press espouses "a fundamental theology of the end times in conflict with Catholic teachings."

Moreover, the series of novels, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, has taken on an anti-Catholic slant.

"In later books in the series," the bishops' statement said, "the new Pope is depicted as instrumental in establishing a relativistic world religion encouraged by the Antichrist and operated from New Babylon (formerly Rome). The Left Behind series is anti-Catholic in content and form, consistent with Mr. LaHaye's other writings, in which he associates the Church with 'Babylonian mysticism.'"

The "Left Behind" series, which is growing in popularity in Protestant as well as Catholic communities, tells of a coming "Rapture," a fast-approaching secret and silent disappearance of Christians from the earth prior to a time of tribulation (see June 13 interview in ZENIT, at www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=37173).

The Illinois bishops caution, however, "This belief is not supported in Scripture."

"The scenario in Left Behind, of a 'tribulation force' of born-again former sinners who attempt personally to derail the progress of the Antichrist, is broadly classifiable as pre-millenarianism," the statement said. "The pseudo-historical backdrop for the story ties apocalyptic scripture to specific events in history, an error known as pre-millennial dispensationalism."

It continued: "While many adult Catholics are secure enough in their faith to avoid being proselytized by such works, or by the direct preaching of fundamentalists, the real danger of Left Behind is its attractiveness as a story of good people in a heroic battle against ultimate evil. Readers lacking a full understanding of Catholic scriptural teaching about the end times in many cases have internalized this fictional post-rapture time of tribulation when sinners are left to battle the Antichrist, because it sounds familiar and 'biblical.' ...

"We, the Catholic Bishops of Illinois, call upon those responsible for faith formation to provide planned, coherent, and informed catechesis to all age groups about Church teachings on the end of the world, based on scripture and tradition. We also call upon Catholic institutions -- libraries, bookstores, schools, and parishes -- to remove any Left Behind books and videos from their shelves, to prohibit the sale of these materials in Catholic venues, and to provide the faithful with information that these materials are, in fact, a marketing tool for fundamentalist preaching about the end times and a thinly disguised polemic against the Catholic Church."

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

Code: ZE03061323

Date: 2003-06-13

The Rapture: Will Catholics Be "Left Behind"?

Author Carl Olson on a Flawed Eschatology That Has Captivated Millions

EUGENE, Oregon, JUNE 13, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Confusion about the Rapture, due to the popularity of the "Left Behind" series, is growing in Catholic and Protestant communities.

In response, Envoy magazine editor Carl Olson has recently written a new book entitled "Will Catholics be 'Left Behind'?" published by Ignatius Press to explain Catholic eschatology and Church teaching on the end times.

Olson, a convert from "dispensationalist" Protestantism, shared some key points from his book with ZENIT.

Q: What is meant by the Rapture? Where did this idea originate?

Olson: For millions of Americans, especially many fundamentalists and evangelical Protestants, the "Rapture" or "pre-tribulation Rapture," is the fast-approaching secret and silent disappearance of Christians from the earth prior to a time of tribulation.

It is believed to be distinct from the Second Coming, and proponents claim this event is described in passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. The term "rapture" is taken from the Latin word "rapiemur," used by St. Jerome for the Greek word in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 meaning "caught up" or "snatch away."

Vague notions of such an event have been around for about three centuries, but the form that is so popular in North America originated in the 1830s in England with an ex-Anglican priest, John Nelson Darby [1800-1882].

Darby created an entire system of theology called pre-millennial dispensationalism, based on a radical separation between Old Testament Israel, described as God's "earthly" people, and the New Testament Church, his "heavenly" people. The Rapture is the means by which God will remove the heavenly people from the world so that he can finish the work begun with his earthly people.

Darby's ideas spread to North America in the late 1800s and were developed and systematized by a number of American fundamentalists, notably C.I. Scofield, Lewis Sperry Chafer and Charles Ryrie.

Dispensationalism's popularity grew enormously in 1970 with the publication of Hal Lindsey's best-selling "The Late Great Planet Earth," and that popularity continues today, as evidenced by the "Left Behind" novels, created by noted fundamentalist Tim LaHaye, which have now sold about 50 million copies.

Q: Does the idea of the Rapture have any precedence in the history of Church doctrine?

Olson: Not as it has been articulated by Darby and his modern dispensationalist disciples.

The idea of Christ returning two more times is not found in the early or medieval Church, and is of modern origin. Some dispensationalists do attempt to locate passages supporting their beliefs in ancient Church texts, but such attempts are highly subjective and selective, and ignore the larger context of those texts.

Catholics, along with the members of the Eastern Orthodox Church and most Protestants, believe that those alive at the Second Coming will be caught up to meet Christ in the air.

First Corinthians 15:52 refers to the "last trumpet," a clear reference to the final trumpet that will sound at the Second Coming -- as in Matthew 24:31 -- so that passage cannot be referring to a Rapture event several years prior to the Second Coming. As many dispensationalists actually admit, their use of such passages is predicated upon their theological premises, leading to forced and inconsistent interpretations.

Q: Looking at various works of Catholic art, such as Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel, it would seem that Catholics believe in the Rapture. How would you respond to this claim?

Olson: As I noted, Catholics do believe in a rapture event, if by that we are referring to believers being caught up to meet Christ at the Second Coming, or Parousia -- not several years prior.

Dispensationalists believe that the Last Judgment will not occur until the end of an earthly, millennial reign that follows the Second Coming. Millenarianism has been rejected by the Catholic Church.

Q: Some Catholics have been caught up in the "Left Behind" frenzy. How do you account for the popularity of these books, and how can the Church respond?

Olson: Being a former fundamentalist and dispensationalist, I was surprised to meet and hear of many Catholics, including some priests and directors of religious education in parishes, who were reading and recommending these books. It was one reason I wrote "Will Catholics Be 'Left Behind'?"

I think the "Left Behind" books and dispensationalism are popular for many reasons: They are exciting and sensational, they seem to make sense of difficult sections of Scripture such as the book of Revelation, they appear to predict approaching global events, and they suggest or even promise that the end of the world is upon us.

Some readers of the "Left Behind" series aren't interested in the theological vision of the books, but many others believe that the events described in the book, including the Rapture, are biblically based.

It is quite exciting to think that you probably won't have to suffer and die like others because you'll be taken up from the earth in the near future. There is also the exhilaration of supposedly possessing special knowledge about what will happen in the approaching months and years.

There is an attitude among many Catholics, including some leaders, that millenarian beliefs such as dispensationalism are part of a "fringe" element that need not be taken very seriously. This is a mistake, as can be seen in the number of Catholics who leave the Church for fundamentalist groups, or remain Catholic but accept beliefs about the Church, the Kingdom and the end times that are not compatible with Catholic teaching.

I've found that a large number of Catholics have little or no idea what the Church affirms or rejects in the realm of general eschatology. There is a need for better catechesis, for homilies that address these issues when appropriate, and for leaders and educators who are sensitive to the attraction of these books and the questions they raise.

Q: How can your book help Catholics and non-Catholics understand this issue better?

Olson: My book has three major goals: to provide needed historical and theological context to beliefs about the end times, to critique the errors of the "left behind" theology, and to present a Catholic perspective on general eschatology, salvation history, the Church, the Kingdom and interpreting Scripture.

In critiquing dispensationalism, I examine its historical and theological origins, and respond to the biblical arguments used by its leading proponents and theologians. Some chapters address the book of Revelation, the millennium and the history of millenarian movements.

The book is exhaustively footnoted, but the main text is written in an accessible style so that readers with little or no theological training can learn more about these topics and better understand how to respond to the "Left Behind" books as well as better appreciate the Catholic vision of salvation history and eschatological events.

 

[CopticOrthodox]

I remember being surprised when the first movie came out that one of the actors was a devout Catholic who goes to daily Mass and was encouraged to take the part by his spiritual director I understand individual Christians not knowing to steer clear of these things but I wish our priests would.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

I think I said it before, but I screened the first "left behind" movie for a protestant radio station I used to work at.

My PD wanted to to promote it on the air as the "Greatest Christian film" of all time. Everytime I said it, I ran a laugh track in the back ground

I didn't like the movie, and this was when I wasn't Catholic!

 

[Miss Shelby]

How many more of those books are they going to write anyway? I stopped reading them about a year and a half ago when I realized they were never going to wrap things up. Even for fiction, it's pretty lame.

I started reading Father Elijah which is pretty good, actually, but I haven't finished it yet. That was about a year ago.

Michelle

 

[jukesk9]

How many more of those books are they going to write anyway? I stopped reading them about a year and a half ago when I realized they were never going to wrap things up. Even for fiction, it's pretty lame.

Michelle

They keep expanding the series. The more sales=more money. So, from a business standpoint, I understand their desire to keep the machine going.

I read the first four and had enough. It is bad theology, in my opinion, and I guess maybe that's why I keep them around--sort of a reminder of what not to believe. Maybe it's high time I trade them in for some Harry Potter stuff.....

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

Harry Potter rules

 

[Maximus]

I recently finished reading Carl Olson's Will Catholics Be "Left Behind"?. It is an excellent book. I recommend it.

I happened upon John Hagee's tv show a few days ago. Interestingly, he was preaching about the Pre-Trib Rapture. At one point Hagee announced that only those who are looking for the Rapture will participate in it. In other words, even other Protestants who agree with Hagee on most things but disagree with him on the timing of the Rapture will be "left behind"! Wow!

Hagee also implied (actually, he more than implied) that anyone who doubts the Pre-Trib Rapture denies the visible, bodily Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Hagee had as a backdrop a huge, colorful, fully-illustrated chart of "Bible Prophecy" (according to Dispensationalists). I must say, it was sharp looking.

It was interesting to observe what "worship" means in that group: a few hymns and an hour or more of Hagee's opinions. No altar, no cross. Zip.

Phew!

 

[Woodsy]

I admit that when I first came to Christ, the Left Behind books were a guilty pleasure of mine. I read through about book 9 or so. They're not very well written, but they were fun! Especially for a new Believer getting to root for "the good guys" in the biggest battle of good vs. evil ever!

I also have to admit that the Left Behind books were instrumental in my "finding" the Catholic Church.

Well, let me 'splain:
I was perusing some eschatology threads on this very board a few weeks back, and stumbled upon one (that was probably lost, alas) that discussed the theology behind the Left Behind Eschatology. Within that thread I found how new the whole Rapture idea is. That had me wondering what Christians believed before that.

So I started studying a bit about the history of the early Church, and found out some amazing things about the Catholic Church.

This is actually a real blessing, because despite being called to Christ years ago, a major stumbling block for me was a lot of the problems I perceived within Protestantism - the confusion of doctrines, etc. But, as an Amereican with a limited exposure to things Christian, I thought that the Protestant/LaHaye & Jenkins brand was pretty much the only game in town. Of course, I had been taught that the Roman Catholic Church was the harlot of Babylon for some time!

Well, a very dear friend of mine who has helped me tremendously in my walk with Christ is going to be appalled if I ever tell him that I am planning to convert to the Catholic Church. (I have been attending Masses for three weeks now, and have an appointment with a priest at my church to discuss requirements for the RCIA.)

Quite an enlightening topic, and one that has been a major blessing to me for opening my eyes. (Can you say "Surprised by Truth"? )

 

[Reader Nilus]

A great many Orthodox Priests that are not converts have never heard of the rapture. It is a protestant thing. I remember asking the Bishop of the Northwest Synod of the Lutheran Church in America about The Late Great Planet Earth when it came out, and he dismissed it out of hand as timelines. Part of the problem is that the Orthodox view of the last things hardly is talked about, leaving a spot for the fantasy to grow.
Jeff the Finn

 

[EJO]

I am not catholic, just a plain ole christian, the Left Behind books, even thought the story line and the writing in lame at times, you have to admit have brought a lot of people to church, and interest in God.
They are going to stop the series at 12 books. They have one left. Armageddon was # 11.

So if one of the authors is a bible scholar, why is it bad theology. Has anyone really looked to the scriputures and investigated prophecies concerning the return of christ, and the tribulation and the "catching up" refered to in Revelation 3:10 when God promises the believers that He will keep us from the time of trails to test those who are on the earth?

Also, how can you say Harry Potter is better, even if the writing is better, the subject matter is evil, and against God?

When does John Hagee represent those of us who are protestants? Please! That is like Michael Jackson representing the whole of the music industry (bad analogy, but you get my drift).

I guess my point is; do not get you theology from anywhere but the word of God. It is our only basis of truth and to know the heart of God.

Peace, Eric

 

[Oblio]

I guess my point is; do not get you theology from anywhere but the word of God. It is our only basis of truth and to know the heart of God.

Hmmm ... I wonder where Christians got the truth from for 330 years prior to the Bible being collected and affirmed by the Church ?

1Ti 3:14-15 RSVA I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, (15) if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

 

[Woodsy]

EJO, this isn't the place to argue against Catholic or Orthodox theology. This is a Catholic forum. You are free to ask questions for clarification, but your closing paragraph doesn't sound like an inquiry.

 

[Philip]

So if one of the authors is a bible scholar, why is it bad theology.

Arius was a bible scholar too. His theology was lacking, wasn't it?

 

[Maximus]

A great many Orthodox Priests that are not converts have never heard of the rapture. It is a protestant thing. I remember asking the Bishop of the Northwest Synod of the Lutheran Church in America about The Late Great Planet Earth when it came out, and he dismissed it out of hand as timelines. Part of the problem is that the Orthodox view of the last things hardly is talked about, leaving a spot for the fantasy to grow.
Jeff the Finn

Actually, one of the very best books out there on eschatology is by an Orthodox author. It is T.L. Frazier's A Second Look at the Second Coming.

Maybe you've already read it. If you haven't, you should. It's great!

 

[EJO]

EJO, this isn't the place to argue against Catholic or Orthodox theology. This is a Catholic forum. You are free to ask questions for clarification, but your closing paragraph doesn't sound like an inquiry.

Who said I was argueing against catholic or Oxthodox theology?
my last paragraph was more of statement. Perhaps against the thought of getting our theology from fiction books than the bible.

But I guess I'll go back to my close minded protestant threads and not venture past our stereotypes.
Peace- EJO
(please see post: http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?postid=807537#post807537

 

[EJO]

if that was a flame, sorry, but I just want to dialog.

See ya

 

[Woodsy]

No insult was or flame was intended, EJO. You are cerytainly welcome in this forum.
When you wrote: "[...] do not get you theology from anywhere but the word of God. It is our only basis of truth and to know the heart of God." it sounded to me like a refutation of the Catholic and Orthodox use of Tradition to better understand Scripture.

 

[MariaRegina]

A great many Orthodox Priests that are not converts have never heard of the rapture.... Part of the problem is that the Orthodox view of the last things hardly is talked about, leaving a spot for the fantasy to grow.
Jeff the Finn

My dearest Jeff in Christ:

Christ is in our midst!

Several protestants who converted to Orthodoxy within the last 10 years are still struggling with the rapture "doctrine". The Orthodox Priests didn't really consider it a stumbling block at first; however, these poor converts keep going back and forth from the Protestant church to the Orthodox Church, as their rapture-believing friends torment them with ideas that they may be left behind.

You must pray for them as they just are so confused. They won't listen to the Orthodox Priests because they want to believe that they will have a fast painless ticket out of this miserable world.

Those of us who call ourselves Catholics - Eastern or Western - believe that we are already in the thousand year reign of Christ - He is in our midst already through the Eucharist. When He comes, it will be the Second and Final Coming of Christ to judge the world. This is it folks!

We are living in the Kingdom of God right now. For those of us who truly believe in Christ's Presence, peace and joy flood our souls. Nothing can come between our love of God and Christ. (cf. Romans)

Christ is in our midst! He is and always shall be! Alleluia!

YSIC,
Elizabeth

 

[nyj]

They are going to stop the series at 12 books. They have one left. Armageddon was # 11.

Interestingly enough, the series was supposed to be a trilogy.