I commented to a friend recently: “We choose to create dividing lines across even the most petty of differences. My faith used to be focused on the physical return of Jesus. Now, I see that it has to be a Spiritual return of Jesus–of unconditional love for one’s neighbor (i.e., love even your enemy). If we are to love our enemy, how can we divide ourselves over the least of things?” Associated with the Apocalyptic return of Christ is the Antichrist. In addition to an end-time focus in my faith, I grew up with the series of Omen movies. Biblical and Hollywood interpretation paints a likely false image of the Antichrist.
As my faith shifts from Physical to Spiritual, so does my view of the Antichrist. As I watch the current events unfold, it is hard not to see that the Antichrist is upon us. It is not an evil boy or world leader. It is revealed in the contest of our hearts.
I watched the video of Rob Bell’s Everything is Spiritual (2) again on Sunday. I was struck by its newness—as if this were a third Everything is Spiritual by the controversial pastor. I realized that the newness was instead a factor of my own Spiritual evolution. He made a statement in the video I found timely (although recorded in 2016). He suggested that “racism is the failure to bond with another of similar essence and substance…. It is going in the opposite direction the universe has been going for 13 billion years.” The Universe, we see, is moving ever toward greater complexity and greater unity. Our interconnectedness is becoming increasingly evident. The Kingdom of God can be described as the “expanding reality of the Divine” (Rob Bell). Accordingly, we are moving toward the bonding of people of similar essence and substance—a Spiritual “return” of Christ “who holds all things together” (Colossians 1:17). Thus, if the Christ unifies—moves us toward a new humanity, the Antichrist divides.
Never has society been so divisive. We are literally taking sides on the most petty of things. I would contend that the Antichrist is present among us. It is not a person or a group. Instead, it is a lack of the Spiritual (the belief that there is something greater than self—that each has his/her role to play). It is self-centeredness rather than other-centeredness. It is “us” versus “them” rather than collectively “us”. It is the absence of love.
The return of Christ is not a discussion for Sunday School. It is not a matter of religion. Instead, it is a matter of humanity. Call it a question of heaven or hell.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
[As I conclude this, in a very timely and affirming way, “Get Together” by the Youngbloods came up on my Pandora station.]