Bible Boat Cruise Theology

Upon reading the devotion at Our Daily Bread for 5-11 , pity and shame for those of us in the western world (U.S. to be specific) are at the forefront of my thoughts. If one reads this piece one will find the author uses 1 Peter 4:12-19 as his scripture reference. He uses the illustration of a safety drill practiced on a “bible-teaching” cruise in case of a true emergency akin to the warnings and encouragement Peter gives to his readers when trials come their way.

Now Peter, in this scripture reference, is not just talking about day to day trials and “headaches” as alluded to by the author. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, fiery in the Greek means to set on fire, burn up and is described as fire tipped darts coming at us from the evil one. Peter is talking to those who are suffering for their faith in Christ, and sharing “the sufferings of Christ”. This is the spirit in which this passage was written.

So my point is this, we would do our brothers and sisters in parts of the world who are suffering for the sake of the faith a terrible disservice by sending them this kind of dribble. How could a Christian in an Islamic country suffering for proclaiming the Good News even remotely relate to this?

• Would you write to a brother of sister in an Islamic country in jail facing the gallows for their faith to think of an emergency drill on a bible-teaching cruise ship as a warning and to remain steadfast in the trial?
• How well received do you think the person who has just been beaten to the brink of death take this wisdom from the squishy pews of the western church?

I believe describing this as preposterous is putting it mildly.

If one starts reading at 1 Peter 4: 7 rather than 1 Peter 4:12 you get a better feel for what Peter is expressing. Peter states in 4:7 “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober {spirit} for the purpose of prayer.” Having watched some of the highlights of the Blasphemy Challenge Face Off aired on ABC Nightline both on TV and online one cannot ignore what we face here in the US. Hearing the blatant ranting of Kelly the atheist calling our Father a tyrant was painful.

So is the end near? Yes, scripture says so. Remember, near is relative to God’s wisdom and timing. I do know we American Christians need to stop listening to the Bible Boat Theology of the Me Centered Church. We are fast becoming useless for the purpose of the Great Commission. Why? As stated in the past here we are abandoning Scripture for another gospel. But it certainly appears suffering is coming for us steadfast in the faith in this country and this kind of thinking will not be of any use in those times.

Oh Father forgive us of our short sightedness….

It’s OK to miss the Bible Boat Theology cruise but don’t miss the boat when it comes to God’s Word. Pick up the Word, study so you may be of use for the Gospel in these perilous times and pray.

 As each one has received a {special} gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  Whoever speaks, {is to do so} as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves {is to do so} as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.          1 Pet 4:10 -11