The idea of a "rapture" of believers, meaning Christians being spirited away by Jesus in a sort of secret second coming is a popular but mistaken belief held by some Christians. As defined like this, the "rapture" does not exist and is certainly not taught in the Bible. Bear with me I'm leading up to something.
This being the case, it is important to tell people that the "good news" also known as the "gospel" of Jesus Christ is corporate as well as individual. And it's not about getting people ready for the rapture, it's about converting people and getting them together to transform society as well as their own lives. In Matthew 28:16-20 we are told to "make disciples of all nations". Yes the translation is correct, it really does mean "of" and not "from". Although it is true that making a disciple of a nation necessarily includes there being a viable church in that country or people group (a church of people from that nation), it is not confined to that. To disciple a nation means to teach the nation how to live as God wants. The word translated "nation" doesn't mean the modern concept of a nation state but a distinct people group, this could be a whole nation but often there are several people groups with their own distinct culture within a nation state or country. To reach into such culture and teach or disciple the culture as well as leading those individuals who are part of that culture is part of what is meant, I believe, by the command to "make disciples of all nations. I'm not there yet, I'm still building up to that something, bear with me.
One popular subculture is often called "Urban", an expression of this culture is the form of singing called rapping. In our worship service at Mill Hill East Church called Urban Praze the rappers who lead worship talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They also go out onto the streets and teach people about the good news about Jesus and that he is in charge. They do no mention the rapture, as there is no such thing. Bear with me, I'm nearly there.
The belief in the rapture is coupled with the belief that there will be a seven year period of terrible suffering for those left behind called the "tribulation". The Christian life does involve suffering, and certainly there are and will be times when the amount of suffering on earth is worse than others. However, there is no special time of "tribulation" in our future predicted in the Bible. Belief in a future rapture to take believers away from the wicked world of tribulation is pure escapism and is not true, and not taught in the Bible. All the paragraphs above lead to that "something" which I have building towards in this article. So, thank you for bearing with me, here is my puntastic conclusion:
"I won't talk about no rapture
I want instead to rap-at-yer
Jesus is alive he's beaten death, he is risen
Believe, trust in him and show it in baptism
Don't be afraid of a future tribulation
But get out there and disciple the nation."
The above may not scan well. The rhymes maybe desperate. But it encapsulates, I suggest, an element of true evangelistic preaching and gospel rapping.
This being the case, it is important to tell people that the "good news" also known as the "gospel" of Jesus Christ is corporate as well as individual. And it's not about getting people ready for the rapture, it's about converting people and getting them together to transform society as well as their own lives. In Matthew 28:16-20 we are told to "make disciples of all nations". Yes the translation is correct, it really does mean "of" and not "from". Although it is true that making a disciple of a nation necessarily includes there being a viable church in that country or people group (a church of people from that nation), it is not confined to that. To disciple a nation means to teach the nation how to live as God wants. The word translated "nation" doesn't mean the modern concept of a nation state but a distinct people group, this could be a whole nation but often there are several people groups with their own distinct culture within a nation state or country. To reach into such culture and teach or disciple the culture as well as leading those individuals who are part of that culture is part of what is meant, I believe, by the command to "make disciples of all nations. I'm not there yet, I'm still building up to that something, bear with me.
One popular subculture is often called "Urban", an expression of this culture is the form of singing called rapping. In our worship service at Mill Hill East Church called Urban Praze the rappers who lead worship talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They also go out onto the streets and teach people about the good news about Jesus and that he is in charge. They do no mention the rapture, as there is no such thing. Bear with me, I'm nearly there.
The belief in the rapture is coupled with the belief that there will be a seven year period of terrible suffering for those left behind called the "tribulation". The Christian life does involve suffering, and certainly there are and will be times when the amount of suffering on earth is worse than others. However, there is no special time of "tribulation" in our future predicted in the Bible. Belief in a future rapture to take believers away from the wicked world of tribulation is pure escapism and is not true, and not taught in the Bible. All the paragraphs above lead to that "something" which I have building towards in this article. So, thank you for bearing with me, here is my puntastic conclusion:
"I won't talk about no rapture
I want instead to rap-at-yer
Jesus is alive he's beaten death, he is risen
Believe, trust in him and show it in baptism
Don't be afraid of a future tribulation
But get out there and disciple the nation."
The above may not scan well. The rhymes maybe desperate. But it encapsulates, I suggest, an element of true evangelistic preaching and gospel rapping.