Political Issues with Left Behind

We've discussed the hermeneutical and theological issues found in the Left Behind novel series. Today, I'd like to briefly address the political issues found in the novels. 


Michael J. Gorman talks about these issues in his book, Reading Revelation Responsibly, which I've been recommending for the last couple days. 


Politically, the books don't line up with biblical teaching. They are militaristic and unabashedly pro-America. They see war in the Middle East as a good thing, something dictated by God, and they place the readers into a crusader mentality, warring for Jesus. 

Check out Gorman's book for more on all of these topics plus. 

For additional reading on Revelation, I (again) recommend N.T. Wright's Revelation for Everyone and our companion blogging project at revelation.westwinds.org.

Theological Issues with Left Behind

Yesterday, I briefly discussed the hermeneutical issues found in the popular Left Behind novels. Today, I'd like to bring up another set of issues Gorman addresses in his book, Reading Revelation Responsibly. 

 

Gorman finds some important theological issues with the series. In the books, LaHaye and Jenkins distort the gospel and make it all about being saved, so you aren’t left behind when Jesus comes again. It’s salvation based primarily on fear, and it falls short. 

It also leaves out any ethic of how to live between the first and second comings of Jesus. There is no reason to love one's neighbor or any of the other teachings of Jesus on how to live now; rather an imbalanced focus on living only in waiting for the second coming. 

For more on interpreting the book of Revelation, also check out N.T. Wright’s book Revelation for Everyone and our companion blogging project at revelation.westwinds.org. 

In Response to Left Behind

I’ve had several people ask me about the popular Left Behind novels, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. The series fictionalizes the book of Revelation into a fantastical end-times story, but it also brings up some serious questions of its validity and accuracy.  

I’d like to recommend a book I have found extremely helpful in deciphering this series: 

Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael J. Gorman. 

Gorman addresses several hermeneutical (interpretative) issues with the series.

The series treats Revelation as a puzzle of future events. It claims to be a literal interpretation, but includes some events which are not found anywhere in Revelation, and it assumes we are living on the brink of rapture and tribulation, among other things. 

For more on interpreting the book of Revelation, check out N.T. Wright’s Revelation for Everyone and our companion blogging project at revelation.westwinds.org.