Editorial: What about the coming of Christ?

For me, it often brings to mind the question of how Jesus will appear, and if so, how will His appearance be seen as or accepted, especially in this time when technology can create some pretty amazing scenes that are not real. And adding to the scenario are the deep skepticism of people today and their belief in conspiracy theories.

What would happen if the image of Jesus were to be a gigantic figure in the sky? And where would he appear? Would that appearance be deemed as some sort of hoax, something created by a master, or masters of some never-before-seen technology?

Would he appear only to a certain number of people, and if so, would those people be believed? There are those who have claimed to have been in his presence. Think of those televangelists who have claimed so. Also, think about those who claim to have been in personal touch with Jesus. Keep in mind those who rake in millions of dollars and fly in private jets to hold their so-called revivals.

What about people who are violent and think little of hurting others who believe or look differently than they do? They even carry signs and banners declaring God and Christ are on their side as they spew hatred and commit violence. And so many of them claim to be Christians.

It is quite obvious that some of these people have forgotten what Christianity is supposed to be all about.

Were not love, humility, acceptance, and tolerance of others among the most basic, positive tenets taught and practiced by Christ? What would or will He think of those whose minds are not only filled with hate but also willingly engage in acts of hatred?

A line from the song “One Tin Soldier” comes to mind: “Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of Heaven, you can justify it in the end…”

Personally, I thank God for something I learned from my mother. Before I was born she lived with my two brothers in a small house at the north end of our small town. The house was about a hundred yards from the railroad tracks that ran on the west side of town.

She told me of how a man, known then as a hobo or tramp, knocked on her door and asked if she could spare something for him to eat. She said she was initially a bit frightened. She told the man to step back away from the door. She went in and fixed a sandwich for him and also filled a small jar with water. 

She gave the tramp the sandwich and water. He bowed his head as he thanked her and she saw his eyes were becoming a bit wet. He thanked her profusely and went on his way. 

Mom said what caused her to feed the fellow was something she had read in the Bible. It was something she remembered learning when she was a child. For all she knew, the man may have been Jesus himself posing as a hobo. Whether he was or was not Jesus is not what mattered. Helping someone in need is what mattered. That to her was a very strong principle of Christianity.

Mom met some very hard challenges throughout her life, in her childhood and later as the mother of four. Throughout her humble life, she maintained her strong belief in Christ. She never tried to push off her belief and faith on anyone else. She just practiced it.

In observing the plenty that so, so many people have today I cannot help but wonder why so many think nothing of practicing hate and intolerance. 

It has been more than 1,000 years that people have believed in the coming of Christ. I wonder if His coming will be some grand event and what the conspiracy theorists will think of it. Many of those who believe in dark conspiracies already hold fealty to someone who is seen by others as being the anti-Christ incarnate.  

I also wonder if the ugliness, greed, and violence are actually akin to the Biblical war in heaven in which the anti-Christ uses lies upon lies to regain power here on earth. Unfortunately, many, many people are actually buying into those lies.

May God help us all.

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.