Christian radio station says Judgment Day is May 21, 2011 and I have a hard time taking it seriously

The radio station is NOT telling us the date of a wrestling pay-per-view.

OK, this entry has nothing to do with R.E.M. but the lyrics do go along with what I am feeling. If the world ends, I wouldn’t be all too upset with it. Jesus is returning and I’m really cool with that.

But let’s get to the real issue that I’m talking about. A few months ago I saw a truck with an ad on it from Family Radio. The ad stated that Judgment Day would be on May 21, 2011.

Family Radio is a Christian radio station based in Oakland and on their website, they have a page that explains their reasoning. They claim that the Bible predicts the end of the world without actually giving the real date.

I actually know a lot about this station (or at least what they sound like on the air) since my mom listens to them. Well, I don’t think she has listened to it for a while but I am very familiar with what they preach. They are an old school style station that has hymns, chants and soft spoken preachings. We would usually have the station on during our drives to church on Sunday. I never liked listening to it.

It’s a very safe and boring station. There are no discussions on real topics. It’s kind of like a cult, if you will. No real issues. Just safe words.

So when I saw this ad for Judgment Day, I was really puzzled. Subsequently, word would spread about this and now it’s gotten kind of a big following. I haven’t read any of the explanations of this from the site because quite frankly, the idea itself  doesn’t make sense.

Growing up in a Christian household, I was always taught that God would show us things on earth but there were a lot of things that we are not supposed to understand.

Trying to scientifically explain miracles or predicting specific things in the Bible were things that I understood that wasn’t for us. And I think the return of Jesus isn’t a date that human beings were intended to figure out. And I don’t think they can figure it out. Doing so puts people on the same level with God… and I know that can’t be right.

If human beings were given the ability to figure out when Jesus returns, then we give ourselves time to repent and become Christians during that time. That’s not what God wants. He wants us to believe not out of fear, but out of our true belief in him. Setting a deadline to do it doesn’t really sound right.

One of the greatest mysteries of God is the fact that we don’t know everything. We can’t know everything. God is way too powerful and too smart to allow the most important thing be figured out by some person.

I don’t think I am in the minority in this thought. I truly believe that Judgment Day isn’t something that us humans can figure out. Shoot, if we can figure out Judgment Day, then what’s the point of God then? Christianity is about faith in God and His will. It’s not about trying to outsmart Him and being able to figure out His next move (which is impossible).

This ramble at least makes sense in my head. I hope it makes sense to you. The radio station is probably benefiting from listener support now because of the fear of Judgment Day. It’s ridiculous.

Believe in God because you truly do… not off some man’s prediction.

Your thoughts? Am I misinterpreting this whole thing or is the radio station really doing something that’s not good?