My funny Rapture story from some 30+ years ago.

[elocs]

As a young man in my 20s I became involved in a very religiously conservative Pentecostal church mostly because of the preaching I heard about prophecy and the end times. This church and its pastor, Brother E, absolutely believed in a secret Rapture where the true believers (mostly just them and those who believed as they did) would be caught up in the air to forever be with Jesus and to escape the Great Tribulation.

My best friend there and his family were recent converts to the church, but his youngest brother (Matt) was growing up in the church and this particular Pentecostal church was strict to where they did not believe in tv or movies or worldly entertainment, women all wore dresses and never cut their hair.

Matt was maybe 10 years old and was enduring the temptations of the world, one of which was going to the movies. One weekend he was overcome with the sinful temptation to go see the new movie Star Wars. Matt got home that Saturday afternoon and was feeling particularly convicted by his sin because there was always the fear that Jesus would return and you would be LEFT BEHIND if you were sinning at that moment. When he got home he found that nobody was there and then he began to worry. He started to try and call other members of the church but could not find them either. By now he was in a real panic thinking that the Rapture had occurred and he had been, gasp!--LEFT BEHIND!. It wasn't too much longer though before his mom or dad came home so he was convinced that he was safe, for the time being. I am sure he did a lot of sincere and fervent praying at the altar that Sunday.

Matt eventually left the church, as did his family and myself as well. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota where, much to the chagrin of his Republican dad who had him for 18 years, in just 4 short years that university managed to change him into a Liberal. Matt went on to become a stand-up comic and used this incident about the Rapture in his act. I heard from his dad today that Matt is now doing some gigs in Utah so I wonder if he is bringing up the Rapture again.

Here is Matt: http://www.mattfugate.com/bio.html

[johnnie]

1. Poor guy

I am all for people's beliefs, but man, I would hate to live that way. Especially finding out I missed the rapture because I blew money on Star Wars. Would be cool to see his stand up act.

[elocs]

5. Yes, and he turned out to be a good Liberal as well.

This church really used the fear of being caught in a sin (and their list was long) to keep people in line. They scoffed at the unconditional salvation belief that virtually every other Christian denomination believed as their doctrine be their conditional salvation of always trying to be good enough and maintaining a holy enough standard never allowed them to have any assurance of salvation at all.

[ejpoeta]

2. now's a good time for it what with all the rapture talk.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Cool story -- and with a happy ending, too!

Say hi to Matt from me! :hi:

[RandomThoughts]

4. You are mentioning a delusion.

I have seen that delusion in other people. And have experienced it, although it only takes a few moments to defeat that delusion. An all loving God, would not leave you behind, and you would not want to go with a God that is not all loving. Although people could create situations where some hardships occur, and free will allows that to happen, it is not God leaving someone behind in those situations.

When he got home he found that nobody was there and then he began to worry

That is one of the many delusions used on people.



And I am due beer and travel money and many experiences.

[janet118]

6. My favorite Six Feet Under intro . . .

In Csse of Rapture