-Caveat Lector-
The Middle Path
There are Choices Besides
"Pollyanna" and "Doomsday"
THE DEBATE OVER THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM has deteriorated into a sharp split
between those who believe it will have a world-changing impact and those who
believe it will be a non-event. Much of the discussion of Y2K consists of
heated arguments and name-calling between members of the two camps, loosely
defined as the "doomsday" crowd and the "pollyannas."
THIS HAS LED many to believe that they must choose sides and decide who is
right. We believe this is a false choice, and the best course in approaching
Y2K lies in defining a middle path between the two camps, one that takes the
issue seriously without lapsing into behavior unsupported by the facts or the
Bible. Sorting out such an approach is no easy matter.
BUT AT THIS MOMENT of confusion and conflict, I believe we are running out of
easy options. It is important that the people of Christ be both rational and
proactive, remaining faithful to the Gospel and its guidance about gossip and
future events, while stepping forward to lead the community with a ministry
of reassurance and readiness.
THE DISPUTE ABOUT Y2K, which has been raging in Internet newsgroups for
several years, has now flared up in the Christian community. This in turn has
become front-page news for the national media with the Wall Street Journal's
page one profile of Christian Computing magazine editor Steve Hewitt and his
ongoing effort to convice believers that Y2K will be no more than a "bump in
the road."
HEWITT'S CRUSADE is itself a reaction to a group of Christian-themed websites
that warn that Jan. 1, 2000 may bring TEOTWAWKI ("The End of The World As We
Know It"). The "Christian survivalist" story has become a staple of Y2K
coverage, but has left a skewed impression of what the church is doing. My
experience with reporters calling about Christians and Y2K suggests many were
looking to craft an attention-getting story featuring "end of the world
extremists" motivated by religious belief. Some reporters made the effort to
locate more moderate faith-based preparedness efforts and tell the larger
story; many others did not.
WE'VE COMMENTED ON THE NEED to retain credibility in our Christian message in
Prophecy And Perspective. We share some of Hewitt's concerns, but fear that
he is leading an anti-Y2K backlash that is itself deeply problematic. The
effort to discredit "doomsayers" may allow many Christians to ignore or
dismiss the year 2000 issue, which would be a mistake.
ONE DIFFICULTY WITH THE Y2K DEBATE is that it has a tendency to cause people
of faith and integrity to become very self-selecting about what information
they believe and why. The alarmists interpret "bad" Y2K news as truth and
dismiss "good" news as lies. The skeptics do the opposite. Once someone has
begun making public statements and predictions about Y2K, their credibility
is on the line, and it becomes harder for them to be TRULY unbiased in
evaluating new information. In the age of media "spin," both camps are
spinning madly to convince the public of the rightness of their position.
THERE IS A MIDDLE PATH between the two positions, one that avoids
presumptions about precisely what God may be up to, but accepts that the
problem is real and demands a response from the Christian church.
FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS need to confront the likelihood of social disruption on
Jan. 1, 2000. We also must be careful not to be deceived and be caught up in
millennial fervor or survivalist sentiment that in many cases has no
connection to our faith.
BELIEVERS MUST REVIEW the best available information and decide for
themselves how to proceed. Because of the complexity of the Y2K issue and the
debate about how to respond, there are many people who want to follow someone
else's lead or be told what to do. Educate yourself, maintain an open mind,
and seek out the most credible information available. Then take
responsibility for your own beliefs about Y2K and how to prepare.
WHILE THERE'S NO DENYING that there are some extreme views about Y2K, our
experience suggests that most Christians who are preparing are level-headed
people responding out of a sense of stewardship and obligation to their
families, congregations and communities, in the best tradition of Christian
ministry.
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, inaction invites anxiety and worry, and readiness
provides reassurance. The most effective way to avoid panic is to help people
develop a comfort level that allows them to be live confidently no matter
what Y2K may bring. Making prudent preparations - including having some
supplies of food, water and cash - does not make one a nut.
MANY Y2K "DEBUNKERS," in the Christian community and elsewhere, are
comfortable spending thousands of dollars each year to insure themselves
against death, fire, floods and auto accidents that may never happen, yet
will declare that it's outlandish to take even modest steps to prepare for
Y2K - which is a real problem. There's an inconsistency in that thinking.
THERE IS WISDOM to be found in a humble email signature file I spied the
other day: "Y2K - It's better to have a plan and no disaster, than a disaster
and no plan."
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
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CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
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