Eschatology does matter because, at the end of the day, how a person believes the world will end has
(or should have) an influence on how s/he lives life today; perhaps even a great deal of influence.
We have a large swath of Christendom, the modern futurists, telling everyone the world is going to hell in a hand basket any day now. Five problems have arisen from that eschatology. The first is that few if any of them actually act as if what they believe is true and they, then, prove themselves hypocrites. Scripture has a great deal to say about hypocrites and hypocrisy in the Church. None of it is good. The second problems is the subjugation of God's word to the latest newscast. Scripture is reinterpreted on a nearly daily basis and every is told this event or that event is a sign or the fulfillment of some prophecy. The net result is a third problem but few if any of them ever realize the problem in methodology that begets the problem in content. The third problem is that due to subjugating scripture to history
(instead of the other way around), predictions are made but none of them ever happen. When this uniform failure is observed by a non-futurist more twisting of scripture ensues. The fourth problem is the bad witness this bears. Outsiders observe this mess of hypocrisy and false prognosticative teaching and eschew all interest in the gospel. Christians are mocked, even the ones who do not subscribe to modern futurism. Fifth, there is no accountability. This has been going on for 200 years but no one inside modern futurism does anything about any of the above.
What we believe about the future can have enormous effect on the now.
This does not happen with any other eschatology. It does not happen with anything close to the same frequency or severity in any other viewpoint. Amillennialism and Idealism may foment ambiguity where futurism fosters confidence in falsehood but that is not nearly as egregious as the problems listed above. Postmillennialism may be overly optimistic, lend itself to unsavory confidence in human works, or risk conflating religion and politics where the other viewpoints do not but, again, these concerns are nowhere near is egregious as the problems found in the way modern futurism influences a Christian's now.
In the end we will be fine, but that condition is a product of divine grace and sustenance, not anything commendable on our part. Consider how the following verses apply to eschatological thought, doctrine and
practice...
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
There are two boards in this forum where nearly every op will burn up, leaving the author charred, covered in soot, and empty-handed
. Similar boards exist in almost all Christian internet forum
. In the end, we will be saved but that doesn't change the fact eschatology influences who we live now.
And I won't comment on the verse that follows this passage and how a certain portion of Christendom lets their eschatological interpretation of that verse influence their life today
.
