If you are like me, and a lot of preterists that I know, you have been racking your brain in an effort to figure
out new and better ways of telling your friends about the Preterist view. Sure, we all have tried giving a book to a Christian
friend that would encourage him/her to at least explore the Preterist view. And we would all agree that this is one of the
very best ways to spark interest in exploring a new "paradigm shift" in Bible study. But what about your friends who, like
many evangelicals today, simply are not readers? Even if they are given a book and promise to read it, will they really do
it? Or will they just put it down until a more convenient time, which likely may never happen? So is there another way to
spark some interest in Preterism? A way that the non-reading yet dedicated Christian just might latch on to?
My suggestion
is to hand your friend your new business card! What? How can a business card introduce Preterism to anyone? Well, it all depends
on what kind of a business card you hand him. What I am talking about is the exact same size as a business card, but this
one folds over so that there is double the space of the usual card. Your non-reading friend will be struck by this novel little
piece that you just handed to him, and likely he will read every word!
This little business card,
with the innocent title of "What Do You Believe?," starts out by listing four statements about the Christian faith, with a
check off box, "yes" or "no" for the person to indicate whether he agrees or disagrees with the statement. The last of the
four statements reads "I believe that God does not lie, mislead or deceive. Yes or no?" Every true Christian will likely answer
"yes" to this as well as to all the other statements.
Then, the Matt. 16:27-28
text is printed out in full, concluding with the words "there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see
the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." Since they agreed that God does not lie, mislead or deceive, this verse begins to shake
them up a bit. Next, they are confronted with the "this generation" phrase of Matt. 24:34, followed by a "yes" or "no" question
as to whether these two Scriptures have been fulfilled or not, in view of the first century targeted fulfillment time just
alluded to. This makes him think.
Now that the reader of your
business card is, at this point, almost half way through this little piece, and he immediately senses that all of this is
new and strange to him, he is encouraged to read on about what Preterism is all about and how most of us have been taught
the futurist view in our churches. In this setting, what your friend is learning is that a 2000 year delay in fulfilling these
promises of Jesus just doesn’t make sense. Even worse, the very trustworthiness of the Bible is at stake!
And finally, your friend
is encouraged to be a Berean, observing the "audience relevance" method of reading the Bible. This is followed by both an
email address and a web address that will enable him to receive additional help, get answers to his questions, and begin to
fellowship with other people who are on the Preterist journey.
Does this sound like an effective
way to introduce Preterism to your friends?
If so, how would you like
to receive TEN of these little business cards to hand out to your friends? Just send me a SELF ADDRESSED, STAMPED No. 10 (long)
ENVELOPE and I will mail them right out to you. (The envelope size is 4-1/8" x 9-1/2")
There is no charge for these
cards, but if you would like to enclose a small non-tax deductible donation to help further this project, it will be received
with sincere thanks.
Walt Hibbard
