I encountered a new cultural artifact the other day. It’s been around longer than I have, but apparently, few people in my circle practice this art. I was recently made aware of something called a rapture letter. The idea is that a Jesus-person writes one of these for each of their friends or family members who hasn’t been formally introduced to Christ, explaining that in case of rapture, they’re going to peace out and be seen around these parts no more. The letters elaborate on why the person is gone, and what the still earth-bound human needs to do as a last-chance effort to avoid hellfire and brimstone. Rapture letters are left in semi-conspicuous places in order to reach those who need them the most upon the departure of the believer.
Initially, I laughed at the idea. It sounds pompous. After my initial amusement, conviction set in because in all truth, it is a last-ditch effort to prosthelytize to a person who needs Jesus (because we all do). But leaving them lying around the house just sounds weird. Imagine having letters stashed on bookshelves, in the shed, garage and on desk that say, “Open only in case of rapture”. That’s an invitation for mockery if I’ve ever seen one. On the other hand, there’s no way on earth you can give somebody a sealed envelope and tell them, “Open this if I mysteriously disappear and all you find is a pile of my clothing resting in right beneath the space previously occupied by my body.” If someone handed me something like that, I’d be holding it up to a bright light, trying to read its contents expecting to see something along the lines of, “Jake, you know I’ve always loved you, but…”
It also goes to say that these things should be said by the living to the same. I had a scary experience once when I started working with youth. I was handed a notebook containing letters written to profess a teenage girl’s affection for me. I remember opening the first page, thinking, “What the heck is this?” and immediately slammed it shut, chased the human down and gave it back after seeing the first couple of lines she had penned. Of course, she was pissed at me, but there wasn’t any way at all that I was about to write anything back in the spiral-bound confession. I had to say to her face, “Nope. Never. Not going to happen in this universe or any other. Sorry.” (Of course, I was nicer, but felt the need to be excessively clear with this point.)
I guess I feel the same way about rapture letters as I do with tracts… I think they’re utilized by spineless humans who know what they should do, but don’t have the fortitude to accomplish it in person, but… it works for some people, so in spite of my overwhelming desire, I genuinely can’t complain about it.
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i’ve never heard of rapture letters but the premise seems like a spin on the common Will. i have been tempted to write something affectionate for my loved ones in a journal or whatnot in the case of my death, but that’s too “suicide note” for me. i don’t know what i believe on the subject of rapture so the thought of preparing in this way or choosing which of my family members/friends i deem not-rapture-worthy has not crossed my mind. i do believe in making the most of every opportunity, like the Word says, so i hope i’m influencing my sphere in life– although a post-departure note would seize an opportunity too…..
my official stance: awkward, presumptuous, unnecessary. God wrote out the blueprints already and He continues to speak to the hearts of man.
p.s. glover send me a pack of cards whose envelopes read, “open on 7/7, open on your birthday, open in case of tragic event, open on Christmas, open in case Lace gets pregnant, etc.” there are a couple cards yet to open but,thankfully, a rapture letter wasn’t included. guess i’m not in the group she’d expect to leave behind
Glover would do that to you! I’m glad she’s confident in your salvation, because the rest of us… we’re just waiting to mail our letters out to you. Probably before the end of the world next year, too. What’s your address again? 🙂
Everything about rapture letters sounds like judgment. I mean, some people obviously don’t have a relationship with The Almighty, but others… I’m not necessarily convinced they don’t- appearances can be deceiving. I’m with you on these being presumptuous– I think the idea is half-baked, but I can’t write it off entirely- what if something like this leads to somebody’s salvation?
Anyway, glad you stopped by. We should hang next time you’re in Boise (for the holidays??)
A certain co-worker is still ticked at me for removing the tacky tracts from the freebee shelf. In my opinion, relationship has to earn the opportunity to present such an item. Personal connection and earned trust is a much more powerful testimony for Jesus then the cowardly act of leaving a cartoon Jesus on a shelf with free stale bread. They need a living, fresh Lord to find life abundant. I’m a little opinionated on this, can ya tell?! 🙂 And a rapture letter? Hum…this was a new idea for me too. Not sure what I think of it yet.
Angie, I don’t love tracts, but they do reach some people. A certain relative of mine seems to eat them up… even though she hasn’t quite gotten to the personal relationship with Jesus place yet, they’ve fueled much of her curiosity, so I can’t complain– even though I’m so good at it! But, a relationship is so much better most of the time. I think that if the wrong person (wrong relationship) tries to present the gospel, it could backfire, simply because people are stubborn. You know how that is, don’t you?
Some would consider this small potatoes … I’ve heard of “Rapture Kits” which contain letters (essential, for sure), but also a Bible, some commentaries, tracts, and any other emergency necessities a lost and confused Leftbehinder may need to stumble their way toward redemption.
Of course, they’ll probably just shake their heads and say, “These religious people sure are crazy! I bet they’re surprised to have been abducted by aliens.” (I’ve thought for a while now that any avid reader/watcher of sci-fi would quickly convert to alien abduction in case of rapture.)
Karenee, I was thinking the same thing. I have friends building storehouses, just waiting for some sort of apocalypse to happen. I don’t think they believe in the proposed rapture scenario. I’m not convinced I am either, though. It’s unfortunate, but true, that people will blame aliens if this happens, because God is such an unlikely explanation.
Never heard of rapture letters, Jake! Just when you think you have heard it all…
I wouldn’t be inclined to give a rapture letter to someone because I find the whole notion of the rapture scenario where people suddenly disappear quite strange.
http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_BR_Farewell_Rapture.htm
What I do love is the idea of caring about people enough to share the gospel…not only to make them ready for life in the age to come…but ready for the life Jesus made possible (at great personal expense) for us to live on this side of the resurrection as well.
We would need to sit down over a beer to unpack these thoughts further! Hope to make that happen over the next couple weeks. 🙂
Isn’t it fascinating that the Gospel does more than get us into heaven? It took me a long time to understand that it not only saves lives, but changes them too. What makes that more ridiculous is that I didn’t have to look any further than my own experience to understand that, but sometimes, that’s too close to really see what’s going on.
Sean, we’re beyond due for a beer. I’m off work on the 23rd and don’t go back until the 2nd. We definitely need to plan something during that time!
I can honestly say that I’ve never heard of rapture letters before.
I had the intial response you did when reading your post: instead of writing a letter to someone for when you’re gone, maybe you should do all you can here and now to see them come to Christ.
But, I guess if the rapture really happens like we all think it will (I kind of doubt it though – better biblical scholars than anyone alive now thought they knew how the Messiah would come the first time, and they all missed it), the people left behind would need some kind of direction/explanation/hope.
That being said, I probably won’t leave a rapture letter laying around my house.
It’s an interesting notion. I’m skeptical, but that’s my response to anything anymore… 🙂 maybe you should leave one. tape it to the back of your iPad, because that’s the first thing somebody’s going to want if you DO vanish… 😉
Jake –
WOAH. You can all laugh if you want but I’m doing it!!! This is great. 🙂 And if I got left behind I’d hope somebody had done it for me too. And that they weren’t cheap and bought me a kit darnit! But seriously I’m doing it. And it’s not like they won’t have heard from me while I was on earth. They’ll have most likley heard plenty and then if they recieve a letter, (drenched in annointing oil of course) – just kidding; they will really think long and hard about this.
I’m not sure if this goes along with my theology, but better safe than sorry. I just have so many to write. (you know me I can’t just do a one letter fits all type of thing)
However, I’ll have to stress in the letter that I did not disappear do to alien abduction. I don’t think this will sound wierd at all. And I’m not sure I will care at that point anyways.
I’d sometimes agree with better safe than sorry. You’re one of the people who could get away with something like this and not come across as a pretentious explicative. I mean, you were good enough to convince me, right? 🙂 And I don’t think there’s a one letter fits all method at all. At that point, it would just be a tract.
I never considered alien abduction… such an unfortunate notion, that beings from outer space would only abduct believers- don’t they know we’d prosthelytize to them too? Gosh…
I’ve heard of them, but I’m not sold on the doctrine of a rapture. Not that I’m an expert, but I’ve spent more time in study of this subject than any other in this last year. Which I love. In the end, what ever the case, God doesn’t call us to live in fear. Only fear could keep us from sharing what He’s called us to to begin with.
Yeah, I know. Sometimes a can be a real party-pooper. Not like… real poop… You know what I mean…
Floyd, you’re entirely right. We aren’t called to live in fear, we’re called to just live. I have friends stockpiling food and crap, buying guns and generators, preparing for this and I’m kinda like, “really?” I’m not an expert on the whole rapture thing either, I’m leaning away from it, if you want the truth… but I don’t think it’ll ever happen in my lifetime… so… yesh.