I just don't get restoration theology

I'm not sure that's the official name for it. But it's this 'newish' gospel that people have been preaching, it says that Jesus' death on the cross not only restores those elected, but also begins the restoration of the Earth itself and we as believers must assist Christ in that restorative act. Usually this manifests in efforts by the local church to improve the socio-economic status of those around them and even improvements to the environment around them.

Now of course I'm not against caring for the poor and needy, nor am I against taking care of the Earth. I'm an out-doors guy and understand the value of caring for what we were entrusted with. Gen 1:28-30;  2:15. And more importantly I'm very happy to serve the poor and needy as Christ did and the early church did. Mark 6:53-56; Acts 2:45. But in this case, Jesus healed the sick as an opportunity to get their attention to preach the truth to them. It wasn't merely to make them better, though He of course cared and valued that. His actions were clearly to create a venue to teach. Mark 1:21-28; 2:1- 12; 3:1-6; 5:1-20; 6:30-43 (esp vs 34); etc...  Jesus in fact said He came to preach and teach. Mark 1:35-39. He sent the apostles out to teach: Mark 6:7-12. I can't find any scriptures where He said: "I come to restore the earth and make this world better." If someone can point me to scriptures where He says this, I would like to learn about them.

I'm not trying to lose the kindness and love that Christ shows to people, and that we are to show to people as models of Him. If we don't love them, how can they hear our message? But that's the point, we should have the goal of them hearing our message and our service to them should be for them to hear. If we are merely serving, just to raise up their socio-economic status, then I don't see how Christians are any different from secular organizations who do community service projects. My favorite example are men's fraternities in college. Most frat houses do lots and lots of community service. They feed the poor, they raise money for cancer, and they build shelters for the needy. But their ultimate goal is to party hard on the weekend. They are not trying to preach a message of faith and repentance in the slightest. Service without message makes the church no different.

To get back to this restoration theology, I don't see any scripture supporting mankind's efforts to restore the earth. In fact the scriptures I see show Christ coming back and creating the new heavens and new earth after throughly destroying the old one.

• Rev. 3:12 -- "... the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God, out of heaven."
• Rev. 6:12-17 -- "... the stars of the sky fell on the earth, ... the sky vanished like a scroll, ...and every mountain and island removed from its place..."
• Rev. 8:6-13 -- ... hail and fire... third of trees and grass burned up...; third of the sea becomes blood, third of living creatures in the sea are killed; third of the rivers and springs ruined and people die; third of sun, moon, and stars are struck;
• Rev. 9:13-19 -- a third of mankind is killed by plague
• Rev. 16:17-21 -- final plague is brought destroying many things & people with hailstones
• Rev. 21:1-2; 5,6 -- new heavens and a new earth, the first earth had passed away; Jesus makes all things new

If Jesus is going to destroy the old one and replace it with a new one, why should we work so hard to maintain it? Again, not saying we shouldn't help the poor and needy. Nor am I saying we shouldn't be involved in government and social structures as individuals. Of course we need to let our light shine in the darkness. (For instance I'm kind of against home schooling my kids b/c it removes an opportunity to shine into the darkness.) But the whole point of letting that light shine is to bring people to Christ. Not to merely make the current structures better.  This new restoration theology seems to have a goal to improve the socio-economic status as a means to its own end. And that's my problem with it.

Let's just leave the gospel alone, the way it has been understood for 2000 years. The penal substitution of Christ on the cross to redeem us from our sins and restore us to a right relationship with the Father. (Romans 3:23-26, 6:23, 5:6-11, 10:9-13). Let's not try to reform and add to it with this restoration concept if it's not supported by scripture.



A little post script. I don't want to be an arrogant jerk. If there is some scriptures supporting restoration theology, please someone post them so I can learn. Maybe I'm missing some major component and theme in the New Testament. In the end, my goal in life is to magnify Christ. If my theology is short-changing His glory, then I am very open to correction.