- Do you want the world to get better or worse?
- What do you think is God's will for the future of humanity and Earth?
For this religion (which is not limited to Christianity), the world is getting worse and that is desirable as it hastens the coming of the Messiah.
Obviously, I am not there. I would guess (hope) that the majority of Christians and Muslims are not there either. I would also guess (hope) that majority of the world's political leaders are not there either. I would guess (hope) that the vast majority of humanity wishes
a) to continue the human race and
b) to leave the world in as best condition as we can for our descendants and
c) to hasten justice, peace, and equality for all people as well as
d) to envision and create a sustainable and equitable use of Earth's bounty.
This is the vision of shalom that we find throughout our scriptures. When I say scriptures I mean the Hebrew, Christian, Qur'anic, Hindu, and Buddhist scriptures, as well as sacred wisdom from native, mystical and humanistic traditions.
The vision here is a final banquet as opposed to a final war. Yet to say "final" is misleading as we are on an enduring journey. Time for a definition of "better" and "worse."
This is what I consider better:
1) an equitable distribution of Earth's resources,
2) food, shelter, medicine, and meaningful work for all people,
3) and end to war and violence between human beings,
4) a harmonious existence with the rest of Earth
5) an increase in consciousness, wisdom, love and joy.
This is what I consider worse:
1) increased inequity in regards to Earth's resources,
2) lack of food, shelter, medicine, meaningful work for more and more people,
3) an increase in war and violence between human beings,
4) an increase in the poisoning, destruction of and dis-harmony with Earth,
5) an increase in apocalyptic fantasy, hatred, ignorance, and misery.
Are we getting better or worse?
My faith: It appears that on the near horizon we are getting worse. However, if humanity can survive until 2107 and certainly 2207, we will have found a way to get better. I think this 21st century may witness the biggest changes and challenges humanity and Earth has faced. I think it going to be rough. I think civilization will collapse on itself as we move (unwillingly it appears at present) to a post-petroleum future. However, if we can survive this without destroying each other or Earth with our weaponry, we may move into an incredibly rewarding and peaceful future.
What is our task? I think we need to imagine and articulate two things:
1) The abolition of war. Slavery was once considered natural and inevitable. No longer. War is not natural for human beings, although it appears to be for civilization (based on the surplus of goods, private ownership, etc.) The latest issue of Network News is on-line and in the mail. In it are included some very important articles including Christians called to consider seriously the abolition of war by Bobbie Wrenn Banks and Kathleen Allen.
2) A global oikos. Oikos is the Greek word for household. From it we get the words, economics, ecology, and ecumenical among others. Humanity needs to move beyond its tribalism and celebrate and commit itself to being citizens of Earth. We share one house. With this reality, what are our values? We know how to solve our conflicts on a personal level. We know how to make a peaceful home. Even though we do not always succeed, we know how. This value of peaceful house-sharing must move upward as we recognize that all are our sisters and brothers.
Signs of hope: I see a renewed awareness for our future from many quarters. We are beginning to talk, to dance, to sing about a war-free, global home. It begins with a vision. Let us continue to articulate it.
What about God? I think we need to articulate a theology of Christian hope in which we rediscover the non-violent God who appears surprisingly at times in our scriptures. I think it is up to Christians to refute apocalyptic (fantasy-based) theories. This means being courageous in the face of apocalyptic bullies with their threats of heresy and other nonsense. For example, to the question: Is Jesus going to return in some literal way? The answer is NO. This is fantasy and it is destructive fantasy. To quote John Dominic Crossan in God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now:
That leaves me with these conclusions. The Second Coming of Christ is not an event that we should expect to happen soon. The Second Coming of Christ is not an event that we should expect to happen violently. The Second Coming of Christ is not an event that we should expect to happen literally. The Second Coming of Christ is what will happen when we Christians finally accept that the First Coming was the Only Coming and start to cooperate with its divine presence. (p. 231)
What about Church? I think it is time for Christian leaders to expand our focus beyond internal church politics to the critical issues facing humanity and Earth. Let the detractors detract. In the meantime, let us participate in communities of consciousness, awareness, hope, justice, healing and action. Our future is at stake. God is inviting us to participate in a new way of living. Call it resurrection. Let us live it.
I'm pretty depressed about the state of the world right now. Not only is it a problem with war and injustice, but we've got environmental catastrophes looming on the horizon. Still, I think we have to have hope. Wishing for a Divinely managed, carnage-filled cataclysm at Armageddon so that God can usher in "his" reign is pretty horrible, in my view. We have to try to build a better world, even if the odds are against us.
ReplyDeleteTo me, what you outlined has a lot to do with the building of the Kingdom of God. To me, war and economic injustice are linked together. We live in a world where powerful people are in command, where profits trump human needs, where injustice is the modus operandi of all the world's societies. We live in a world of Empire, which Crossan equates with "civilization". We need to live in a post-civilization world, and in my view we need to radically restructure society and the way it is governed. But I don't see that happening in my lifetime.
And if the bees all die off, we are going to really be screwed.
**for a Divinely managed, carnage-filled cataclysm at Armageddon so that God can usher in "his" reign is pretty horrible, in my view.** I agree with this, because it lets those that hope this absolve themselves of personal responsibility. They can't do anything too bad, because God's going to come and make everything new.
ReplyDeleteYou see, John, this is where you walk the path of heresy. All of our confessions, contained in the Constitution, refer to Christ's Second Coming. This has been taken literally by the Presbyterian Church since we began and will be professed and confessed until He comes.
ReplyDeleteThe Book of Order also gives you this dire warning, John...
G-4.0403...Persons of all...different theological positions consistent with the Reformed tradition,...shall be guaranteed full participation,etc...
If you no longer believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ, then your belief is inconsistent with the Reformed tradition.
That was a great message. I think the idea about looking back to first coming and it importance (Crossan) is so key that it should be made into little placards like those 'let's go to church signs' I used to see. I haven't really thought of it in that way before but I think I generally agree - that 1st coming is what we have and it was great - let's build off of it for a while.
ReplyDeleteAs for the problems with the world - I see what you are saying but the biggest problem is getting humanity to work together and deny their 'inalienable rights' to do whatever the hell they please. That's where the real problem is - getting us all to agree on an action plan for environment and the likes. But I see some growth in this area with the G8 Summit (at least they are discussing it).
Is the world really in that bad of shape - i would say 'maybe' - perspective is everything.
John,
ReplyDeleteIn insisting on your worldview that purports a 'shalom' you do a great deal of violence to the scripture (and by that I mean Christian scripture) you say is God's word to you and the creeds and confessions you have promised to be guided by. Mucking around with language aside, you're the most dishonest Christian minister I've ever run across. You don't hide it, I grant you- but you display a gross dishonesty to your colleagues and parishoners, purposrting to be something you clearly are not as defined by the things we have promised to come under yet you continue to deny and say are wrong.
You are perfectly free to deny every biblical doctrine under the sun without punishment from our gov't-- and I will gladly defend your freedom to do that. Really. But- you are not free to continue to call yourself a Christian minister, or reformed, or presbyterian and continue to deny every biblical doctrine under the sun- saying the church has gotten it wrong, and you and Spong, et al are here to finally shed the light of your intellects into the darkness of the church's ignorance.
Have the courage of your convictions to renounce jurisdiction b/c you can no longer be guided by our confessions. And then preach away, it really is a free country!
Will there ever come a time where someone isn't asking John to step down? Probably not; people love to render judgment on others, particularly when it comes to religion. This blog is one of my favorite sites to keep up with but it gets too religious sometimes (OK, granted, it is a Reverend's blog). I digress. My point, and I do have one, is that my general impression is that the congregation of 1st Pres would prefer he doesn't step down. Don't let that stop anyone from rendering a harsh judgment or two against John, but really it's getting pretty tiresome.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, that was an inspiring post, and I know, I already broke a rule, "let the detractors detract," but I had to get that out. I'm looking forward to seeing where this theme goes. I agree with Heather's comment and nominate Mystical Seeker as the best shuckandjive commenter, by a mile, thanks for the always thoughtful and readable posts Mystical Seeker, you have really added a lot to John's blog.
Regressive and Stushie,
ReplyDeleteBless your hearts or BYH for short.
Mystical, Heather, Society, and Bobby:
I really don't mean to be bummer man in regards to Earth's future. But ya'll really ought to read Kurt Vonngegut's last: A Man Without a Country.
No one wants to spoil the party, but hey, it ends sometime. We have been livin' large. We really ought to be thinking about our future even if it means we don't think we can do much.
I (with my glass always half full) think we can. I am reading Walter Isaacson's biography of Einstein. Granted, Al came up with the atomic bomb, but he also moved us to incredible new insights and technology.
Point being, that human creativity can take us places we never imagined. We may find technology beyond fossil fuels. Gotta keep hope alive. Therefore promoting creativity in the sciences ought to be a task for us.
Also, I think questions of value need to be raised. The value of equity, sustainability, cooperation, peaceful negotiation, etc.
This is an area, one would think, institutions like church should care. That is why I hang in there despite the detractors as long as I have breath, and fingers to work the keyboard! : )
The potential of human creativity can get us out of just about any mess I believe. What is disheartening is the difficulty we will have breaking old paradigms, old economic patterns. Old habits and power structures are much more the problem than creative potential. What answers does the church have for this sort of thing? Are there grounds for change that all people of faith can rally round? I don't know, but bless your heart for exploring the topic.
ReplyDeleteFor clarity's sake, here's a question of your theology on this--
ReplyDeleteAre you saying that the Christian belief (that is universal to all Christian churches) that Christ will return in the Second Coming is the same doctrine as that which is espoused in the Pre-Milennial Dispensationalist Left Behind series?
Are you aware of any other interpretations of the Second Coming?
Have you ever read any Reformed doctrines of this doctrine? Or Lutheran? Roman Catholic? Eastern Orthodox? Anything?
Are you putting catholic Christians all in the same boat as Tim Lehaye?
I'm genuinely curious about this, as your post seems to have not an iota of understanding about any more orthodox teachings about the Second Coming of Christ.
Please tell us if you really do believe (as implied in this post) if all Christians are longing for a bloodthirsty armageddon/holocaust of all humanity.
Bobby, thank you very much for the compliment!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome Mystical Seeker; you often deserve a much kinder word from people than you get here. I've also lurked around your blog and enjoyed reading it; you are a very gifted writer; keep it up.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is scary about the bees. That is possibly a thematic tie-in to the discussion of changing the state of the world, as some feel the dominate contributing factor of the sharp population loss of honeybees may be the over-commercialization of beekeeping, though no one really knows for sure.
Bobby,
ReplyDeleteYou hit it. You wrote:
"The potential of human creativity can get us out of just about any mess I believe. What is disheartening is the difficulty we will have breaking old paradigms, old economic patterns. Old habits and power structures are much more the problem than creative potential. What answers does the church have for this sort of thing? Are there grounds for change that all people of faith can rally round?"
The church has always had this role theoretically, to speak the Word against the Powers. Throughout our history, the church has at times done this and positive change has resulted.
I think one of the most important things is for communities to become communities of "conscience"--that is to be places where we can learn and engage each other and support each other.
For example, I am very heartened by our congregation's decision to become a Green church.
The national bodies of the church have great resources and often take very important public stances on issues of social justice, to war, to just about anything. They are often attacked for doing so. Connecting with the larger organizations can be helpful for single communities, so we don't think we are all alone.
The answer is Yes, the church can take on these issues. Will all people of faith rally around them? Absolutely not. For many, the faith is linked to these structures.
It is like asking was the church for the civil rights movement in the 50's and 60's or against it?
Each individual has to pick a side and ACT boldly.
Toby,
ReplyDeleteWelcome! What is your view of the second coming?
Each individual has to pick a side and ACT boldly.
ReplyDeleteI hear you and agree. I think I misspoke a bit earlier when I said "all people of faith," really I meant that in an even broader term, more like all people with common values; no need to have some kind of faith litmus test to try and make the world a better place. There's a lot of truthiness out there too to deal with right now too. Sometimes its hard not to be depressed about the state of the world; it is so overwhelming; I appreciate your optimism and energy.