Oh, Wikipedia! How I love thee!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A Philosophical Inquiry
So, my mind seems to be brimming on the edge of something. I cannot say what, for I don't really know. I haven't read enough. I haven't dialogued enough, but what I am coming to discover is a Nova Res. A new thing. At least, it might be.
There is a principle in Biology (as a philosopher, I have every right to steal from the natural sciences, as my discipline gave birth to the others, anyways...) called "Emergence." Basically, what I understand about it is that it states: the system is greater than the sum of the parts. Expounding more upon that, the system cannot be reduced merely to the parts, because in relation to one another, they create something new and unique.
I think that this principle can be adopted into Philosophy. I don't know all the implications yet, but it could help unfold some problems a little more. Basically, what I want to do is combined this idea of Emergence with Hegelian relations, Kierkegaard's subjectivity, and perhaps even Husserl's account of knowledge-perception.
That last paragraph probably seems unintelligible, but trust me, it is and it means something. What exactly? I don't know yet, but I will keep you informed. I think there might be something new happening. The Geist is unfolding. Oh, I am so excited! ((Call me a nerd. I don't care!))
There is a principle in Biology (as a philosopher, I have every right to steal from the natural sciences, as my discipline gave birth to the others, anyways...) called "Emergence." Basically, what I understand about it is that it states: the system is greater than the sum of the parts. Expounding more upon that, the system cannot be reduced merely to the parts, because in relation to one another, they create something new and unique.
I think that this principle can be adopted into Philosophy. I don't know all the implications yet, but it could help unfold some problems a little more. Basically, what I want to do is combined this idea of Emergence with Hegelian relations, Kierkegaard's subjectivity, and perhaps even Husserl's account of knowledge-perception.
That last paragraph probably seems unintelligible, but trust me, it is and it means something. What exactly? I don't know yet, but I will keep you informed. I think there might be something new happening. The Geist is unfolding. Oh, I am so excited! ((Call me a nerd. I don't care!))
Monday, April 28, 2008
I never do these, but I decided to this once...
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE DOWN THE FIRST LINE NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Comment on it.
1)Are you a male or female?
The revolution rock.
Well, I guess that's what I am.
2) Describe yourself?
It feels like you've been asleep for days; the television is on, I can't stay awake - I'll fall down, again.
Haha. Oh, if only. I have had a crazy weekend.
3) How do you feel about yourself?
Today...is gonna be the day, I'll always remember.
This is true. I have a horrible memory, so I only ever remember the present.
4) Describe your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend:
The day I learn to fly , I'm never coming down,
On perfect I'll rise through the layers of the clouds.
Well, I guess you could interpret that about the caged bird knowing how to sing.
5) What would your ex say about you?
I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me. I can't believe this is the end.
Relient K. Hmm...Perhaps, she would. I don't know. Like I said, bad memory. Sometimes it's blessing. Though sometimes, the memory is selective, and I remember things I wish I could forget.
6) Describe your current love interest?
My Daddy was a sinner, but my Mother was a saintly person.
I have no idea.
7) What would your current love interest say about you?
I'm scared that I might be burning out.
I am a crazy fire of love...Not like Dido in the least.
8) Describe your current location:
Fred sits alone at his desk, in the dark.
This is pretty telling. I should be doing that, while doing homework.
9) Describe where you want to be:
I see you down on the front line.
Yep. This is true.
10) Describe what you want to be:
I have (I have) you breathing down my neck (breathing down my neck)
A stalker?
11) Describe your best friend:
No, woman, no cry.
...yes?
12) What would your best friend say about you?
Revvin' up your engine, Listen to her howlin' roar, Metal under tension, Beggin' you to touch and go, Highway to the Danger Zone.
Oh, that's exciting.
13) Your favorite color is:
Today's the Macy's Day Parade
The night of the living dead is on its way
Living dead?!? Black. Or gray...
14) You know that:
Here, A little sympathy for you to waste on me
I know you're faking it but that's okay.
Yellowcard. God bless.
15) What is the weather like?
And today was a day just like any other.
Actually, it was a little colder than it should have been.
16) If your life was a television show, what would it be called?
If I could open my arms
And span the length of the isle of Manhattan,
I'd bring it to where you are
Making a lake of the East River and Hudson
I don't know but it would take place in New York.
17) What is life to you?
I don't know, well, I'm just gonna sing this track first.
Singing? Me? Never.
18) What is the best advice you have to give?
I'm gonna buy this place and burn it down.
Arson. It pays.
19) What is the meaning of life?
Sail away where no ball and chain
Can keep us from the roarin' waves
Together undivided but forever we'll be free.
How existential.
20) What is life’s biggest problem?
4am. Two hours ago.
Insomnia.
21) What solves the mysteries of life?
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
Yes. Those things solve the mysteries of life.
22) What is your dream?
Well its hard to explain
but I'll try if you let me.
Sweet! Avoidance!
23) What is your greatest fear?
In a dream that i cant seem to shake she is, she is standing alone
Leaving someone alone. Disappointing people. Yep. Right on, Randomness.
24) What is your worst attribute?
Buried deep as you can dig inside yourself
And covered with a perfect shell
Such a charming, beautiful exterior
Laced with brilliant smiles and shining eyes
Perfect posture, but you're barely scraping by
But you're barely scraping by
I had to give the first verse. Listen to the entire song. It's pretty spot on.
25) What is your greatest strength?
Come to decide that the things that I tried
Were in my life just to get high on
Drugs. My greatest strength.
26) Describe your love life:
You wait, wanting this world
To let you in
And you stand there
A frozen light
In dark and empty streets
You smile hiding behind
A God-given face
But I know you're so much more
Everything they ignore
Is all that I need to see
Once again, listen to the entire song. Odd how this is working. Goo Goo Dolls. Let Love In.
27) How are you going to die?
Ooh i need your love babe,
Guess you know it's true.
Hope you need my love babe,
Just like i need you.
I guess I don't need your love, if I want to survive.
28) If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
It's just like you to contest
Wear it like a label on your breast
don't you see what this takes of me?
This song is called, "Ender will save us all." Ender would be my name.
29) What do your friends think of you?
My heart is beating from me. I'm standing all alone.
What friends?!?!?!?!
30) What is your funeral song going to be?
If you find yourself here on my side of town,
I pray that you come to my door.
If you die, look up my number. We'll chill.
31) What will you be remembered for?
So God how come every wrongs been done?
With deals no Christ should allow
Once the communist now the terrorist
With blood as thick as yours
Well, my sins. Of course.
32) What will end up being your greatest accomplishment?
Don't you dare speak for someone you don't know.
They'll feel it in the back of their throat.
Hmm...Following my parents' advice?
33) What will be engraved on your tombstone?
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE DOWN THE FIRST LINE NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Comment on it.
1)Are you a male or female?
The revolution rock.
Well, I guess that's what I am.
2) Describe yourself?
It feels like you've been asleep for days; the television is on, I can't stay awake - I'll fall down, again.
Haha. Oh, if only. I have had a crazy weekend.
3) How do you feel about yourself?
Today...is gonna be the day, I'll always remember.
This is true. I have a horrible memory, so I only ever remember the present.
4) Describe your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend:
The day I learn to fly , I'm never coming down,
On perfect I'll rise through the layers of the clouds.
Well, I guess you could interpret that about the caged bird knowing how to sing.
5) What would your ex say about you?
I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me. I can't believe this is the end.
Relient K. Hmm...Perhaps, she would. I don't know. Like I said, bad memory. Sometimes it's blessing. Though sometimes, the memory is selective, and I remember things I wish I could forget.
6) Describe your current love interest?
My Daddy was a sinner, but my Mother was a saintly person.
I have no idea.
7) What would your current love interest say about you?
I'm scared that I might be burning out.
I am a crazy fire of love...Not like Dido in the least.
8) Describe your current location:
Fred sits alone at his desk, in the dark.
This is pretty telling. I should be doing that, while doing homework.
9) Describe where you want to be:
I see you down on the front line.
Yep. This is true.
10) Describe what you want to be:
I have (I have) you breathing down my neck (breathing down my neck)
A stalker?
11) Describe your best friend:
No, woman, no cry.
...yes?
12) What would your best friend say about you?
Revvin' up your engine, Listen to her howlin' roar, Metal under tension, Beggin' you to touch and go, Highway to the Danger Zone.
Oh, that's exciting.
13) Your favorite color is:
Today's the Macy's Day Parade
The night of the living dead is on its way
Living dead?!? Black. Or gray...
14) You know that:
Here, A little sympathy for you to waste on me
I know you're faking it but that's okay.
Yellowcard. God bless.
15) What is the weather like?
And today was a day just like any other.
Actually, it was a little colder than it should have been.
16) If your life was a television show, what would it be called?
If I could open my arms
And span the length of the isle of Manhattan,
I'd bring it to where you are
Making a lake of the East River and Hudson
I don't know but it would take place in New York.
17) What is life to you?
I don't know, well, I'm just gonna sing this track first.
Singing? Me? Never.
18) What is the best advice you have to give?
I'm gonna buy this place and burn it down.
Arson. It pays.
19) What is the meaning of life?
Sail away where no ball and chain
Can keep us from the roarin' waves
Together undivided but forever we'll be free.
How existential.
20) What is life’s biggest problem?
4am. Two hours ago.
Insomnia.
21) What solves the mysteries of life?
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
Yes. Those things solve the mysteries of life.
22) What is your dream?
Well its hard to explain
but I'll try if you let me.
Sweet! Avoidance!
23) What is your greatest fear?
In a dream that i cant seem to shake she is, she is standing alone
Leaving someone alone. Disappointing people. Yep. Right on, Randomness.
24) What is your worst attribute?
Buried deep as you can dig inside yourself
And covered with a perfect shell
Such a charming, beautiful exterior
Laced with brilliant smiles and shining eyes
Perfect posture, but you're barely scraping by
But you're barely scraping by
I had to give the first verse. Listen to the entire song. It's pretty spot on.
25) What is your greatest strength?
Come to decide that the things that I tried
Were in my life just to get high on
Drugs. My greatest strength.
26) Describe your love life:
To let you in
And you stand there
A frozen light
In dark and empty streets
You smile hiding behind
A God-given face
But I know you're so much more
Everything they ignore
Is all that I need to see
Once again, listen to the entire song. Odd how this is working. Goo Goo Dolls. Let Love In.
27) How are you going to die?
Ooh i need your love babe,
Guess you know it's true.
Hope you need my love babe,
Just like i need you.
I guess I don't need your love, if I want to survive.
28) If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
It's just like you to contest
Wear it like a label on your breast
don't you see what this takes of me?
This song is called, "Ender will save us all." Ender would be my name.
29) What do your friends think of you?
My heart is beating from me. I'm standing all alone.
What friends?!?!?!?!
30) What is your funeral song going to be?
If you find yourself here on my side of town,
I pray that you come to my door.
If you die, look up my number. We'll chill.
31) What will you be remembered for?
So God how come every wrongs been done?
With deals no Christ should allow
Once the communist now the terrorist
With blood as thick as yours
Well, my sins. Of course.
32) What will end up being your greatest accomplishment?
Don't you dare speak for someone you don't know.
They'll feel it in the back of their throat.
Hmm...Following my parents' advice?
33) What will be engraved on your tombstone?
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Monday, April 21, 2008
a poem
why do all the pretty people die?
falling down like jericho, like empires and snow
all the pretty people die and melt away.
ruined and in ruin, all the pretty people
lay in dust, discarded and forgotten.
and the walls will fall, the children
will perish, slaughtered and stained.
why do all the pretty people die?
why do all the people die?
why do all die?
why?
falling down like jericho, like empires and snow
all the pretty people die and melt away.
ruined and in ruin, all the pretty people
lay in dust, discarded and forgotten.
and the walls will fall, the children
will perish, slaughtered and stained.
why do all the pretty people die?
why do all the people die?
why do all die?
why?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Life...
...is too short not to do what you really want to do.
This does not excuse any type of behavior. Merely, it is an exhortation to live. Sit down and breathe for a moment. This may seem ridiculous but do it, especially if you have never done it before. Stop and think. Think - what do I really want to do? Nothing else will ever bring as much contentment as doing that. You don't have to do just that, but you could. Breathe. Live.
Life is too short not to do something bigger than yourself.
This does not excuse any type of behavior. Merely, it is an exhortation to live. Sit down and breathe for a moment. This may seem ridiculous but do it, especially if you have never done it before. Stop and think. Think - what do I really want to do? Nothing else will ever bring as much contentment as doing that. You don't have to do just that, but you could. Breathe. Live.
Life is too short not to do something bigger than yourself.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Theology
So, I have heard this word pretty frequently, especially over the past few days. Here are a few thoughts on the subject.I have nothing wrong with Theology, and coming up with theories of God-related things, and how God and Christians should intentionally relate to things or approach different areas of life. For example, having theologies of friendship, institutions, fear, et cetera; there is nothing wrong with this, and is generally helpful, but Theology must remember its place.
Theology is a man-made system! And how can limited man completely and with utter certainty describe an infinite God? We can't. Plain and simple. We can try, but we must, must, must never forget that God is bigger than our systems. God is bigger than our universe. God is bigger than our Bible. And isn't that amazing? That there is mystery. That in the end of time, there will still be mystery, and we can fall into it, into love, into the embrace of the mystery of God?
Today in Chapel, Dr. Edith Humphrey talked about the Trinity - one of the greatest
mysteries of God. And within her lecture she said, "And judgement day will confirm our theology." First of all, I have no idea where this came from, and secondly, this strikes him as arrogance to the core. Even C.S. Lewis, who probably was more intelligent and brilliant than Edith, said that, "God is the great iconoclast." Meaning, God strikes down the images we construct. God destroys our own theologies, blowing them out of the water. Our theology will be confirmed? Yeah, right. I hope and pray not! I want God to reveal the mystery; I want to enter into a new story - one without the veil between God and humanity, where we, together, can explore eternally the depths of it.So, the implications for Theology? Yeah, it's good and whatnot, but beware, lest you fall into arrogance, which is the curse for all of us, really. But we must never, never, ever think that we have it figured out completely. And we must learn to accept paradoxes and mysteries. Besides, they are the best part.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Story I Find Myself In
Okay. So this is a brief synopsis of what I have been thinking through a lot.
Some of it might rub some people the wrong way; for others, it may enlighten. In short, this is my story – the story I find myself in…
Creation
Genesis. God works in the beginning, setting creation in motion, imbuing it with purpose and dignity. The universe, in order to have unique being (being something other than an idea in the mind of God), is created outside of God’s self. Although God fills it and works in it, the universe is distinct from God, as He has given it Being. God authors the story of the universe, and participates, but does not control it mechanistically, once again imbuing it with being and freedom, imbuing it with Being.
I used to fight a lot over the issue of Creationism verses Evolution. But now, I have come to understand that it doesn’t really matter. Unfortunately, in saying this, I might set off both the staunch Creationists and Evolutionists, but what I will say to them is this: why? Why does it matter? Where does purpose reside? For some that latter question is: is there purpose? Not just some arbitrary socially or communally defined one, but a transcendent purpose. For myself, I see it as God giving purpose, in a very Aristotelian form-and-matter way, where Matter is there (developed in any way) but Form writes itself onto it, giving it purpose, a telos (side note: this has become important for my ideology of ethics that I will deal with later.). So, with a final note – let’s just get over it. Life is too short to argue about how it begun, whether thousands, millions or billions of years ago. Let it go. You find a lot of freedom.
Crisis
Our world is messed up. If you don’t believe me, look outside. We, as humanity and as individuals, have gone beyond our limits, destroying our world ecologically and socially, causing political divisions and wars, famine, racism, genocide, the oppression of the poor, mass slums, an AIDS pandemic, and economical disparities that would make any Creator and good human being pause and cringe. How did this happen?
In the ancient Jewish Scriptures, an account of evil entering the world is recorded. God walks along aside humanity, talking and forming a community with them. But then we, wanting to become gods ourselves, break from him, claim power and knowledge for ourselves, setting up a suicidal machine that continues to this day. But God was not content to let His creation, which He loved and cared for to die so quickly, so easily. No, He had plans to win it back to Himself.
Calling
God began this rescue plan by calling individuals to enter into a relationship with Him again. Blessing them, He charged them to be a blessing. People, who enter into the story with God, are not called to apocalyptic, removed from the world, with some sort of religious death-wish, but time and time again, God calls those people to enter into the world, redeeming (literally, buying back) it and attempting to restore it to its former self. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were early members of this revolutionary group of individuals who believe not only that there was a God (most of ancient Mesopotamia believed there were gods, but more like natural forces, removed and uncaring), and that He cared (completely opposite from the ‘natural forces’ as gods) about them and invested in their lives, and they could commune with Him. Calling these individuals to His side, the side that wanted to rescue the world, show it love, subvert the system of violence and revenge and hate, with one of love, forgiveness, peace and hope, God started a journey with humanity down which many have followed; I am trying to follow this invitation, working with God for a revolution of His kingdom of mercy, grace, peace, love, and forgiveness and reconciliation, instead of working against it (defined by most Christians as ‘sinning’).
Conversation
But not everyone understood God and His call to them. Though He selected a nation, the Jewish one, to bless, so that they could bless, sometimes they wandered away from His call of being agents against the suicidal system. Priests, poets, prophets and philosophers all commented and re-commented and re-commented on God’s law and their purpose in the world.
This part of the story is not necessarily over. The conversation continues today, evolving, emerging, growing and encompassing more and more topics and issues. And fortunately, the publicized American conversation in recent years has moved beyond the small, vocal minority of the conservative, evangelical community in Christianity (Evangelicism), to actually become a conversation, a dialogue between many different voices, who, above all else, desire truth and how that is lived out in the world.
But getting back to Ancient Palestine, these priests, poets, prophets and philosophers sometimes got things right, and the people followed God’s will, and sometimes they got things wrong and ended up working against God’s plan for rescue from the suicidal machine of self, national, and world destruction. But they kept moving forward, hoping, praying and waiting for the Rescuer.
Christ
This was in preparation for the coming of Jesus the Christ. Mere conversation was not enough, as humanity needed grace and an example of how to live. We need a new framing story, a new purpose, or better stated, a renewed purpose. And so God sent Jesus Christ, not merely as atonement (reconciling the broken, fragmented relationship between God and humanity), but also as an example of how to LIVE.
In his good news, his story of the coming of the Kingdom (Revolution might be a word for us today) of God, he proclaimed hope, restoration and grace. Reconciliation, between God and humanity, humanity with humanity, and humanity with the world, is possible. It’s not about Heaven and Hell – it’s about here and now. “The Kingdom of God is (where?) at hand. Repent (turn around, change your story) and believe (not merely trusting in it, but acting on it)!” said Jesus of Nazareth, not merely a good moral teacher, not merely a Savior, not merely a revolutionary – he was all of these and more. Let’s not commit the great fallacy of reduction, but attempt to understand the character of Christ, arguably the most influential person in history, though he never wrote a book, never had a program, and never traveled more than 200 miles from home. The Christ who has come to rescue humanity from their own destructive story and give them hope.
Church
After Christ ascended, he left a few things behind for future generations. In fact he said, “It is better for you if I go away, because then I will send the Spirit.” And so he left, but his followers continued to build and to attempt to live up to his example. Sometimes, like in Conversation, they failed, and sometimes they succeeded. History cannot be glossed over; crimes have been committed in the name of Christ, wars launched and ‘heretics’ killed. Why? There is no reason except the misuse of power.
Christ said that he came to serve, to love, and that we should love one another (John 13). He scolded his follower for trying to defend him when they were taking him away to die (Luke 22). He declared that his Kingdom was not of this world and shouldn’t use the suicidal system of violence and revenge (Matthew 5-7, John 18). But the Church has. Nothing is perfect; everything is in progress; there is a great stamp of UNFINISHED, burned across the hearts of humanity and the Church.
But what is the Church’s responsibility today? God does not just ‘elect’ certain people (though many would disagree with this) for some party in Heaven, so that they can have a “screw-the-earth” attitude. No – as far back as Genesis, He says, “I will bless you so that you can be a BLESSING.” The Church is the same way. The Church’s responsibility is to expand the Kingdom of God, the one of peace, reconciliation, hope, joy and love, but not through violent means, or through tactics of fear, but through the very thing their leader, Jesus, talked about – LOVE.
Consummation
It all ends in embrace. Okay. This will mostly be considered the most heretical of all these little ramblings. How does eternity work? Is there a Hell? A Heaven? Well, my short answer to that would be – I don’t know. Well, I don’t know about Hell. Heaven? I would think so, yeah.
There are many things I could say. I could talk about Annihilationism, Universalism, Conditionalism, Absolutism, Predestination, Election and Free Will. But I won’t. You may not even know what those terms mean (I didn’t know myself until I started researching them; and many I still don’t understand!), but that does not matter. What I can say with some certainty is this: we have it wrong. I don’t know if there is a Hell or what it looks like, but I think we (Christians, and mostly, Evangelicals) have abused the idea, using it as a scare tactic, turning redemption into ‘Fire-Insurance.’ This is ridiculous.
Many then might ask, “Why Jesus?” Why would people choose Jesus if there is no Hell to escape from and I could do whatever I want? Well, if you had that attitude, I might consider you extremely selfish, but I would still love you and befriend you. Why Jesus? I can only tell you why I choose him (or for those Calvinists, why he choose me). Because of all the narratives in the world, all the stories concerning life and my place in it, Jesus not only articulated the best way, but also lived it! He was the way, the truth and the life. The way of Jesus – that is what Christianity is supposed to be. We have gotten some things right. We have gotten some things wrong. And the conversation will continue.
Thoughts?
Credits
I have to give credit where credit is due. These ideas have been developed in community with my friends, Nick, Ben and Caleb, among many others. I also need to thank Brian McLaren for the terminology and my professors for the seeds of thought. May these seeds continue to grow and be challenged and change. Many will disagree with what I have just written about, but that’s okay. Let’s discuss this, talk about it, dream together. I’m only a nineteen-year-old undergraduate, so I probably don’t have a lot right, but I am making the effort, the search, the journey. What else can I do? This is the story I find myself in.
Some of it might rub some people the wrong way; for others, it may enlighten. In short, this is my story – the story I find myself in…
Creation
Genesis. God works in the beginning, setting creation in motion, imbuing it with purpose and dignity. The universe, in order to have unique being (being something other than an idea in the mind of God), is created outside of God’s self. Although God fills it and works in it, the universe is distinct from God, as He has given it Being. God authors the story of the universe, and participates, but does not control it mechanistically, once again imbuing it with being and freedom, imbuing it with Being.
I used to fight a lot over the issue of Creationism verses Evolution. But now, I have come to understand that it doesn’t really matter. Unfortunately, in saying this, I might set off both the staunch Creationists and Evolutionists, but what I will say to them is this: why? Why does it matter? Where does purpose reside? For some that latter question is: is there purpose? Not just some arbitrary socially or communally defined one, but a transcendent purpose. For myself, I see it as God giving purpose, in a very Aristotelian form-and-matter way, where Matter is there (developed in any way) but Form writes itself onto it, giving it purpose, a telos (side note: this has become important for my ideology of ethics that I will deal with later.). So, with a final note – let’s just get over it. Life is too short to argue about how it begun, whether thousands, millions or billions of years ago. Let it go. You find a lot of freedom.
Crisis
Our world is messed up. If you don’t believe me, look outside. We, as humanity and as individuals, have gone beyond our limits, destroying our world ecologically and socially, causing political divisions and wars, famine, racism, genocide, the oppression of the poor, mass slums, an AIDS pandemic, and economical disparities that would make any Creator and good human being pause and cringe. How did this happen?
In the ancient Jewish Scriptures, an account of evil entering the world is recorded. God walks along aside humanity, talking and forming a community with them. But then we, wanting to become gods ourselves, break from him, claim power and knowledge for ourselves, setting up a suicidal machine that continues to this day. But God was not content to let His creation, which He loved and cared for to die so quickly, so easily. No, He had plans to win it back to Himself.
Calling
God began this rescue plan by calling individuals to enter into a relationship with Him again. Blessing them, He charged them to be a blessing. People, who enter into the story with God, are not called to apocalyptic, removed from the world, with some sort of religious death-wish, but time and time again, God calls those people to enter into the world, redeeming (literally, buying back) it and attempting to restore it to its former self. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were early members of this revolutionary group of individuals who believe not only that there was a God (most of ancient Mesopotamia believed there were gods, but more like natural forces, removed and uncaring), and that He cared (completely opposite from the ‘natural forces’ as gods) about them and invested in their lives, and they could commune with Him. Calling these individuals to His side, the side that wanted to rescue the world, show it love, subvert the system of violence and revenge and hate, with one of love, forgiveness, peace and hope, God started a journey with humanity down which many have followed; I am trying to follow this invitation, working with God for a revolution of His kingdom of mercy, grace, peace, love, and forgiveness and reconciliation, instead of working against it (defined by most Christians as ‘sinning’).
Conversation
But not everyone understood God and His call to them. Though He selected a nation, the Jewish one, to bless, so that they could bless, sometimes they wandered away from His call of being agents against the suicidal system. Priests, poets, prophets and philosophers all commented and re-commented and re-commented on God’s law and their purpose in the world.
This part of the story is not necessarily over. The conversation continues today, evolving, emerging, growing and encompassing more and more topics and issues. And fortunately, the publicized American conversation in recent years has moved beyond the small, vocal minority of the conservative, evangelical community in Christianity (Evangelicism), to actually become a conversation, a dialogue between many different voices, who, above all else, desire truth and how that is lived out in the world.
But getting back to Ancient Palestine, these priests, poets, prophets and philosophers sometimes got things right, and the people followed God’s will, and sometimes they got things wrong and ended up working against God’s plan for rescue from the suicidal machine of self, national, and world destruction. But they kept moving forward, hoping, praying and waiting for the Rescuer.
Christ
This was in preparation for the coming of Jesus the Christ. Mere conversation was not enough, as humanity needed grace and an example of how to live. We need a new framing story, a new purpose, or better stated, a renewed purpose. And so God sent Jesus Christ, not merely as atonement (reconciling the broken, fragmented relationship between God and humanity), but also as an example of how to LIVE.
In his good news, his story of the coming of the Kingdom (Revolution might be a word for us today) of God, he proclaimed hope, restoration and grace. Reconciliation, between God and humanity, humanity with humanity, and humanity with the world, is possible. It’s not about Heaven and Hell – it’s about here and now. “The Kingdom of God is (where?) at hand. Repent (turn around, change your story) and believe (not merely trusting in it, but acting on it)!” said Jesus of Nazareth, not merely a good moral teacher, not merely a Savior, not merely a revolutionary – he was all of these and more. Let’s not commit the great fallacy of reduction, but attempt to understand the character of Christ, arguably the most influential person in history, though he never wrote a book, never had a program, and never traveled more than 200 miles from home. The Christ who has come to rescue humanity from their own destructive story and give them hope.
Church
After Christ ascended, he left a few things behind for future generations. In fact he said, “It is better for you if I go away, because then I will send the Spirit.” And so he left, but his followers continued to build and to attempt to live up to his example. Sometimes, like in Conversation, they failed, and sometimes they succeeded. History cannot be glossed over; crimes have been committed in the name of Christ, wars launched and ‘heretics’ killed. Why? There is no reason except the misuse of power.
Christ said that he came to serve, to love, and that we should love one another (John 13). He scolded his follower for trying to defend him when they were taking him away to die (Luke 22). He declared that his Kingdom was not of this world and shouldn’t use the suicidal system of violence and revenge (Matthew 5-7, John 18). But the Church has. Nothing is perfect; everything is in progress; there is a great stamp of UNFINISHED, burned across the hearts of humanity and the Church.
But what is the Church’s responsibility today? God does not just ‘elect’ certain people (though many would disagree with this) for some party in Heaven, so that they can have a “screw-the-earth” attitude. No – as far back as Genesis, He says, “I will bless you so that you can be a BLESSING.” The Church is the same way. The Church’s responsibility is to expand the Kingdom of God, the one of peace, reconciliation, hope, joy and love, but not through violent means, or through tactics of fear, but through the very thing their leader, Jesus, talked about – LOVE.
Consummation
It all ends in embrace. Okay. This will mostly be considered the most heretical of all these little ramblings. How does eternity work? Is there a Hell? A Heaven? Well, my short answer to that would be – I don’t know. Well, I don’t know about Hell. Heaven? I would think so, yeah.
There are many things I could say. I could talk about Annihilationism, Universalism, Conditionalism, Absolutism, Predestination, Election and Free Will. But I won’t. You may not even know what those terms mean (I didn’t know myself until I started researching them; and many I still don’t understand!), but that does not matter. What I can say with some certainty is this: we have it wrong. I don’t know if there is a Hell or what it looks like, but I think we (Christians, and mostly, Evangelicals) have abused the idea, using it as a scare tactic, turning redemption into ‘Fire-Insurance.’ This is ridiculous.
Many then might ask, “Why Jesus?” Why would people choose Jesus if there is no Hell to escape from and I could do whatever I want? Well, if you had that attitude, I might consider you extremely selfish, but I would still love you and befriend you. Why Jesus? I can only tell you why I choose him (or for those Calvinists, why he choose me). Because of all the narratives in the world, all the stories concerning life and my place in it, Jesus not only articulated the best way, but also lived it! He was the way, the truth and the life. The way of Jesus – that is what Christianity is supposed to be. We have gotten some things right. We have gotten some things wrong. And the conversation will continue.
Thoughts?
Credits
I have to give credit where credit is due. These ideas have been developed in community with my friends, Nick, Ben and Caleb, among many others. I also need to thank Brian McLaren for the terminology and my professors for the seeds of thought. May these seeds continue to grow and be challenged and change. Many will disagree with what I have just written about, but that’s okay. Let’s discuss this, talk about it, dream together. I’m only a nineteen-year-old undergraduate, so I probably don’t have a lot right, but I am making the effort, the search, the journey. What else can I do? This is the story I find myself in.
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