stirrings of change

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hells bells

The eternal-fate-of-everyone-who-is-and-ever-has-been is big news these days. I suppose eternal fate is a topic that has tended to stay near the top of the list of human concerns for quite some time now. But Rob Bell’s new book on the topic (I hesitate to say new take on the topic, as would he I’m sure) has ruffled some conservative evangelical feathers while igniting vogue-esque anticipation amongst some of the Christo-chic.

I doubt that I’ll get to “Love Wins” anytime soon – my book shelf is already sagging with the weight of enough intellectual stimulation to drive me orgasmically into the next eon. But I tell you what, the video-peak got me excited; excited that an articulate voice is entering the fray of the public sphere with a nuanced message about God and love and the dilemma/delight of being human.

As with any God/human themed message, this one has been quick to incur comments and critique. Rob Bell is not a Christian! Rob Bell is the coolest Christian! It is not biblical! It is so timely!

I don’t think the point is whether Bell’s message is Christian, quasi-Christian or unchristian. The point is: Can you join the conversation from wherever you are (as a Christian, quasi-Christian or unchristian) and offer (and receive) an edifying insight?

I found it interesting last night at the start of class - before launching into Paul Tillich’s Systematic Theology volume II (wherein Tillich himself offers a bit of a nuanced message about God and love and the dilemma/delight of being human) – my professor mentioned seeing “some evangelical TV preacher on Good Morning America the other day.” She didn’t know who, but there was “a bunch of hype around this new book of his coming out because he stopped believing in hell or something; and,” she said, “I couldn’t really figure out what all the hype was about because to me it just sounded like he was someone with a seminary education.”

Now, I don’t share that to laud seminary (cause Laud knows that that there is plenty about seminary and seminarians that deserves no praise). Or to suggest that only the opinions of those with official theological educations should be valued. I thought it was interesting because it clued me in to the wider sphere of Christian conversation – wherein there are plenty of thoughtful, committed Christians (right here in America even, and in Chicago, just across the lake from Grand Rapids) who have no idea who Rob Bell is.

I know who he is. I like him; I like the way he postures himself – secure in his identity as a Christian and a seeker, and therefore capable of extending a solid embrace to the diverse spectrum of humanity around him. But a lot of people don’t know him. And as far reaching as the social media bullhorn is, and as adept as Bell and his crew may be at using it, his voice can’t and won’t reach everyone.

Which is to say: 1) To those of you who are so vehemently intimidated by Bell’s message, relax, calm down, he isn’t taking over the world or (gasp, even worse) Christianity – he has a voice and he’s using it. Use yours. Don’t squander your voice on rash, pithy polemics. Honor the conversation, and try to be constructive. 2) To those of you who think Nooma videos are sufficient sources for all of life’s decisions, maybe you should also loosen your fixation a bit. They are really cool and creative. But so are you – so hop up, off your ass, be inspired for sure, but get out there and engage the world with an expression of love and truth that is rooted firmly in the ground on which you stand.

biblical

"I don't believe that. It's not biblical."

You've likely heard it said. Or perhaps a variation...

"It's true. I know it's true because it's biblical."

You've heard it said. Possibly you've even said it yourself. For many Christians it is common to acknowledge something (e.g. a belief, a social issue or behavior) as biblical or non-biblical. It is a functional point of reference. It effectively communicates that a person considers something to be either valid or invalid; condonable or condemnable.

The term is handy. It's a pocket-sized-explanation that can be pulled out and applied to a number of situations. It is abundantly useful. But maybe a bit too useful. And maybe, if we're not careful, the overuse might slink toward abuse.

I think it's time to consider taking a closer look at this particular piece of Christian parlance.

I don't want to suggest that you or anyone else cease using the term. But if you use it, consider also unpacking what you mean by it. Don't assume that what you mean by "biblical" is self-evident. Try not to use "biblical" as a win-all trump card.

For example, perhaps your belief about afterlife is shaped by certain texts in the Bible. Does that mean that your belief about afterlife is biblical? It might. But why not explain yourself a bit more. Which texts? And why do you read them the way you do? Do you know anyone who interprets them differently? How do you respond to them?

If you answered the final question with - "Their beliefs are not biblical" - then scroll up, start over, try again.

By all means, believe what you believe. But take responsibility for it. Don't prop your beliefs up next to the Bible without considering the implications. The Bible is loaded. If you push it, it's going to push back.

ash

Have you read about the Homeland Security Council's hearings scheduled to begin tomorrow? Or did you see the front page article in the New York Times yesterday about the crowds gathering around one woman's anti-Muslim message?

It's discouraging to be working so hard on understanding the religious traditions, symbols, and discourse that intersect in today's global context - to have my nose in books aiming me at being better able to advocate for religious understanding - and then to come across such rampant, unbridled instances of religious misunderstanding (and ignorance!) being amplified by pundits and political figures.

I say "unbridled", but that's not true. Both articles that I linked to above effectively bridle the mis-placed slant that is being unambiguously applied to American Muslims. And there is plenty more critique, thank God. I say "unbridled" because I haven't done anything to rein it back. Unbridled, as of yet, by me.

So consider this my contribution to the pursuit of religious understanding. (It is a thing that we pursue, by the way, regardless of how impossible it may be to ultimately attain.) Today is Ash Wednesday. It is a day more or less designed to humble us (the Christian population of the world) and remind us of our finitude; remind us that we are not and do not possess, in any conclusive form, the answer to the human situation.

Today I have an ashen cross on my forehead. I have tear stains on my cheeks. I have a heavy heart. I heard this poem (by a Muslim mystic), and it helped:

Troubled?

Then stay with me, for I am not.

Lonely?

A thousand naked amorous ones dwell in ancient caves beneath my eyelids.

Riches?

Here’s a pick,

my whole body is an emerald that begs,

“Take me.”

Write all that worries you on a piece of parchment;

offer it to God.

Even from the distance of a millennium

I can lean the flame in my heart

into your life

and turn

all that frightens you

into holy

incense

ash.