There are a lot of wise old sayings in the world of addiction recovery, including variations on this one: “If you always do and think what you’ve always done and thought, you’ll always get what you’ve already got.” And that’s true when it comes to our societal addictions to oil, coal, consumption, and violence.
But just as addictions often result from deeper wounds or untreated needs, our self-destructive societal behaviors often spring from unlikely sources – including theological ones.
My most recent book, A New Kind of Christianity, is built around ten questions that I believe are having a transformative impact on Christian theology and practice. The eighth question deals with eschatology, our theological theories of and assumptions about the future:
“As a boy of about eight, having come home from school and found the doors locked and nobody home, I once spent nearly an hour sitting on my back porch, deeply dejected and with rising panic, sure that the Rapture had occurred and I was a child left behind. Who knew a third-grader could feel such terror and despair?
To the uninitiated, this all might sound pitiful or laughable, like wild conspiracy theories shared on strange Web sites or middle-of-the-night AM radio. But surprising numbers of mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics have also been thoroughly catechized in this eschatology through televangelist broadcasts and books in the Left Behind Series, which have broken sales records around the world. If they only focused on speculation about who the Antichrist is (I remember hearing it was Khrushchev, then Henry Kissinger, then Saddam Hussein, and now apparently odds are being placed on Barack Obama!), their eschatological hobby might be harmless enough – like a crazy uncle obsessed with UFOs. But in recent decades, dispensationalism and its eschatological cousins have become significant factors in the foreign policy of the richest, most consumptive, and most well-armed nation in the history of history, and that’s where things get even scarier than a B-grade movie.
If the world is about to end, why care for the environment? Why worry about global climate change or peak oil? Who gives a rip for endangered species or sustainable economies or global poverty if God is planning to incinerate the whole planet soon anyway? If the Bible predicts the rebuilding of the Jewish temple (or requires that rebuilding for its prophecies to work in a dispensationalist framework), why care about Muslim claims on the Temple Mount real estate? Why care about justice for non-Jews in Israel at all – after all, isn’t it their own fault for being on land God predicts will be returned in full to the Jews in the last days? If God has predetermined that the world will get worse and worse until it ends in a cosmic megaconflict between the forces of Light (epitomized most often in the United States) and the forces of Darkness (previously centered in communism, but now, that devil having been vanquished, in Islam), why waste energy on peacemaking, diplomacy, and interreligious dialogue?
… Maybe now you see why I believe that a new kind of Christianity demands a new kind of eschatology….” (p. 192-193)
With the West Virginia coal mining disaster, the Gulf Oil catastrophe, and the Gaza blockade all fresh in our minds – not to mention the most polarized and paralyzed political establishment in over one hundred years – more and more of us agree that it’s time to change what we do and how we think – including the ways we theologize about the future.
The current purveyors of eschatologies of abandonment, evacuation, and despair will no doubt keep broadcasting and publishing, and no doubt the dollars will keep coming in, reinforcing what we’ve already got – in West Virginia, in the Gulf of Mexico, in Gaza, on cable news and in Washington. But some of us must muster the courage to differ – and to do so graciously yet persistently. First, we need to confront the purveyors of these eschatologies with the disastrous social consequences of their message, and challenge them – if they are unwilling to change their views, to at least work to mitigate those disastrous consequences. And second, we need to articulate better alternatives ourselves.
If we do, we could see in the coming years the emergence of a new kind of eschatology – fresh, different, wiser biblically, more mature theologically and more responsible ethically. When you think and believe differently about the future, funny thing … you get a different future. Just as your bad faith will sicken you, and your good faith will make you well.
AMEN !!!!!
Do you actually think that what’s happened in West Virgnia, The Gulf, Gaza, and Washington is because of a premillennialism/pretrib worldview? This seems like a half written article to me and a finger pointing game with no alternative view offered. If you disagree with someone’s eschatology at least say what you believe or that you have none.
Refreshing. The cynic in me thinks it can never happen, as greed really is a great motivator and our mid brain is only concerned about me and mine. But then I look back at my short life, and see changes for the positive that have happened in the last 50 years, and I start to think that maybe God hasn’t given up on us yet. Thanks!
Mr. Mclaren and Matt,
First:
What are some clear Biblically based reasons that God is not allowing the above mentioned circumstances; i.e. “the West Virginia coal mining disaster, the Gulf Oil catastrophe, and the Gaza blockade”?
Second:
Why are the viewpoints of some; i.e. Jerry Jenkins and Tim Lahaye and “tele-evangelists” demonized in your article/book/blog and you then speak out of the other side of you mouth with, “If God has predetermined that the world will get worse and worse until it ends in a cosmic megaconflict between the forces of Light (epitomized most often in the United States) and the forces of Darkness (previously centered in communism, but now, that devil having been vanquished, in Islam), why waste energy on peacemaking, diplomacy, and interreligious dialogue?” Why is there no diplomacy within what you call Christianity? Has God predetermined that you cast judgement on the beliefs of, “eschatology through televangelist broadcasts and books in the Left Behind Series”?
We need to have dialogue and think about all these issues. “When you think and believe differently about the future, funny thing … you get a different future.” We desperately need to review the ancient paths not carve out our own way to a theology that doesn’t value Jesus as God incarnate.
@ Andrew- I could see that…I think it was meant to spur people to buy the book as well…he goes in great depth of the importance of his questions there.
@Rich M- Yeah, MAYBE he hasn’t. The value of being able to look back really gives us hope for the future!
I completely agree with Brian’s view on the need to have a New Kind of Eschatology. The enthusiastic followers of Jesus have been sadly steered into a view of the future which has been around since the Great Disappointment of Darby’s followers. There is a misguided preoccupation with trying to figure out what new matrix of “end times signs” each day’s headlines point to and I’m convinced that it is a simple play upon our fears. Jesus gave us plenty to do prior to His return and ignoring the things we have been given stewardship of is not part of them. Well meaning believers have lost the focus of Jesus’ unconditional love and His great commission to go into all the world and bid people to become His followers. The most tangible ways people come to faith in Jesus are not by speculating about doom and gloom but to see God expressed in the lives of His community. We are to bring life, set the captives free, seek and do justice, mercy, solve problems and show His presence to the world by our love for each other, within and outside our faith.
Bravo, Brian. Thank you for courage to affirm the vision of the present Kingdom of Jesus. Many of us are excited to see Jesus’ grand work!
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Awe… Matt’s mom!
Eschatology is the study of the end times and/or things concerning the end times. But, no one really knows what is to happen for fact. We just have a broad understanding of what is to come: rapture, tribulation, death, etc. There is no denying those facts. So changing our ideas of what is to come, changing our ideas to change the future- I don’t agree. Brian I do agree that there is so much injustice in this world and yes we must do something about it.
On the other hand- the gulf is not the worst spill to ever happen and I am sure it won’t be the last. Sure we must take a stand to begin working new innovative ideas for energy into our every day lives- and sure it deals with our future because of our dependence on this earth.
But again, our eschatology must always have two objectives- Jesus will come back and this world will end.
So instead of focusing on changing our ideas or thinking outside the box and dwelling on how horrible real disasters are…
Let’s focus on what is at the bullseye- spreading the gospel. You will waste your life spending all your time thinking eschatologically- we should be more concerned about those who have not heard the gospel.
It is from that perspective that I shape my eschatology- I have to tell everyone about Jesus so that they are NOT left behind. Spread the word. That is your job. Let your light shine.
These are great comments. This blog has really stirred people, which is GREAT! I would encourage you all to purchase his new book, because it will answer a lot of your questions…and while you are waiting to receive his book here are a couple of links I think accurately portrays Brian’s heart for this world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NtgjNLNpao&feature=player_embedded
Here is a series that Brian did on the questions he raises in his new book!
http://www.youtube.com/theoozetv