There’s an interesting article about Mars Hill Church in Seattle on the New York Times website.
Mars Hill fashions itself as Neo-Calvinist, with old-school theology wrapped inside a punk image.
I find Calvinism interesting but unsatisfying. It seems to be based on a theoretical possibility – that an omnipotent being could have chosen, long ago, that some humans would be destined for heaven and others for hell. Could this be true? Sure, insofar as any unprovable idea could be true; I guess we’ll find out when we die, or not.
I understand Calvinism’s appeal; many people (including me) would prefer to live in a world with a higher degree of black/white certainty. Calvinism has a tractable set of core beliefs, so adherents can feel that they have some mastery over the tenets of their faith.
There are two notions of Calvinism that I am particularly drawn towards – original sin and emphasis on humility. The world is clearly (to me) a messed up place; there is no end to the evil we perpetrate on each other and on nature. The Calvinist teaching that we are “totally depraved” from birth explains this nicely. Calvinism is humble in the sense that the omnipotent power does the acting – no amount of effort on our own part can ensure a pleasant mortal life, much less eternal salvation or damnation. Especially in the West, we feel like we have control over our lives, but as we are reminded over and over (through natural disasters, health problems, accidents, etc.), this is just an illusion.
Nonetheless, the whole package of Calvinism is difficult to swallow. My reading of the Bible, the teaching I’ve been exposed to, and my lived experience informs my own theology, which can be summed up in two statements:
1) Jesus was a radical prophet who preached repentance of sin, worship of God, and good works to those in need.
2) Modeling our own lives on His – taking responsibility for our actions and turning from those behaviors that take us out of fellowship with God or hurt ourselves or others; listening for God’s still small voice, trying to tune in to His will, and expressing thanksgiving for our lives; and treating others as we would want to be treated – will make our lives richer on earth, and – if the Christian God really exists – might lead to eternal paradise.
I wish I was as certain in some of my own beliefs (that God is active in the world; that He cares about the well being of me and those that I care about) as others purport to be, but to claim that I was would simply be dishonest. Nonetheless, I am trying to believe and hoping that God will reveal Himself to me in a manner that I will not be too stubborn to understand and accept.
3 comments:
My main issue with Calvinism these days is the idea that we exist - and that everything that happens, happens - only for the purpose of glorifying God. That sounds good if you don't think about it, but as my sister likes to note, the point of a Christian life is that it's a relationship, not just the worship of some cosmic narcissist.
I also just can't accept that the gang rape of a six-year-old Congolese girl in any way glorifies God. If it does, that's not a God I'd see as worthy of worship.
Let's take that gang rape of the Congolese girl for a minute. It certainly does not glorify God, but it does reveal humankind's need for God. Most things one might think of as evil (such as the aforementioned act, or, say, wanton drunkenness, spousal abuse and so forth) have another viewpoint. That is simply this--the instigator of these acts are reaching out in pain, trying to find satisfaction that only a relationship with God can sate. Their weak human attempts at peace, particularly at the expense of others, show our real need for God.
Travis, I had seen the article also and though I think the dude is helping folks by giving them that "black/shite" certainty, some of his specific opinions about right living really make me uncomfortable.
BTW, from what I can tell, your religious beliefs and mine are eerily similar. Hope you are not insulted.
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