Imago Dei

Lewis:

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations--these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit..."

The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses p.46

I wonder how many times in my self centeredness I've engaged with people flippantly, in favor of my own agenda, or busy schedule, motivation, or intention. What would our relationships look like in our families, friendships, churches, work, and institutions if we internalized this sense of all peoples created in the image of God?

Beauty in Pursuit

From an anthropocentric standpoint, all of life is entirely comprised of man's unending pursuit of beauty. Now whatever one considers beautiful is the object, the goal, the practical fulfillment of the individual's conceptual notion of beauty. This repetitive pattern unswervingly climaxes with dissatisfaction. As descendants of Adam, we have the pestering propensity to satiate our demanding desire with anything and everything worldly.

Our problem is we don't dig deep enough. Our shallow surmisings fall drastically short of the Agent required to fulfill them. The objects we beautify are all but permanent and satisfactory. Nature, as we have recently seen, isn't always stagnant or yearning to be beheld. Love? I think we can all agree on this one. Love is not all you need. Success? hmmm... fill in the blank. The list goes on.

The familiar Lewis quote rings true...

"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world"

So it seems as if we've been drinking out of sin-tainted stagnant waters, and expecting that algae bacteria ridden cesspool to provide life and fulfillment--when what we really need is the pure, enlivening, sustaining, invigorating, living water from the source. What if the Beauty--the true Beauty--the source of absolute fulfillment and Provider of soul-satisfying rest...pursued us?

From a theocentric standpoint, all of life is entirely comprised of enjoying God's relentless pursuit of rebels who insist on slurping from sediment-saturated streams. This is accomplished through Jesus--The author, very essence, and true satisfier of our deepest longings for beauty. Jesus wakes us from our deadness--lifts our head from the muddied waters--sometimes a tap on the shoulder, sometimes by the nape of the neck, and lovingly whisks us to the Father, the source of living water.

Psalm 42- "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

Lewis on Theology and The Gospel

C.S. Lewis, responding to an acquaintance who claimed his experience with God was all he needed to know him

"Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man. I think he had probably a real experience of God in the desert. And when he turned from that experience to the Christian creeds, I think he really was turning from something real, to something less real. In the same way, if a man has once looked at the Atlantic from the beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic, he also will be turning from something real to something less real: turning form real waves to a bit of colored paper. But here comes the point. The map is admittedly only colored paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single isolated glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more use than walks on the beach if you want to get to America."

Later in the same piece Lewis expounds on the differences between other religions and Christianity, a thread that Keller has drawn out

For when you get down to it, is not the popular idea of Christianity simply this: that Jesus Christ was a great moral teacher and that if only we took his advice we might be able to establish a better social order and avoid another war? now, mind you, that is quite true. But it tells you much less than the whole truth about Christianity and it has no practical importance at all. It is quite true that if we took Christ's advice, we should soon be living in a happier world. You need not even go as far as Christ. If we did all that Plato or Aristotle or Confucius told us, we should get on a great deal better than we do. And so what? We have never followed the advice of the great teachers. Why are we likely to begin now? Why are we more likely to follow Christ than any of the others? Because He is the vest moral teacher? But that makes it even less likely that we shall follow Him. If we cannot take the elementary lessons, is it likely we are going to take the most advanced one: If Christianity only means one more bit of good advice, then Christianity is of no importance. There has been no lack of good advice for the last four thousand years. A bit more makes no difference. But as soon as you look at any real Christian writings, you find that they are talking about something quite different from this popular religion..."

Readings From C.S. Lewis, "The Joyful Christian." p. 33-35

A Strange Melancholy

Alexis de Tocqueville was a French aristocrat who lived in the 1800s. He was known as a political thinker, and his most famous work was Democracy in America. During his investigations of America and its political structure, he noted the following, as quoted in Tim Keller's Counterfeit Gods.

"A strange melancholy that haunts the inhabitants...in the midst of abundance..."

About one hundred years later C.S. Lewis stumbled upon the same conclusion:

"There is something we have grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality..." 

de Tocqueville concludes:

"the incomplete joys of this world will never satisfy the human heart."

And Lewis, simply and famously:

"something has evaded us."

Colossians 3:1-5 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Incomplete joys. idolatry. Anything can be an idol, and just about everything has been. Its usually the best things that are.

Keller on rooting out our idols:

Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God, it is a setting of the whole heart on something besides God.   This cannot be remedied only by repenting that you have an idol, or using willpower to try to live differently. Turning from idols is not less than those two things, but it is also far more. 'setting the mind and heart on things above' where 'your life is hid with Christ in God' means appreciation, rejoicing, and resting in what Jesus has done for you. It entails joyful worship, a sense of God's reality in prayer. Jesus must become more beautiful to your imagination, more attractive to your heart, than your idol.

Elect Exiles

We are aliens to this world. Our unsatisfied yearnings, festering idols, and distraught anxieties embody our alienation. Spiritual depression, and more broadly, sadness due to practical, functional unbelief result. What is the reason for our downcast souls? Where is our hope?

C.S. Lewis famously encapsulated this emptiness through this quote

"Most people, if they have really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we have grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I think everyone knows what i mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us."

Just as our basic hunger points to the existence of food, so does this spiritual vacancy point to an eternally satisfying occupant.

Our answer is found in 1 Peter. Immediately addressed to the "elect exiles," Peter wastes no time in comprehensively addressing our exile. A few things:

1. Our exile is rooted in and guided by the Holy Trinity - 1:1-2 "To those who are elect exiles, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for the obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood."
2. A continual return to the cross - 1:3-4  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
3. Sovereign, glorious grace - It is by His sovereignty that we are met with spiritual depression, and for the sake of His glory, the process is sufficiently founded by endless, abundant grace resulting from Christ crucified. 1:13  "set your hope full on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Therefore in the midst of trial, depression, idolatry, unbelief, hopelessness, etc, We have something far greater operating outside our ridiculous hearts and minds, continually redeeming our wayward tendencies. We have an endless reservoir of grace--living hope. Our hope, the eternal satisfaction that our souls truly long for, is provided through the glory and grace of Jesus.



          

Going to Bed with Rachel, Waking up with Leah

No, I'm not the biggest covenant breaking player at Wheaton College.

~Rather the following, from Tim Keller's sermon, "The Struggle for Love."

Genesis 29:16-25 "Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, 'I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.' Laban said, 'It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me' So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, 'Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.' So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?'"


A very relevant look into Jacob's heart, gripped by idolatry. 3 things-

1) Our hearts have an impulsive inclination to serve idols- "Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, 'I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.' 

This process is not slow by any means. Rachel was beautiful. Jacob must have her. Jacob will go to any length to get her. Immediately Jacob's heart was enticed.

2) We serve our idols and ignore the gargantuan warning signs slapping us in the face- "'I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.' Laban said, 'It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man.'"


In the midst of a clear deal offered by Jacob- seven years of service for Rachel- Laban's answer was not "Yes, it is a deal. 7 years of work, and you get Rachel." Instead its vague. He does not say yes, but Jacob's idolatrous heart heard yes. Idolatry blinds us.

3) Idols will always let us down- "And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?'" 


When our hearts wake up in the morning after a stint of idolatry, it will always be Leah. In all of life, through every aspect, there will always be a foundation of cosmic disappointment. You will not lead a wise life until you know that.

CS Lewis captures Keller's point:

"Most people, if they have really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we have grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I think everyone knows what i mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us."


Anything we put in place of God - anything we look to for the satisfaction, joy, and peace that only God can provide - our "Rachels" - will ultimately dash us... a relationship, kids, our career, morality, education, performance, sex, power, fame, friends, sports, social status, or the number of hits on your blog website...all of these will destroy us if put in place of God


Praise be to Jesus for truly being the one my soul longs for and surely satisfying all of my longings. For rescuing me from my idols. For being the object that will never evade me. For justifying me. For being my peace, satisfaction, and joy.