I think I’ve got a work-around for the problem I brought up in my last post Puzzle Pieces of the difficulty of learning about the image of God from nasty people! It’s so simple! RUMPELSTILTSKIN!
Remember the freaky little guy from the fairytale who was going to get the queen’s baby because she couldn’t guess his name? So she sent someone to spy on him and her guy saw the freaky guy dancing around the fire bragging that the queen would never guess his name was Rumpelstiltskin.
My point is that, through a little detective work, she was able to learn his “name,” even though he didn’t want her to know it and never would have told her. I think we can apply this lesson to our current challenge.
What if during the day some naughty, mean person did nine nasty things and then one good thing. Wouldn’t that one good thing still reflect something about the name, essence, or image of God into the world?
I think the Apostle Paul is agreeing with that in Ephesians when he says:
for the fruit of the light [Christ] is found in all that is good and right and true. (Eph 5:9)So what we need to do now is somehow isolate that one good thing, focus hard on that, and try not to get distracted by all the nasty stuff.
Sifting through all that rotten stuff might not be pleasant, but just imagine Ember! With a little detective work We could be, at least nearly, ONE WITH GOD, right here, right now, on this Earth! I’m talking St.-Theresa-Seventh-Mansion, St.-Thomas-Aquinas-Everything-Else-Is-Straw Mystical Union with GOD! We wouldn’t have to wait for heaven!
And if we can build up the image of Christ in us even without other people actively helping us, can you imagine what the world would be like if EVERYONE on Earth was working toward that same goal and trying to help one another along with it?! I think the world would be very different.
Of course, all this assumes that we can really tell the difference between the image of God stuff and the rotten stuff. Maybe it’s not so simple after all.
Brilliant, Querci! I think there is a lot to learn from myth and fairytales if you know how to look at the symbolism. They aren’t all just silly stories.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are right that we can look past a person’s bad qualities and actions and try to see the good that they do to learn more about God, even without their help. You know what? By doing that we might even be able to help others see their own goodness by reflecting it back to them, even if they have been nasty to us. And then maybe they would start to work with us after all. I’m thinking about what Jesus said when he was on the cross,
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34)
He was looking past their cruel actions and had compassion on them. He must have thought there was still good in them. It takes great love and maturity to do that. It’s a good thing we have Christ for our example.
Querci, you said, “this assumes that we can tell the difference between the image of God stuff and the rotten stuff”. It makes me sad to think that people would be thinking that. Of course we can. It is written on our hearts. And the image is love. If people are not able to tell the difference it is because they have put up barriers to being led by the Spirit of Christ who is love.
“But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God really dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9)
I think the problem is not that we are not able to tell the difference, but that we are afraid to embrace the image of god in us through which we are inabled to see the difference. After all, the grace is given to us freely from God when we ask for it. When I identify myself as a sinner (please take this in the right spirit, I do not mean to say that we are not in any sense to be identified as sinners), then I’m expected to sin. When I say, “I can’t be perfect,” then I’m never going to be perfect. It takes courage to possess and present an image of Christ to the world; to open up wide and let God fill you.
“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)
I know people would say, “You’ve got your head in the clouds. This just doesn’t happen. It’s fine in theory, but people, in general, just aren’t that good.” How can you be a Christian and say that? I say, go tell that to your father the devil! My father promised me good things and I believe him. Maybe if we start believing him we will see change in the world. This is not to say that it is not an effort for us to build up the image of Christ in us, but the effort should be our pleasure when we are being given such a great ability and gift, i.e. perfection and freedom from sin, through him, who has the power to give such a gift.
“Take my yolk upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest fro your souls. For my yolk is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:29-30)
But, now that I’ve gone on my idealistic rant . . . I would like to ask you what you were thinking about when you wrote that. I know that you must have some good ideas for how a person can practically work to learn to tell the difference between God’s image and rotten stuff. People obviously do struggle with the issue.
You know I love your idealistic rants, Ember, so rant away!
ReplyDeleteBut I want to respond to this part of your comment--
"you said, “this assumes that we can tell the difference between the image of God stuff and the rotten stuff”. It makes me sad to think that people would be thinking that."
I don't really think people are thinking that they can't tell the difference. I think it's more like some people just assume they can tell the difference by their initial reaction to a thing, without first running it by the litmus test of true, godly love. Like an apple can look good on the outside, but be all wormy inside.