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Transcript of Chapman 3 movements
we need a theology of
institutions, movements. and Communities
congregational grief, shame, and blame
clergy grief, shame, and blame
grace for all!
Three possible futures:
Continuing contraction
Conservative resurgence
Pregnancy
Three possible futures:Continuing contraction
- Shrinking numbers- Wrinkling members- Low retention- Low evangelization- Constrained
leadership- Secure finances
Three possible futures:
Conservative resurgence
- Immigration fears- Western domination- Terrorism
fears/revenge- Playing to bases- New alliances (global,
ecumenical)
Three possible futures:Pregnancy
- Theological reformation- Missional reorientation- Post-national, post-
partisan identity/ethos- Spiritual-social
movement(Peace, planet, poverty) - New alliances (global,
ecumenical)
we need a theology of
institutions, movements. and Communities
Communities
Families, individuals, and organizations linked to a common environment, collaborating for the common good.
Institutions:
Organizations which conserve the gains made by past
social movements.
Social Movements
Organizations which make proposals or demands to current institutions to make progress towards new gains.
Both movements and institutions...
Organize for their purposeNeed one anotherAre frustrated with one
anotherBenefit or harm communities
Without movements ...
Institutions stagnate ...
Without institutions ...
Movements evaporate ...
Some movementssuccessfully inject their values
into the institutions they challenge
Other movementscreate their own institutions,
or pass away
Vital movementscall people to passionate,
sacrificial personal commitment
Sustainable institutionscreate loyalty across
generations through evocative rituals & traditions
Parker Palmer’s 4 stages of social change
1. Divided no more2. Communities of
congruence3. Going public4. Alternative Rewards
From Greg LeffelFaith Seeking Action: Mission
and Social Movements
Movements unite people to create or resist change. Through them, individuals seek a common voice to challenge, social, political, economic and cultural powers; movements, in fact, multiply the power of individual action through their unique form of collective, non-institutional power. (47-48)
Social movements are non-institutionally organized human collectives, that put meaningful ideas in play in public settings, that actively confront existing powers through the strength of their numbers and the influence of their ideas, and that grow in size and power by inspiring others to act, in order to create or resist change (48)
A movement is “a segmented, usually polycephalus cellular organization composed of unites networked by various personal, structural, and ideological ties. (50)
It takes collective, non-institutional (or prophetic) power to bring change to institutions.
You can’t change the center/inside/priestly without
proposals and pressure from the margins/outside/prophetic.
Movements are diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational (51)
- They say what’s wrong- They say what’s needed- They motivate and mobilize for concerted action.
Movements are context dependent.In certain periods, fundamental contradictions
in a society’s core understanding of itself create the possibility of widespread and
socially disruptive change. (52)
Movements exploit opportunity:1. An active interest among elites in changing the political structure2. Conflicts or corruption within elites3. Events that weaken established social control (war, disaster, economic collapse)
Leffel’s 6 Characteristics of Vibrant Social Movements
1. Opportunity Structure
Current restraining realities ...
in tension with ...
emerging opportunities.
Opportunities:- Problems needing to be solved- Elites who hold power, resist change or promote negative change- Fissures, Problems among elites that make the status quo vulnerable- Values of the movement in conflict with values of elites- Potential advocates and allies in academic, civil society, arts, church, government, business, science, etc.
2. Rhetorical Framing/Conceptual Architecture
Movement leaders have to make a conceptual and verbal case for their movement by answering questions like these:
How do we redefine reality?How do we disrupt or change current realities?How do we name our grievances? Articulate our positive vision for the way forward?How do we motivate and sustain dissatisfaction with the status quo, and affection for our shared vision?How do we justify our aims in terms of 5 lines of moral argument (Jonathan Haidt): justice, compassion, tradition, loyalty, and purity?How is the movement liberating? (liberal)How is the movement conserving? (conservative)
3. Protest (messaging) strategyRaising awareness, attracting growing numbers of participantsCampaigns, tactics, deployments, making demands, public relations, sustaining conflict, forcing a crisis, managing internal tensions, managing stigmatization, showing results, maintaining momentum, not overreacting, defining acceptable level of disruption,
- Gaining attention - demonstrations, sit-ins, teach-ins, etc.- Building Networks of Participants and Allies- Wisely Identifying and Engaging Opponents
Movements must be convergent (creating broad, vigorous alliances) and insurgent (confronting real problems upheld
by elites and the systems that privilege them).
4. Mobilization Structures & Strategies
- Authority and Decision-Making Structures- Transparency/Confidentiality, Communication Plans- Leadership development, Relational Development, Conflict Management Plans- Coalition development- Resource, Technology, Finance Mobilization and Management- Evangelism, recruitment, induction- Renewal and Increase of commitment- Awareness of levels of commitment (core, activists, supporters, listeners, opposition, indirect impact, unaware
4. Mobilization Structures & Strategies
Jesus and the 12- Intense time of modeling, relationship building and vision sharing- Contagious passion- Periodic sending and returning- Final sending/Succession insured- Warnings of expected trials, failures, conflicts- “Polycephalic” structure - connection without control- Self-organizing units- Welcoming of new leaders (Paul)- Reproducible expansion- Both individual agency and group agency (Paul, Philip, Antioch)- Both planning and spontaneity
5. Movement Culture
“Movements are about changing a society’s lifeway; a movement itself
becomes an experimental field where a new way of life can be, to some degree, experienced and where the movement’s
ideals, values and common vision are put to the test.” (61)
5. Movement culture
- Emotional vibe (fun, serious, angry, playful, heady, gutsy, etc.)- Feel of spaces, physical and digital- Songs, slogans- Virtues, values, moral ethos- Dress, Graphics, - Nicknames, terminology- Emotion, motivation, motion
6. Participant Biography
How does involvement benefit - or harm - participants? How does the movement promote emotional and social sustainability ... avoiding burnout, squabbles, etc.How does it contribute to personal formation:- character- attitudes- knowledge- recovery from trauma- relationships- renewalWhat do participants gain from being involved?
1. Opportunity Structure2. Rhetorical framing3. Protest (messaging) strategy4. Mobilization strategy5. Movement culture6. Participant Biography
Jesus says the kingdom of God is like gardening (an organic movement) not warfare (institutional action): It spreads through seeds ... sown into systems to grow.
The seeds of the message.
The seeds of people who personally embody the message.
The seeds of communities who socially embody the message.
Jesus seizes the opportunity structure provided by conflicted elites (Pharisees/Sadducees; Herodians/Zealots) and struggling masses (Galilee/Judea)
He provides rhetorical framing on hillsides, in houses, on retreats, in public teach-ins, in debates, through parables, through rituals and practices. He repeats key themes - commonwealth of God, life to the full, life of the ages, liberation - rooted in dynamic tension with tradition.
His protest (messaging) strategy includes public demonstrations (healings & miracles), teach-ins (sermon on mount), civil disobedience (turning tables), guerilla theatre (exorcisms), festivals (feasts & feedings), naming evil (woes), naming heroes (blessings).
He develops a mobilization strategy based on 3, 12, 70, and multitudes. He entrusts freely with responsibility and expresses high confidence in his agents (greater things shall you do ...)
He associates his movement culture with love, joy, justice, risk, hope, creativity, courage, service, willingness to suffer, nonviolence.
He provides his disciples challenge, rest, retreat, encouragement, recovery after failures. They testify that their participant biographies have been forever changed for the better.
we need a theology of
Communities, institutions and movements
What spiritual movement is trying to be born among us today?
What are its demands/proposals?
What role might we play in its emergence?
a new spiritual identity
NotMilitant Religious RightInstitutional Religious Left
NotMilitant Religious RightInstitutional Religious Left
ButEvangelical passion mixed with
progressive social vision of common good, “beloved
community”
NotConservative anti-science biasOld Liberal anti-spiritual bias
NotConservative anti-science biasOld Liberal anti-spiritual bias
ButBoth pro-learning and pro-
spirituality
NotStrong Hostile IdentityWeak Benevolent Identity
in relation to other faiths ...
NotStrong Hostile IdentityWeak Benevolent Identity
in relation to other faiths ...But
Strong, theologically-rooted benevolent spiritual identity as
neighbors, peacemakers
NotJesus as weaponJesus as embarrassment
NotJesus as weaponJesus as embarrassment
ButJesus as bringer of good news
of the kingdom of God
Liturgical
Charismatic
Social Action
Evangelical
A lot depends on the emergence
of this new identity.
Movements move with the Holy Spirit.
Do not merely try to bring others to where you are, as wonderful as that place might be.
But do not leave them where they are either.
Instead, go with them to a place neither you nor they have ever been before.
Fr. Vincent Donovan (adapted)
Where do you see the most momentum?
Where do you see the biggest obstacles?
What do you “hear” in your heart?
Christian futures:Mission and
Social Justice
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
What is the question taking shape inside the
“spiritual but not religious?”
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
“Can you accept me where I amand gently, wisely lead me
to a better way of lifeso I can play my part
in building a better world?”
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FOUR GLOBAL
emergencies
Societal Machine
Equity Security
Prosperity
The Ecosystem
Heat
Solar Energy
ResourcesWaste
Framing Story
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
Compiling and integrating the lists of global emergencies...1. Planet2. Poverty3. Peace4. Religion
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
How do Presbyterian followers of Christ engage their
communities with each crisis?1. Planet2. Poverty3. Peace4. Religion
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
Planet ...
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
Poverty ...
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
Peace
Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
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Framing Story
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Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest,
philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)
Neither [violent] revolution nor [political] reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story …
… one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines some light into the future so that we can take the next step…. If you want to change a society, then you have to tell an alternative story.
- attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest, philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)