On Cynicism, pt. 4 (the dream)

I'm subverting the trilogy formula and adding a forth addition to my cynicism thread. Barring an epiphany, being taken up into the third heaven, etc., this will be my last post on cynicism. It's long as I type this, and I'm not done yet, but I need to finish it. So, I'm sorry or you're welcome - whichever applies.

I've blogged already in various posts about the nature of Christian hope and the taint of cynicism on said hope. Now is the time to address this taint explicitly. Let me cite my friend Mac (who undoubtedly is a fan of V for Vendetta) from his brilliant piece in the recent student publication of the HUGSR newsletter, Under the Bridge (props to current Editor Bob LaBlob - holla). Mac discussed the relevance of dreams, specifically that most famous of dreams imagined by the good Dr. King:

"It was Dr. King's ability to craft a vision of a new America and to communicate that vision to others that brought about change in our nation. It may surprise many people in this world that dreams are more powerful than laws, or armies, or even history, but it should not surprise Christians. As Christians, we serve a God who dreams."

Wow! I got goose bumps reading that, and I got them again typing those words. As a side note, if you don't get the picture to the left, I can't explain it to you. But I will say it again, wow! That is powerful rhetoric. Before we get to the implications of a God who dreams, we must look one last time at the negative.



Here's the deal with cynicism. It's a sin. The impetus for this thread began with some introspection, but was further spurred by a conversation with Randy Harris. I was sitting in a class of his at NCYM, and he said in passing that cynicism was a sin. "Uh oh," I thought. So I arranged a time with him and my buddy Josh to discuss these harsh words. After all, I thought he was a little cynical too! So Randy, Josh and I had a chat, and Randy shared with us how he felt cynicism opposed the divine imagination. Of course, he did allow that there is a place for satire, so there's the loophole.

Subverting the divine imagination. I like that - as a phrase, of course. As an act, it sucks. But I want to take it one more step. Subverting the divine imagination requires a certain kind of disposition or character. Specifically, subverting the divine imagination/cynicism is a sin because it reeks of arrogance. Cynicism stews in the dutch oven of empty rants from haughty lips that no one cares to hear.

How can this be? Cynics aren't heart broken at the current state of things; they're upset because they think they know the way things ought to look and they don't look that way. They don't want things to improve; they just hate the way things are. At the core of all this, I believe, is a proud heart. Out of arrogance, the cynic mocks others but offers no hope for change. The cynic says, "YOU are doing it wrong." By implication, we may assume that the cynic implies that he or she is doing it right. However, in truth, the cynic does nothing. The cynic only thinks he or she knows what is right. This is the grizzled old bum who gave up on life who we see in the movies (Finding Forrester comes to mind). As a result, the cynic gives up. But this hopelessness is only the effect. It is arrogance at the core that causes this loss of hope.

Of course, these old and lonely cynics are never the protagonist. It always takes the young, brash, naive hero to spur the cynic out of hiding and into action. And, the difference is not that the hero claims to be doing it right. Where the cynic says, "YOU are doing it wrong." The hero says, "It's not supposed to be LIKE THIS." He may not always be able to offer a clear picture of what it should look like. But the hero is willing to say, "THIS should not be."

So, we deny cynicism because it is arrogant, and because it subverts the divine imagination.

Maybe I don't know what a perfectly just world looks like, but THIS poverty should not be in my city. THIS lack of opportunity for the poor should not be. THIS lack of education for an abandoned generation of young African American children in Memphis should not be. THIS church that looks only like me should not be. THIS argument over insignificant issues like instrumental music should not be. THIS materialism among Christians should not be. THIS lack of concern for those who do not know Christ should not be. THIS lack of love from those who are called to emulate the God who is love? IT SHOULD NOT BE!

And THIS lack of a dream or vision within the church who serves the God who dreams? It should not be.

I have a dream that one day God's people will begin to dream again. And not only that they will dream, but that they will hope in the one in whom there is power to make those dreams come true.

Ladies and Gentlemen

your reigning World Series Champion Boston Red Sox!

Indulgence

Few, if any, will care about my opinion on inconsequential things such as the subjects of this post. That won't stop me from posting my thoughts, but at least I'm not deceiving myself.

No Country For Old Men deserved every award it got. My goodness that movie continues to provoke me. I have to say it is rapidly becoming one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. Yes, it is rather graphic in parts, but never gratuitously. That is, it's not Saw IV. As I understand it, the violence is true to the book, which I still want to read having seen the movie. Javier Bardem deserved that Oscar; he stole the show as the creepiest/scariest/most intriguing villain this side of Dr. Lecter. Combine that with solid performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, and this movie is simply an astounding piece of work. I know it won't be for everyone, but if you can understand the story for what it is, you will not be disappointed.

Once was a great movie. I love the soundtrack, the song was deserving, and I'm really glad Marketa got to come back out and say thanks.

Ellen Page may not have been acting very much. Juno was still very good.

Personally, I don't know how naming your daughter after the devil wouldn't at least increase the odds of her becoming an exotic dancer. Diablo? Really?

John Stewart: C-. Although I am still laughing about the Harrison Ford joke.

The Kidd trade didn't seem to solve anything, but after the last two games, color me mildly interested.

The Memphis game was a heart breaker. I probably agree with what everyone else is thinking about that game, most importantly, that fans of that Knoxville team are annoying. The ugly orange are now odds on favorites to get busted in the 1st round next month.

More on cynicism later today.

On Cynicism, pt. 3 (subverting the -isms)

You cynics out there thought there was no hope for me blogging about cynicism again, didn't you? You were wrong; there's always hope.

Today, I want to discuss the other -isms. Along with cynicism, one often finds the discussion drifting into accusations regarding one's pessimism or optimism. That is, cynics are most often derided for being hopeless pessimists, and those who are not cynical as ignorant optimists. So which is it? Either you are a pessimist or an optimist, right?

The best way to avoid any such polemic is subversion.

We take our cue from Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, it happens typically as, "You have heard it said, 'Do not _____,' but I say _______." Or again, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents...?" Of course, Jesus' answer is neither. It's always neither, isn't it? Jesus is so subversive. So in thinking through cynicism, to respond properly to the debate on pessimism vs. optimism requires subversion.

This time, we take our cue from Leslie Newbigin:
"I'm neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead."

I believe this quote effectively destroys cynicism. We do not proclaim an opinion. We do not proclaim fiction or a feeling. We do not proclaim a private, individualistic, spiritual dream. We proclaim the reality of a risen Savior. What reason do we have to give up hope? What cause is there for pessimism?

At the same time, what cause is there for optimism? It is revealed as incomplete, ignorant, and immature. Let me explain. True and pure optimism believes that all things will return a positive outcome. The minister within me yearns to reference Webster here; the self-respecting man resists, but you can check it if you want. The point is that the reality of life, indeed, the reality even of Scripture, is that optimism has been thwarted. Read Job. Read the prophets. If all things had in fact turned out for good, what need was there for Jesus Christ to die. That we proclaim a risen Savior by its very nature means that something has gone and remains drastically wrong with our present reality. We deny optimism because it fails to account for reality.

And so we subvert the legitimacy of both the hopeless pessimist and the ignorant optimist. We do not deny the dark reality of our world, but neither do we ignore the light that has come and continues to penetrate the darkness. I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Advance Copy

I've decided to post something I wrote for the HUGSR student newsletter. This is an advance copy so sorry for the repeat, HUGSR nerds. Basically, this is an abbreviated version of my convictions regarding my calling and my education. May we all pursue love.

YM + GE = X

For most, the answer to the above equation is X = 0. After all, what relevance do youth ministry and a graduate education have to one another? For most, youth ministry and graduate education are this generation's Tango and Cash. X does not equal zero, however. For one, the stereotype may be true that YM – GE often leads to disastrous results. Perhaps this is true because of a lack of learning, maturity, or discipline that can be gained with the addition of GE. Still, a less negative view returns a better solution. The goal of all things, including YM and GE, ought to be the spiritual (trans)formation of an individual into the community of God’s people. The answer then is an infinite range. Some may do well without GE, some may do poorly with it. Regardless, the goal is not a smarter youth minister, but one who loves more. For, “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Cor. 8:1).

BR: Renovation of the Heart

I finished Renovation of the Heart yesterday. In undergrad, I got to read Willard's Spirit of the Disciplines and really loved it. It was deep and well-thought out. A little deeper than Foster's popular disciplines book, Celebration of Discipline, but still really good. This book, however, was not as good. To be honest, this book was one of the more tedious books I have read. I read a lot of things for grad school that most people would immediately label tedious. This book made me want to read my grad school readings. I usually am reading five or six books at a time for school, and for the last month (another sign of tediousness) I have dreaded reading this one the most, even more than Ferguson's The Church of Christ. At one point, my goal was down to reading at least 5-10 pages a day in Renovation. Essentially, Willard presents his theological anthropology in the first 100 pages. It's deep; it's confusing. While I think understanding the correlation between mind, spirit, will, heart, body, and soul is important, his presentation is less than lucid. When I was checking out this book on Amazon, I saw that another guy has written a book simply to explain this one. That's how tedious it is. I think the level of tedium has been grasped here, so I'll move on. Basically, for a book in the realm of spiritual formation, I think this book is far from relevant; his thoughts are good, his applications are severely lacking. I would say that it is probably even borderline self-indulgent for Willard, an author for whom I have great respect. My problem with this book was admittedly exacerbated with a concurrent reading of Nouwen. Simple, profound, applicable. Willard? Not so much. Still in all things, seek the good. Here are some of the highlights:

- Willard is attempting to push a theological anthropology that will help Christians actually undergo significant spiritual transformation. A noble goal; indeed, THE noble goal.

- Perhaps the idea I will remember most from this book is that transformation of the will is end of transformation and not the beginning. I do not will myself to change and then change. I seek transformation through mind and heart, and thus my will is transformed. That is, by seeking transformation in my thought life, my heart will be transformed. As my heart is transformed, so I will begin to desire to do good. Thus, I train my body to act accordingly. Through habit, then, my will is transformed so that I begin naturally to desire the things of God. I cannot just will my will to desire holiness without first being transformed in mind and heart.

That's about the best I can come up with. One final note: this book drove me crazy with numerous split infinitives.

Random Thoughts

I'm no cynic, but I'm thinking there has got to be, somewhere, a church or at least a family that was against children watching Chip N' Dale's Rescue Rangers because of the name.


LOST was good last night. I'm going to enjoy this six episode season...