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September 14, 2006
The Urgent Need for a New Christian Realism
by Jesus Politics
Peter Laarman, of Progressive Christians Uniting, writes about the need for a new Christian Realism. Some excerpts:
I want simply to focus in on Niehbuhr’s core insight that Christians should see the world as it is and act ethically in the light of a clear-sighted realism. For the neoconservatives and for most other Right ideologues, “realism” means understanding how bad they are–all the “enemies of freedom,” “Islamo-fascists,” etc.; yet surely a major part of Niebuhr’s realism entailed understanding our own propensity to sinning, our own capacity for self-deception and hubris. It’s this kind of Christian Realism that is in critically short supply right now.[ ]
Consumerism pits me against other consuming monads. It invites me to think about how well I will fare when I’m ready for retirement, how I am going to cope with outrageous health care costs, how I will finesse getting the education I need in order to compete for material success; it definitely does not invite us to think collectively about how we will fare in retirement, maintain our health, or gain education for the enhancement of life itself rather than for purposes of workplace competition. [ ]
But aren’t Christians supposed to be about the “we”? Did not Jesus teach us to pray, ”Our Father, who art in Heaven” and “give us this day our daily bread”? Did he not warn us not to “store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal”? Did he not say, “whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” and “woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation”?
For more than three centuries of the North American experience, a very significant number of Christians did in fact concern themselves with matters of citizenship–with the defense of the commonweal–and did not attend only to their private thriving. As Randall Balmer has demonstrated convincingly in his new book, evangelical Christians were among the staunchest agitators for a godly commonwealth in which all would have access to the good things of life: food and drink, rest and recreation, good public schools, decent housing and health care, and a secure and dignified old age. [ ]
For more than three centuries of the North American experience, a very significant number of Christians did in fact concern themselves with matters of citizenship–with the defense of the commonweal–and did not attend only to their private thriving. As Randall Balmer has demonstrated convincingly in his new book, evangelical Christians were among the staunchest agitators for a godly commonwealth in which all would have access to the good things of life: food and drink, rest and recreation, good public schools, decent housing and health care, and a secure and dignified old age.
When and how this shifted decisively–when and how North American Christians ceased to believe in the importance of the commonweal–is a matter for dispute and debate, but it does certainly seem that the seeds for the final ascendancy a false consumerist paradise– and for the manufacturing of consent–were sown in the period of unparalleled prosperity that followed the Second World War. Even then, however, there were powerful voices–voices like Niebuhr’s–asking not just whether the consumerist paradise is the best of all possible worlds but quite specifically whether it is a paradise that Christians should find themselves celebrating. [ ]
The paramount challenge facing progressive Christians, I believe, is developing the courage and the tools needed to puncture the mysification bubble–is finding the capacity open the eyes and awaken the consciences of our fellow Christians and of the body politic as a whole to the suffering and danger all around us.
Posted by Jesus Politics at September 14, 2006 05:06 PM
Comments
It is 'good news' indeed to hear the call to recognize Reinhold Niebuhr for the genius that he was for normalized Christianity. He is surely my patron saint, for without him teaching me that I did not have to check my head {read: intellect] outside the church door, I'd have had to abandon Christianity as anti-intellectual altogether; instead, it is small 'c' christianity that is adamantly anti-intellectual, the worst of which is biblical literalism & bibliolotry. My first thesis was on him & particularly his Doctrine of Sin, a very enlarging experience for me. He is not only a great theologian but a great political scientist as well: his Christian Ethics are to be seen in both. While several of his books could be in your background for the focus of realism, one particularly comes to mind: CHRISTIAN REALISM AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS.
The American Experience fails most on the crassness of consumerism, which has become sacrosanct over the last half-century. It has also made us transparent & lacking character. Citizenship used to triumph, but gradually, and without fanfare, it gave way to DENIZENSHIP, hardly a compliment. Bush fumbled the ball which was in his court [mixing of metaphors on purpose] most on instructing the country just after 9/11 on the restarting of business that Sunday saying, "Go to the mall & spend!" What a great chance muffed forever: with the U.S. savings rate a mere 2% with Europe at 4%, this could have been mandated & even used as an obligation to supplement privately Social Security, a reform matter rather than a sabotage to the system by reducing benefits all around, but duh, duh, duh did not do it or anything close. Instead, consumerism amok was underscored. Yes, "fellow" Christians & christians should rediscover the care for the sick & unfortunate, secure healthcare & dignity for all, and don't forget the environment. We could become a decent republic again, but it'd take work.....Niebuhrian "work" as well. It's always a delight to walk on "Reinhold Niebuhr Way" just south of Riverside Church & Union Seminary: a few more acolades spread afield would not hurt either, a testament to his contributions to us all. But if we wait forever to start upgrading the poor via education, health & more, will it ever happen? No, not of its own accord: it takes WORK, surely America's four-letter word!
We need a large dose of Christian Realism! With it will come the solutions to many things we are seeking....without success. Meanwhile, we have bible thumpers, fundamentalists, charismatics, storefronters & anti-intellectuals undercutting Christianity everywhere....and the World has a colossal laugh at the expense at the good ol' U.S. of A. Gawd 'elp 's! Realism, anyone?
Posted by: Arden C. Hander at September 14, 2006 06:16 PM
If you insist.
Here's your first dose of 'Christian realism' for today...
Jesus said, "He that believes in me, the works that I do, shall he do also..."
He did more than "care for the sick", He healed the sick--through His Word and by the power of the Spirit (in other words, He was "charismatic"). He never wasted time and effort, working to "secure healthcare & dignity for all", but He preached the wisdom of the Kingdom of God everywhere, including the 'storefronts' of His day.
From the Scriptures penned by Moses and all the prophets--the entire Old Testament--He preached "the things concerning Himself". I guess that would have earned Him the tag of "Bible thumper" today.
And He was not an "anti-intellectual--undercutting Christianity everywhere", but He was 'the Christ' (big C), who undercut intellectuals everywhere--expecially those who allowed their intellect to get in the way of godly wisdom and faith.
These partially summarize the works of Jesus and the works obedient believers are also engaged in.
So-called 'progressives', on the other hand, have no sincere interest in anything that could be called "Christian Realism".
Progressives--more accurately, 'Digressives'--are only interested in redefining Christianity to suit their politics; something Jesus expressed no interest in. The only purely political comment Jesus made (recorded in Scripture); if it had been applied by government, would have resulted in a tax cut. He certainly never advocated any tax-based programs to 'secure the good of the commonwealth'.
EH
Posted by: Eddie Hughes at September 15, 2006 09:41 PM
Eddie makes a good point; we progressive Christians risk putting our political beliefs ahead of the Gospel, assuming that the Gospel *is* identical to our politics. But both the right and the left run the same risk. The only people Christ ever condemned were the self-righteous folks who cast judgment on the rest of the sinners--their problem was that by judging others they enabled themsleves to pretend that they were righteous on their own. Right wing Christian condemnation of homosexuals, liberals and secularists is a present tense example of that ancient sin, as is left wing Christian condemnation of warmongers and bigots. The trick is not to condemn anyone, to forgive, to go and sin no more.
I'm trying.
your friend
keith
Posted by: keith johnson at September 15, 2006 11:59 PM
I see the EddieHughes troll is at it again with his non-sequiturs and ad-hominem attacks.
Posted by: Tenoch at September 17, 2006 02:32 AM
I see the EddieHughes troll is at it again with his non-sequitur, ad-hominem attacks.
Posted by: Tenoch at September 17, 2006 02:33 AM
