I think this take is exactly exactly right. The truth and don’t waste your time naming names of counter examples to what you’re describing. Everyone will know who you’re talking about without talking about them.
Where I think this gets really complicated is that we live in a world of diffuse authority in which even truthful teachers speak in an economy of the marketplace, where ideas are put into competition, even if the speakers themselves do not create the competition.
In my forthcoming book, this is one of the real problems that I see as complicating any kind of lockdown claim to apostolicity. The cat is out of the bag and all the world is a marketplace now. I think the only thing to be done is just ignore it and not calibrate your speech to those dynamics.
Agreed. I'm praying now and trying to think more carefully about how to talk about all this with integrity. Withdrawal isn't the answer, obviously, and as you've said neutrality is impossible. But calibrating our speech to these dynamics is so incredibly difficult, especially when that speech is broadcast. I've been thinking a lot about Galatians 4:20, 2 Corinthians 12.21 and 13.10, and 3 John 1. 13-14—there's a theology of presence here, which holds all kinds of promise for how we think about the dynamics created by technologically-altered communication. I look forward to reading the book!
Dearest Lord, Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus Christ—in Your mercy, hear our prayer. May we love Your voice better than the sound of our own. May we desire a dependence on You daily, as the provider and giver of all that we need. Not in concept, not as an idea, but truly as our Father in Heaven. Restore to us hearts of flesh (Your flesh). Let us hate what You hate, love what You love…so, teach us to love and pray for and recognize our enemies as neighbor. Give us the strength and courage to be willing to be called unfaithful and an enemy of You, out of the mouths of the unfaithful…to be called liars when we speak the truth. Make us love correction, as lovers of Truth. You alone are our hope and our salvation; apart from You we have nothing. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
You ask for thoughts—as said above, this is all exactly right. You and Bonhoeffer have hit it.
I think another issue at play is the recognition and acceptance of authority…we live in a world which tells you that, as an individual, you are ultimately responsible for who you bend the knee to. There is a hedonistic line to it too—just find the teacher or leader or figure who is sound and clever and moral in just the right ways, and you’ve found your tribe. Feel free to leave said authority whenever they mess up (rightly or wrongly declaring them to no longer have authority), because, “nobody has a monopoly on the truth anyway.” In this way, authority ultimately rests in the individual.
This is one of the reasons why I think prayer is so deeply, mystically important. In the spirit of the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.
I'm really struck by this: "The simple truth does not suffice for them; instead, they get tied up with problems and worldviews to which no one can respond and which lead to endless questions but do not serve to build up the community itself…" It seems to me in our culture we take for granted that questioning everything is virtuous. At least, I do. I can deceive myself into believing I'm somehow righteous by doubting everything and playing with ideas without the burden of having to work it out in every day life. But at some point you have to choose obedience, even when you don't have all the answers. I appreciate that about Bonhoeffer. I think at some point he had to simply choose what seemed to be obedience, even if in the end we perceive it as wrong. Lots to think about here. Thanks Chris.
I think this take is exactly exactly right. The truth and don’t waste your time naming names of counter examples to what you’re describing. Everyone will know who you’re talking about without talking about them.
Where I think this gets really complicated is that we live in a world of diffuse authority in which even truthful teachers speak in an economy of the marketplace, where ideas are put into competition, even if the speakers themselves do not create the competition.
In my forthcoming book, this is one of the real problems that I see as complicating any kind of lockdown claim to apostolicity. The cat is out of the bag and all the world is a marketplace now. I think the only thing to be done is just ignore it and not calibrate your speech to those dynamics.
Agreed. I'm praying now and trying to think more carefully about how to talk about all this with integrity. Withdrawal isn't the answer, obviously, and as you've said neutrality is impossible. But calibrating our speech to these dynamics is so incredibly difficult, especially when that speech is broadcast. I've been thinking a lot about Galatians 4:20, 2 Corinthians 12.21 and 13.10, and 3 John 1. 13-14—there's a theology of presence here, which holds all kinds of promise for how we think about the dynamics created by technologically-altered communication. I look forward to reading the book!
I think that’s worth having a long form conversation about
“Calibrating our speech” is perfect language for what is called for!
I hear in this another true pastor/ teacher, George MacDonald.
Many are in high place, and of renown:
But mysteries are revealed unto the meek.
For the power of the Lord is great,
And he is honored of the lowly.
…
Be not curious in unnecessary matters:
For more things are shewed unto thee than men understand.
Ecclesiasticus 3:19-20, 23
Dearest Lord, Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus Christ—in Your mercy, hear our prayer. May we love Your voice better than the sound of our own. May we desire a dependence on You daily, as the provider and giver of all that we need. Not in concept, not as an idea, but truly as our Father in Heaven. Restore to us hearts of flesh (Your flesh). Let us hate what You hate, love what You love…so, teach us to love and pray for and recognize our enemies as neighbor. Give us the strength and courage to be willing to be called unfaithful and an enemy of You, out of the mouths of the unfaithful…to be called liars when we speak the truth. Make us love correction, as lovers of Truth. You alone are our hope and our salvation; apart from You we have nothing. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
You ask for thoughts—as said above, this is all exactly right. You and Bonhoeffer have hit it.
I think another issue at play is the recognition and acceptance of authority…we live in a world which tells you that, as an individual, you are ultimately responsible for who you bend the knee to. There is a hedonistic line to it too—just find the teacher or leader or figure who is sound and clever and moral in just the right ways, and you’ve found your tribe. Feel free to leave said authority whenever they mess up (rightly or wrongly declaring them to no longer have authority), because, “nobody has a monopoly on the truth anyway.” In this way, authority ultimately rests in the individual.
This is one of the reasons why I think prayer is so deeply, mystically important. In the spirit of the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.
I'm really struck by this: "The simple truth does not suffice for them; instead, they get tied up with problems and worldviews to which no one can respond and which lead to endless questions but do not serve to build up the community itself…" It seems to me in our culture we take for granted that questioning everything is virtuous. At least, I do. I can deceive myself into believing I'm somehow righteous by doubting everything and playing with ideas without the burden of having to work it out in every day life. But at some point you have to choose obedience, even when you don't have all the answers. I appreciate that about Bonhoeffer. I think at some point he had to simply choose what seemed to be obedience, even if in the end we perceive it as wrong. Lots to think about here. Thanks Chris.