Utopia
Stephen Bevans, Models of Contextual Theology, David Neville’s, The Bible, Justice and Public Theology, and Kathryn Tanner’s, Spirit in the Cities have given me plenty to think about and in a good uncomfortable way they have reminded me that thinking/talking about these things just aren’t enough.
I first read Bevans and was drawn in by his description of the praxis model of theology. Bevans said, “the praxis model of contextual theology is done not simply by providing relevant expressions of Christian faith but also by commitment to Christian action.[1]” The praxis model is challenging all believers to get up out of the church pew and actual do something. We can talk all we want but the praxis model reminds me of James words “faith without action is dead.” Yet, when I read this, I knew right where the tension in all of this was headed. We have all seen the overzealous believer make his overnight plans and head out on a social crusade only to create more damage and hurt the already fragile Christian image. The heart might have been good but as Bevans reminds us, that is not enough either.
Unfortunately, in America, the overzealous believer with a good heart but poor practice has dug Christianity in a big hole and I’m not sure how to get out. Neville further articulated this issue for me when he said, “Pubic theology…faces two main challenges: the challenge of constructing a credible Christian perspective on the matter under discussion, and the challenge of expressing this perspective in an intelligible way to the diverse audiences that comprise secular society.[2]” The challenge for us is pretty clear but the issue is really complex. Christians have a hard enough time agreeing on our own Christian perspectives. We can easily see just how important it is to have a credible Christian perspective leading the way, yet the problem is Christians argue with each other and take any credibility away we might have had in the conversation. I’m generally a very optimistic person but I’ll admit I have been a little cynical as I read this week. How do we as believers even make a dent in these issues?
Tanner gave me a glimpse of hope as she beautifully described different cities and how in each city there is an exciting and vibrant spirit at work. All three of the books we read this week mentioned the need for an utopian vision but it was Tanner that helped me understand why this is so important to my theology. Tanner said, “a necessary component of theology is utopia, the ability to think critically about the social and physical places that emplot our lives by measuring them against the ideal place that actually exists nowhere. Utopia can also be an alternative name for the invisible church.[3]” Utopia here on earth isn’t possible yet, Tanner points out that the church can show the way towards utopia, “not in the popular sense of a chimerical dream, but in the sense of being a reality that ‘is not but yet will be.[4]” My optimistic juices are starting to flow again. The church can pave the way. Through deep thinking, open conversation, reflection, and clear articulation, the Church can move forward in action and point the way. Through beautifully describing different cities Tanner reminds us that this is done through the local church and that the spirit is still alive and vibrant in our cities. May I faithfully join the efforts of the local church and thoughtfully take action, giving people a glimpse of the possible utopia in heaven.
[1] Stephen B. Bevans, Models of Contextual Theology, rev. ed. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2002), 72.
[2] David J. Neville, ed., The Bible, Justice, and Public Theology (The Bible in the Modern World) Wipf & Stock, 2014), 31.
[3] Kathryn Tanner, Spirit in the Cities (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2009), 19.
[4] Ibid., 102
About the Author
Nick Martineau
Nick is a pastor at Hope Community Church in Andover, KS, founder of ILoveOrphans.com, and part of the LGP5 cohort.9 responses to “Utopia”
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Nick, so how do we strike the balance between declaring a utopian vision and wrestling with the disappointment and cynicism that naturally occurs when that vision remains an aspiration? If we cry utopian “wolf” so many times won’t people begin to tune us out when the wolf never materializes? Or worse yet, when it does appear, will they believe us?
J
Jon, That’s why I liked Tanner’s thought that we point towards “a reality that is not but yet will be.” We can give people a glimpse of the utopia but ultimately it won’t fully come in this life.
That’s good Nick. What do you see as some of the things we can offer people? Things that are a token of the greater things to come?
J
Good prodding Jon….Unconditional love…making people feel valued…helping people with basic human needs…pointing to Jesus, forgiveness of sins, and eternity with Him. Sounds simple but the practice of this seems to be complex.
We don’t seem to be naturally inclined toward these things…
J
Nick, I feel 50% of the problem is as you put it, “Unfortunately, in America, the overzealous believer with a good heart but poor practice has dug Christianity in a big hole and I’m not sure how to get out.” The other 50% is if the door was open to conversation, I myself having the capacity to intelligibly engage an issue or arena in praxis. Such a personal and systemic challenge.
True Phil…I have too many examples in my life of being the overzealous believer trying to change the world without ever thinking it through. Good heart, good theology, and action seems to be the way forward…
Nick,
I think Tanner is also onto something when she says we need to have a Utopia vision. At the micro level I’ve see this played out in church. It’s so easy to get bogged down in the day to day stuff and forget what we’re trying to move people toward. Without such vision we’ll never steer the ship in that direction. Thanks brother for wrestling with this stuff.
Nick – your words of the Christian who goes on the “social crusade” hit a chord, or perhaps struck the sound on a piano where it was once sounding beautiful only to hit the wrong key. You are right on that we can kill with kindness, excuse the idiom. If we don’t have the underlying practice of an interior life that asks the questions of God and ourselves, we fall prey to the latest whim.
I just read in Christianity Today how few pastors pray. It made me think about the value of staying in the “prodding” both by God’s Spirit and others. That’s where I see prayer opening up the opportunity to know which step to take rather than the fall back of cynicism or utopianism.