Looking Forward to the Eschaton
It being Christmas time and all, I was thinking... Being a GOV major isn't always easy or fun. Which I think would be rather like the CLA side of things :). Being a good ruler/policy maker is as difficult as writing the great American novel or the Christian consummation of sci-fi.
No matter what a leader’s decision - even if it's the right thing - it will have a negative effect. The Fall guarantees this. If you're in a position of power, making decisions for large groups of people, the ability to do harm increases exponentially. On top of this, as Augustine says, there is rarely enough information/intelligence to make proper decisions. We are fallen creatures and just can't know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether someone's innocent or guilty or whether he possesses weapons of mass destruction. And then there's war, dividing nations and cultures that are born of one and the same father - meant to work together, meant to complete, not destroy, each other…
In a word, ruling stinks. It has to be done - and it's best if it's done by godly men - but due to the Fall and the ill-conceived actions of those who went before us, we find ourselves facing a very troublesome situation with few – if any – good choices.
But there's hope to be found...
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."
One day - glorious day! - the perfect Son of Man will rule a perfected people. There will be no confusion, no mistakes, no division, no suffering, no death. Every man will have his vine and fig tree and no one will make him afraid. How nice not to have to put effort into preserving civilization, but simply to enriching it!
This doesn't mean I'll be taking up poetry in the new heaven and earth. I'm inclined to believe my glorified self will not be gifted in that capacity (if my current self is any indication). :) No, Paul had something to say about judging angels and I think that's probably more my speed. Government, after all, will still be around. Decisions still have to be made and order must still be created.
…Besides, vines sound all well and good, but figs...? I'm not a big fan of figs. Maybe I'll start the Star Fruit Growing Society... :)
No matter what a leader’s decision - even if it's the right thing - it will have a negative effect. The Fall guarantees this. If you're in a position of power, making decisions for large groups of people, the ability to do harm increases exponentially. On top of this, as Augustine says, there is rarely enough information/intelligence to make proper decisions. We are fallen creatures and just can't know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether someone's innocent or guilty or whether he possesses weapons of mass destruction. And then there's war, dividing nations and cultures that are born of one and the same father - meant to work together, meant to complete, not destroy, each other…
In a word, ruling stinks. It has to be done - and it's best if it's done by godly men - but due to the Fall and the ill-conceived actions of those who went before us, we find ourselves facing a very troublesome situation with few – if any – good choices.
But there's hope to be found...
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."
One day - glorious day! - the perfect Son of Man will rule a perfected people. There will be no confusion, no mistakes, no division, no suffering, no death. Every man will have his vine and fig tree and no one will make him afraid. How nice not to have to put effort into preserving civilization, but simply to enriching it!
This doesn't mean I'll be taking up poetry in the new heaven and earth. I'm inclined to believe my glorified self will not be gifted in that capacity (if my current self is any indication). :) No, Paul had something to say about judging angels and I think that's probably more my speed. Government, after all, will still be around. Decisions still have to be made and order must still be created.
…Besides, vines sound all well and good, but figs...? I'm not a big fan of figs. Maybe I'll start the Star Fruit Growing Society... :)
posted by Gabi @ 4:11 PM
7 Comments:
At Sun Dec 18, 02:53:00 AM CST,
sarah said…
In many ways - and I've often thought this - the Gov major has a more difficult time of things than the CLA major. While we CLA'ers realize we probably won't make any impact at all on the world for years to come, the Govies see that many people everywhere will always misunderstand what they do, no matter what it is. I have great respect for Gov majors, because I for one would not like to face their particular challenges. :)
At Sun Dec 18, 09:04:00 PM CST,
Campeador said…
Hmm... as gov. majors I think we have it rough. We get the intro to the Great Conversation in our first few years, and then have to leave and work meaningless internships while our CLA friends continue to understand the universe. It's tough getting back into the philosophical swing of things and missing all y'all's cool classes.
Oh, and people will always misunderstand what you do, regardless of major. :)
You can judge all the angels ya want. I'll stop by now and then in between flying, comet-surfing, messin' around with angelic weapons and time travel. Just save me a few of my personal tempters... and Screwtape, if ya happen to run across him.
At Sat Dec 24, 01:58:00 AM CST,
Anonymous said…
Yeah... it's interesting to think that ruling stinks so bad, but so many people want to do it. Kind of shows how selfish people are. (Didn't somebody already say this... about how the best rulers are the ones who don't want it?)
- Nic
At Mon Dec 26, 12:13:00 PM CST,
Pinon Coffee said…
I agree with you most heartily, Gabi. Ruling is a miserable job. I am very grateful I'm (apparently) not called to do it. It calls for long hard hours, and dealing with difficult people, difficult situations, and one's own difficult self.
But-I was talking to some of the lit majors--the government track has one thing going for it: there's a traditional, accepted, proper means of getting involved in the Wider World, and professors ready and willing to help you do it. The lit side doesn't really have that. You can do whatever you want, but you have to figure out what it is, how to do it, and then do it by yourself. Personally, I'm terrible at all three. The writing market is not easy to break into, and we don't really have anyone to show us how it's done. Further, the secular market (which most of us would rather write for) is even harder than the Christian market. One hears stories about secular authors asking Christian authors, "You mean you're teaching other writers? Why? You're helping the competition!" There are lots of people who want to write, and not that many internships.
So I guess it's a matter of different gifts. Government majors don't have it easy, far from it, and neither do CLAers.
At Mon Dec 26, 10:14:00 PM CST,
Gabi said…
Oh, I certainly agree... Saying that governing is difficult I by no means meant to say that writing is easy. After all, if I thought it was easy, I'd be a lit major :).
The writing market is a thing of mystery to me... kinda like sausage. I don't envy y'all the necessity of figuring it out. I do guarantee you that you will be able to sell at least one copy of any book you publish. But I'll want it signed too :).
At Tue Jan 10, 12:26:00 AM CST,
E E Holmes said…
Gabi: *sigh*
I definitely think I'd be slightly more comfortable on the gov-ish side of things (for reasons we have discussed at length), but God apparently desires me elsewhere for now.
At Tue Jan 10, 03:10:00 PM CST,
Anonymous said…
How will our perception of the kingdom of heaven's governship change once siege is lifted.
And Emily, even history majors can move into government (and get high-paying internships too ;).
Post a Comment
<< Home