This question will be dominating my thoughts for the next few months (Doctrine essay)
Many articulations of christian hope are entirely other-worldly. Often those that aren't are labelled over realised eschatology.
Yet as we think about our future, most of us have hopes for what will happen. What is legitimate for christians to hope for? Does it matter if we hope for things that don't come true? What is the difference between hope and desire? Each individual has a diffent life, so should we expect as many legitimate hopes as there are christians?
Perhaps we should turn on the question.
Apparently Barth has a few sections where he rejects the 'what' of eschatology as ultimate, in favour of whom. For Barth it is Christ himself who is our telos, our end. The kingdom of God etc is just a spinoff.
Which would then call into question the second part of the question 'in this life'. Is our own individual death really the turning point for hope? Is there continuity (though obvious difference) between what we hope for now and what we hope for then? If Barth is right, then it is the same Christ we hope for, and are united to.
Union with Christ, in his suffering and glorification is worth exploring.
As are the various biblical prayers, and especially the Lords prayer.
Paul's, if only in this life we have hoped in christ, we are to be pitied'
Moltmanns 'Hope and planning' could be good
O'Donovan's "Eschatology and History' section in Resurrection and Moral Order could be handy too.
Any other ideas on hope?
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5 comments:
What about Barth's distinction between great and little hopes? Here's a quote.
Good question to pick!
Hi Mike
Happy new year!
What a great topic to choose.
I think the Barthian gnostics and the Bling Jesus crowd both have it wrong. Moses ascended and received the pattern for the Tabernacle. It was built by Spirit-filled men. Same deal with the Temple, and Ezekiel's Temple (build of Spirit-filled men throughout the empire during the Restoration).
Now, after the ascension of Jesus as Moses to the mountain of God, we have the pattern of the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. We, as Spirit-filled craftsmen are to be building a city down here out of people, one that has a long term cultural impact.
So, our earthly hope is to be faithful in leaving a legacy that is part of kingdom expansion. This is true Christendom, the city whose riches are people.
That's my understanding at the moment!
...and this includes godly offspring.
Thanks guys, both food for thought.
Byron- the question was both interesting and the only one that seemed open.
Mike Bull has it right, in my view.
We are Jesus' witnesses here. For whatever reason, he chose cracked pots, human beings, as his ambassadors to lost souls. I often think it would have been much more effective to have a 50-foot angel blazing with light suddenly appear in front of an unrepentant sinner and shout "Believe in the Lord Jesus or you'll burn like a bonfire forever, you fool!" But He didn't, so we're it. That's an awesome responsibility and a glorious privilege.
I write extensively about this in my new end-times novel, "Trouble in the House of Jacob." See the web page if you wish at http://tinyurl.com/4d79yt
Thanks,
Hale Meserow
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