Nov. 24, 2008 issue
In, of and for the world
By Bradley SiebertPage:
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Last month, I read several “Views” articles from past years for a Mennonite Central Committee fundraiser. I squirmed at hearing myself condemning things (myself included) as “worldly” or “of the world.”
Bradley Siebert teaches English at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.
I’ll try not to talk that way any more.
I have used these familiar concepts in familiar ways. I’d grown up with them and not reconsidered them.
But now I have, and I’ve decided to avoid talking and thinking in terms that equate the world and evil. Instead, I accept being both in and of the world, even for it — I’m rooting for things to go well and trying to do my bit so things do.
I suspect talk that distances the speaker from “worldly” involvements stems from the recognition that the real is not ideal. The world we know is not nearly the heaven we imagine. Far from it.
The imperfect starts to look bad, and we dissociate from the bad, not wanting others to associate us with it.
But the Old Testament depicts God calling the created world “good” — not perfect, but good. And the Gospel of John claims that God loves this imperfect world so well that he sent the Son to rescue it. So the world is loveable despite its imperfections, which are actually ours. Good thing.
Everything I know of goodness comes from my experiences in the world with people like you and unlike you. I’ve also had several experiences that prompted vague intuitions of goodness that may be “beyond,” intuitions I’m very hopeful about but uncertain of.
What I do know is that there is goodness here and could easily be more. I also recognize the reality of evil but love the world and its people generally despite my disappointments.
I also love a good number of specific people despite their imperfections. I’m grateful that many return the favor.
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