In my last entry, I alluded to an online serial novel I am reading. It is a science fiction story set in a vastly different universe.
To describe what it is about would be quite difficult, and to be honest would be outside what my point is today.
However, I do need to fill in a little bit of back story before I can make that point.
The society in question is an OLD society, civilized and settled for an unknown amount of time. Things like war is no longer occurring, though the society appears to be quite powerful militarily. Even the thought of using weapons on each other is quite disturbing.
There is crime, but it is far rarer. And it is managed by a caste system which deals with punishment not for the sake of punishing, but of correcting faults. The priest of Shame, who is called by that title (“Shame”) handles the more recalcitrant of sinners. Most families take care of the lesser ones.
It is a society in which all have their place, and know what that place is. Even the one known as the Exception… the one for whom all Correction is futile, fills the role of being outside of civilization and looking in at and recommending changes to civilization.
The society is ruled by the Emperor, one who has been around for many millenia (though the people themselves are short-lived, relatively speaking.) The Emperor IS Civilization. And is oft-times referred to as the god of Civilization. There is a quality to the Emperor similar to that of the Dalai Lama… similar but also different (the Dalai Lama is not considered a god as far as I know.) He dies, but is reincarnated in a manner not described in the book.
This Emperor/god is wise, uncannily wise. And quite beloved.
Much of the interest of this book comes from the discussion that occurs (online, of course) following each installment.
Okay, you have enough back-story now for me to come to the point of my entry today. Today there is a comment that really stuck out. “To have your god living among you like that. How wonderful.”
“Alas,” I felt reading this, “have we who lead our churches done so poor a job of it that people do not comprehend that because of Jesus, this is exactly what we do have? Our God does live amongst us! How awesomely wonderful!” (Not all church leaders are ordained ministers, nor are we all formal leaders.)
Of course, it wouldn’t do to interject this in the discussion, it would be out-of-place. Wouldn’t it?
Some hours later (online discussions often linger over hours, not moments – it’s the nature of the medium) someone responded:
“This is exactly what I was thinking, though most <members of the story’s culture> probably never even meet Civilization, much less share this level of intimacy.”
Again, I want to cry out “Yes! This! How many of us in our churches never meet our God that we proclaim? How we miss out on a lovely intimacy of soul!”
Oh, please be assured my friends, I oft-time wonder if I have ever even met my God. I do not hold myself superior to, above, or even equal to necessarily any others. Meeting God is a gradient, I think. Some of us meet our God, yet never really comprehend. I can’t say that I am not one of these. Others have met our God, and walk intimately with God, and I want to be one of these, and sometimes for brief awesome explosion of seconds succeed in so doing, but do not consider myself to be where I want to be, yet.
There are novels written which are quite obviously and intentionally allegorical of our Christian faith. I’m thinking of lots of CS Lewis’s writings, but especially of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” as well as the other books of Narnia. And then there are books that often, in some way can be lightly allegorical of Christianity without intending to be so, such as the book I’m speaking of above.
And that’s it. That’s all I’ve got. Just saw those quotes and thought I’d share my reflection, as poor as it is.
Just… isn’t it wonderful to have our God living amongst us like that? Isn’t it delightful to be able to share intimately with our God?
On The Road II 