Combining the Present and the Future

"Despite what many people think, within the Christian family and outside it, the point of Christianity isn't 'to go to heaven when you die." - N.T. Wright, Simply Christian.

"Earth and Heaven were made to overlap with one another, not fitfully, mysteriously, and partially as they do at the moment, but completely, gloriously, and utterly." N.T. Wright, Simply Christian.

"The great drama will end, not with 'saved souls' being snatched up into heaven, away from the wicked eather and the mortal bodies which have dragged them down into sin, but with the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven to earth, so that "the dwelling of God is with humans." N.T. Wright, Simply Christian

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4 NRSV

Earth and Heaven will be one.

Christ will again come to live among his people.

There is a purpose to why we are here and why we are called to live such a life.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21: 1-2

It is almost common place for humans to think in a dualistic sense, especially for Amercians. In other words, Heaven and Earth are two completely separate things.

To better understand my previous statement, allow me to engage in a comparison between Greek and Hebrew ways of thought. Thus, strengthening the idea that the American Christian Church views heaven and earth in a way unhealthy to the reality of the New Heaven and New Earth.

I believe that America has adapted more of a Greek way of viewing our present and future.

Words

When it comes to words Greek thought "usually expresses truth abstractly, using words, ideas, and logical definitions. It prefers the writing style of prose, and likes to see outlines, lists, and bullet points."-Ray Vaanderland (http://www.followtherabbi.org/)

While Hebrew thought "expresses truth concretely, using words pictures and stories. It prefers the writing style of poetry and like the use of imagery and symbolism." -Ray Vaanderland

Numbers

Greek thought primarily views numbers as a quantity.

Hebrew thought primarily views numbers as a quality or symbol

Community vs. Individual

Greek thought "foucses on the individual" -Ray Vaanderland

Hebrew thought "focuses on the community in relationship with God." -Ray Vaanderland

Error/ Sin

Greek thought sees sin as wrong belief or incorrect thinking. It emphasizes what a person knows about faith.

Hebrew thought sees sin as wrong behaviour. It emphasizes what a person does in response to faith.

Existence of God

Greek thought tries to prove the existence of God.

Hebrew thought assumes the existence of God.

Describing God

Greek thought focuses on the being of God.

Hebrew thought focuces on relationship with God.

Faith

Greek thought "sees faith as intellectual. It expresses faith in creeds and doctrine, listing proof texts to support their beliefs." -Ray Vaanderland

Hebrew thought "sees faith as relational and personal. It expresses faith in terms of a relationship with God, rather than as a rationalization." -Ray Vaanderland

Truth

Greek thought believes that Ultimate Truth tends to be scientific and rational. When viewing Scripture Greek thought focuses on how things are done. Truth is revealed as it is thought about. Truth is also static and unchanging.

Hebrew thought sees Truth as religious and experiential. When looking at scripture Hebrew thought tends to focus on what was done and who did it. Truth is revealed as it is experienced. Truth is also seen as unfolding.

Eternal Life

Greek thought views the Kingdom of God as detached from this world. It views enternal life as something that happens after earthly life is over.

Hebrew thought views the Kingdom of God as something beginning in this life. It views enternal life as a life lived in harmony with God.

I don't draw attention to these differences to say that one is more right than the other. I am not here to argue that point. Both ways of thought have their pros and cons. However, i am here to say that i think the Hebrew way of thought allows for greater understanding of our purpose and connection with God.

Allow me to make some observations.

Look at the Greek way of understanding Ultimate Truth. The mere fact that it is seen as something scientific and rational seems to point to a reliance on human abilities. Is it possible for a human to discover Ultimate Truth purely through science and human rationality?

Does this mean that God has to be rational? Or is the rationality described, defined by the Truth that God reveals?

Also, how can God reveal himself through Truth that is static and unchanging?

Now, I must move forward to explaining my previous point earlier in the blog, as well as, the purpose of this blog.

Previously, i made the statement that i believe the American Christian Church has adapted a more Greek way of thinking about God and more spefically about Heaven.

I believe that we have lost the majestic and gorgeous view of our present world by adapting the mentality that heaven is a far off place in which we will be going to spend time with our Lord after we die.

In thinking that heaven is something we can't experience until we are dead, we lose the holliness of Earth and the beauty in which God has bestowed upon it.

"God's plan is not to abandon this world, the world which he said was 'very good.' Rather, he intends to remake it. And when he does, he will raise all his people to new bodily life to live in it. That is the promise of the Christian Gospel." -N.T. Wright, Simply Christian.

Author and Theologian, N.T. Wright has, what i believe to be, a revolutionary way of looking at our place in the present and our call in the future. He writes, "In, God's new world Jesus himself will of course be the central figure. That's why from the very beginning the church has always spoken of his "second coming," though in terms of the overlap of heaven and earth it would be more appropriate to speak, as some early Christians also did, of the "reappearing" of Jesus. He is, at the moment, present with us, but hidden behind that invisible veil which keeps heaven and earth apart, and which we pierce in those moments, such as prayer, the sacraments, the reading of scripture, and our work with the poor, when the veil seems particularly thin. But one day the veil will be lifted; earth and heaven will be one; Jesus will be personally present, and every knee shall bow at his name; creation will be renewed; the dead will be raised; and God's new world will at last be in place, full of new prospects and possibilities."

This is what i believe life is about. It is about peering into the future through our experiences in the present.

We are called to live a certain way, not just so that we are following the rules layed out by God, but as a way of God revealing our future to us.

Think about it.

All the bible verses on Loving one another, not being angry with each other, feeding the poor, praying for your brother and sister in Christ, worshipping God endlessly, etc.

God is revealing part of heaven to us here and now through the ways in which he has called us to live.

This blog is not the extent of the thoughts i have on this subject. Instead, it is simply the beginning of many conversations on the topic of what it means to experience God here and now.

Blessings on those who read this. May it spark thought in your day!