...to have a split over environmental issues. In my own Church, we have folks such as this (fortunately retired) Cardinal Biffi saying pretty weird things:
"the Antichrist presents himself as a pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist. He convokes an ecumenical council and seeks the consensus of all the Christian confessions, conceding something to each one."
This is the supposed claim of a 19th century Russian Philosopher, Vladimir Solovyev.
Biffi then goes on to note that there are absolute values such as truth and beauty and the good, but curiously- solidarity, love for peace and respect for nature are merely relative values. I wonder if Biffi can spell Seamless Garment?
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2 comments:
Absolutely subjective values, that is.
Okay, how about this? From what I can see, and the way I interpret the scriptures, Jesus never called himself Christ; it was a title given to him by others (Simon Peter being the first to do so). "Christ" means "someone anointed as a ruler" according to my Random House College Dictionary.
Instead, Jesus referred to himself as Son of Man, reserving the accolades for God: "...whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4, New International Version)
Humility versus Ruler.
And Mark 10:43-45 -- "...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Slave versus Ruler
Ergo, "Antichrist" can conceivably mean a state closer to what Jesus had in mind. Which makes being a pacifist, ecologist, and ecumenist quite all right.
My midrash for the day...
Exactly...fortunately at least some Christians are getting this point...and of course it always gets lip service. In the Catholic tradition, the the Pope is often referred to as the servant of servants. And during lent, the "slave to all" idea and the concept of God becoming human...son of man is emphasized a lot.
But people are not very good about generalizing across domains. so the Christ as the Prince of Peace or Lord of All gets emphasized. From my way of thinking, even the resurrection upon which Chrsitians pin their hope, is not really at the center of Christ's message.
I notice in the New Revised Standard edition the phrase son of man is rendered mortal or human implying to me the insignificance that we have.
Thanks for posting...hmmm I think it is time for my Lenten nessage.
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