"If I knew tomorrow were the end of the world,
I'd plant an apple tree today."
(attributed to Martin Luther; 16th century German)
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A blend of original and existing poetry (from literature & straight from the Bible) that speaks the Christian message through the idioms of nature. Old posts never become "old news."
About Me
- C. Marie Byars
- Helping Profession; military veteran; church musician. Active Lutheran. Conservative Christian; Centrist in worldly politics.
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Posts
4 comments:
I love this though it would also break my heart to see the tree if the world was really going to end.
On the other hand, if there was any doubt about the end of the world, or if it was a matter of resisting nihilism, the tree would make me very happy.
Whatever you do plant trees!
But I suppose Luther had more than natural trees in mind. The seed is the word ...
Hey, sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I had a minor "turn of my ankle/foot"--- a strain, not quite a sprain, but more than nothing. Then I also had just a bunch of errands and chores to get done, despite this! (And we've been short-handed at my one job plus having a lot more clients at the other, so just been working more, despite the minor injury.)
ANWAY, thanks for your insights.
I think that Luther's though was definitely challenging nihilism, to a great degree. Also, that the end of the world is hopeful, not scary, to believers. (American Christianity and all the millennialism that grew up here has managed to contort it into something scary. I guess Mediaeval Catholicism did some of the same, also, in viewing Christ as returning, frightful "Judge" more than coming back to rescue His people.)
Of course, there is the metaphoric view of the seed as the Word, as in the parable of the seed and the sower and other places.
Hope. Always hope. We Lutherans celebrate Advent the 4 weeks before Christmas. A time when we remember Christ's 1st coming and highlight His return. (Advent means a "coming" or "arrival".) It is a season of hope as we watch and wait.
The "usual folks" in American Christianity who talk so much about "the end of the world" are curiously silent for the most part right now. But others I know who were usually super reserved about this teaching are quietly, cautiously floating the idea that maybe this really IS the end.
If it's not really the end of all things, I think it is most certainly the end of an era in American Christianity. And, sadly, I think an awful lot of American Christianity is taking the wrong route to do "battle" in this arena. Going back to the idea of "The Word"--- that's the only armament listed in the Armor of God, Ephesians 6. The rest are "defensive equipment." Sadly, this era seems to be breeding a desire to use all sorts of worldly "weapons" to "club" unbelievers into, at least, worldly submission here in our country. But the Word is not being used nearly often enough in its proper double-edged ability (noted elsewhere in Scripture): to convict us first of our sins through the Law, then to give us that precious Gospel to forgive us and build our strength. Unless we take up the proper armor for the proper reasons, we will struggle in ways that are not truly spiritual battles and create chaos we don't need to create.
Be blessed! Hopefully we are all, also, finding ways to be blessings in the world around us!
I understand the sadness about seeing this world end. But God has promised to truly create a new heaven and new earth. And He is going to resurrect our bodies to live perfectly in that new creation
We will touch, smell, sing, dance, laugh, love, see... all without the taint of physical or emotional pain.
A great allegorical view of this is the last of Chronicles of Narnia books by C.S. Lewis.
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