“What if this present were the world’s last night?” is equally relevant. Sometimes this question has been pressed upon our minds with the purpose of exciting fear. I do not think that is its right use. I am indeed far from agreeing with those who think all religious fear barbarous and degrading and demand that it should be banished from the spiritual life. Perfect love, we know, casteth out fear. But so do several other things—ignorance, alcohol, passion, presumption, and stupidity. It is very desirable that we should all advance to that perfection of love in which we shall fear no longer; but it is very undesirable, until we have reached that stage, that we should allow any inferior agent to cast out our fear. The objection to any attempt at perpetual trepidation about the Second Coming is, in my view, quite a different one: namely, that it will certainly not succeed. Fear is an emotion and it is quite impossible—even physically impossible—to maintain any emotion for very long. A perpetual excitement of hope about the Second Coming is impossible for the same reason. Crisis-feeling of any sort is essentially transitory. Feelings come and go, and when they come a good use can be made of them: they cannot be our regular spiritual diet.
What is important is not that we should always fear (or hope) about the End but that we should always remember, always take it into account.
C.S. Lewis, "The World's Last Night" (1960)
Agreed, people can become numb to fear if nothing happens over a period of time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, constantly focusing on an event that we can do nothing about (it will happen when it happens) affects our balance as Christians. We set our sights on the wrong target, and lose our balance as Christians
Fear seems to be the driving force behind the "Left Behind" phenomena. Scare people into becoming Christians. Not a good idea.
ReplyDeleteAnd NOT what the NT is trying to do with this teaching about the Second Coming. It's not about using fear to scare people into believing. It's about keeping us watchful, as Jesus put it. It's about living in light of his return. It's about being ready for him to come at any time.
So, Orlando, I think it's good for us to think often about the Return of Christ, not with excessive emotion (fear or hope), but as a way of helping us make decisions in life in favour of what is most important. Lewis says it so well: "The doctrine of the Second Coming has failed, so far as we are concerned, if it does not make us realize that at every moment of every year in our lives Donne’s question “What if this present were the world’s last night?” is equally relevant."
It's tough to think this way, for sure, but what would I do today if I believed Jesus were coming back tonight?
(P.S. I love this rather erie pic of the CN Tower, made me feel like it could be the night of His Return.)
I'm probably too late to comment on this reading, but two things... First, Awesome pic of the CN Tower, very appropriate to the mood of the writing. Second, love how the reading concludes: "What is important is not that we should always fear (or hope) about the End but that we should always remember, always take it into account."
ReplyDeleteI've got to think more about that...
It's never too late, Scott. I appreciate the comment. I love this reading too, so I labelled it as a Favourite, accessible from the home page of the blog. I wanted to find an ominous picture for this reading so I'm glad you agree with my selection.
ReplyDeleteI too have got to think more about taking into account that this might be the world's last night...
Just the fact it is now Sept 2010 it hasn't yet occurred the last night on earth. 2 Peter 1:19 tells us "We have also a more sure word of prophecy." Is it possible that some prophecies have not as yet reached their fulfillment? Just inquiring. Now I must confess that the last night or day has happened to every one that has died. However I don't think that, that is the issue here.
ReplyDeleteThe last night on earth also ushers in the second coming of Christ, and we ought to joyfully look forward to that event. Isn't that the most anticipated event that God's children are waiting for?
Matthew 10:28 where Jesus states "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Isn't Jesus telling us something here? It is not the first death that we experience that one should be fearful of but the second death is eternal.
Therefore those who are in Christ have nothing to fear.
Jesus lived each day on purpose. I think that is what Lewis is getting at. The teaching about the Second Coming is used in the church to put fear in people and sometimes to give them hope. I think Lewis is right to emphasize that the reality that this could be the last night should motivate us to living intentionally each day. "What is important is not that we should always fear (or hope) about the End but that we should always remember, always take it into account."
ReplyDeleteGood stuff. Thanks for you comment, Anonymous.