"Technical civilization is man's conquest of space. It is a triumph frequently achieved by sacrificing an essential ingredient of existence, namely, time. In technical civilization, we expend time to gain space. To enhance our powers in the world of space is our main objective. Yet to have more does not mean to be more. The power we attain in the world of space terminates abruptly at the borderline of time. But time is the heart of existence."
Abraham Heschel did not live to witness the turn of the 21st century, or the explosion of information (misinformation rather) into every nook and corner of our consciousness. Though separated by time, his polemic continues to haunt our modern conscience. The urgency of his plea needs fresh hearing in a world obsessed with speed, efficiency and accomplishment. In a bid to maximize time by packing as much activities into each second of our waking hours, we have ironically sacrificed the very thing we sought to preserve.
Reading Heschel's seminal work once again brought me to reflect on my uncritical allegiance to the modern criterion of efficiency. It has weaved so seamlessly into the fabric of my life that it is no longer confined to simply desiring to complete each task quickly. Were it so, I might have had less cause for alarm. Yet as it stands, efficiency has evolved into a powerfully entrenched idol that holds sway over my entire outlook and constitutes the driving force of my life. It has colored my perception of people and has raised an oppressive yardstick against which I measure everyone and everything.
I have hence embraced an unconscious position where a person's worth is acknowledged based on productivity or accomplishments. Hence, it becomes second nature to disregard those whose station in life are lower than mine. Hence, the clerk at the check out counter or a beggar on the street can be treated with disdain and disrespect. On another level, the obsession with accomplishments fuels the gnawing sense of insecurity concerning my self worth and drives me deeper into a frenzy about needing to produce or prove myself. It also makes me envious and bitter towards those who are more successful. The idol of efficiency and the struggle for security distorts the way I perceive my neighbor and jettisons my ability to love him/her.
On a broader scale, the conviction that human worth is unevenly distributed, if brought to its logical conclusions, justifies oppressive practices of ethnocentrism, racism and hatred that condone the subjugation of supposedly inferior human groups under their supposedly more advanced counterparts. We see instances of this in the regrettable and objectionable behavior of western imperialism where white men deigned to lord it over their helpless colonial subjects. In the new world, ancestors of today's Americans perpetrated the horrendous genocide of the aboriginal community and actively practiced racial segregation.
The bible firmly critiques this oppressive and tragic outworking of human sin by affirming that every individual, no matter how deformed or degraded, is a vehicle of the divine. Each human stands equal as bearers of the image of the King of kings and Lord of lords. This rightful view of self and neighbor breaks the yoke of our instrumental attitude toward others and sustains an equalizing force that brings us down from our high horses. We are liberated by this understanding to celebrate the uniqueness of each person and to love them for who they are rather than what they can possibly do for us.
The biblical worldview breaks down the idols of efficiency and accomplishment as the criteria for our relationships. It brings us back to the essence of our lives--time. In acknowledging the infinite worth of each person and the call to love them, we are compelled to set aside the need to prove ourselves and invest our lives (the currency of which is time) in building up others. In doing so, we regain a proper regard and experience of time.
This is an important aspect of what it means to be a Christian and one that leaves much to be desired in my life. Lord, teach me to stop valuing others by the very standards I know to be vacuous and enslaving. Help me celebrate the uniqueness of the people around and cease projecting my expectations onto them.
5 comments:
That we acknowledge we have fallen short of this counter cultural way of viewing "successful people" I think marks a huge step.
So many Christians today, many of them very close to us have failed to recognise the Bible's clarion call to shun material pursuits and stop putting successful people on the pedestal.
Prosperity Gospel !!
I fully agree. It runs against the grains of what we've been conditioned to expect of people. The pervasiveness of this old mindset underscores the importance of an intentional community of believers constantly living out a different worldview and nurturing us to do the same. Really helps me better understand why the bible calls us not to forsake the fellowship.
However, the big problem lies as you've pointed out--that even within the church we continue to reinforce the values of the world.
Man... haha, anyway have you read Hosea? I merely skimmed through. Will need your to enlighten me on Sun.
Oh, just in case you didn't see it, I also commented on your 6th Oct post.
Great article=)
Recently I've been challenged with the whole outlook of "not being of this world"
To be honest, though I profess to be "not of this world" by being simplistic and reductionist (and anti-Apple haha), I've learnt that it is more than the front that is displayed. Rather it's our intrinsic attitudes.
I've been struggling with the Christian response to failure, and trusting in God for the uncertainties of the future.
Yup, I've been struggling with irrational fears recently, which I've struggled to commit to the Lord.
1. For my driving test.
2. For my relationship with Wei-Lyn
My fears have been motivated by how I felt others would perceive me; ie how the world would perceive me.
Fears such as-would not being able to drive make me less of a "man", or what the World views being a "man" should be. Or what aspect of my behavior I should will myself to become to be worthy of Lyn.
All these ways of thinking are what the World encourages us to apply in our lives. And the shocking thing is that even in Church, these standards are even adopted by many, that we've failed to embrace the imperfections of men and women.
Ian, your point about all of us being instruments of God is very encouraging. And in not wanting the World to impose standards on others and us, we've to first take the step of eradicating our judgemental attitudes towards others.
Been struggling with that, and judging others based on my own yardstick, and when I'm placed in a situation where I am judged, I understood the unhappiness and discomfort of being at the end of the judgement. The change starts with us. Like what we discussed about not gossiping about others, we should set the example for people in Church. Keep each other in prayer brothers=) (and one lady haha)
Haha those were my personal raw thoughts, due to a month-long struggle and emotional rollercoaster haha, so please forgive the excessive "I's" and "me's".
I'm still wrestling these issues with God, but the Christian response should always be the willingness to put up a struggle, knowing that such thoughts and attitudes are ungodly.
Thanks for the article Ian=)
Post a Comment