"Europe is a spectacular example of a sophisticated, cultured, sensitive, advanced, compassionate continent that is dying because it has repudiated its “primitive” roots. It will soon be a Muslim continent—necessarily so, because it is uprooted while Islam is rooted, and only rooted plants grow."
Boston College philosophy professor, Peter Kreeft (whom I respect greatly), made the above statement on his website in commenting on one of his latest books, "Between Allah and Jesus: What Christians Can Learn from Muslims". As a former Muslim, I agree with him. Often, when discussing Islam with other Christians, I tried explain this point to them (although not nearly as articulate).
Dr. Kreeft mentioned in his commentary, that Christians have, largely, abandoned the primitive and primordial shock and awe of the Ancient Christianity. Specifically, the ideas that our actions count and Hell is real have been set aside as archaic and unloving. This is all despite the fact that God does more than little smiting in the Good Book. As an aside, I think this may have something to do with Dr. Martin Luther and his gutting of the Gospel message. In my opinion, most Christians have no sense of this "fear of the Lord", and this is apparent in most of contemporary Christian music which is, unfortunaely, little more that 'Jesus is my boyfriend' anthems. Conversely, another wonderful example is the classic pictures of Jesus from the middle ages that I like to call the Smackdown Jesus.
Christians of the middle ages, before the endarkenment, had an orthodox and healthy relationship with Jesus as Judge and Savior. One can see this in Saint Ambrose's prayer wherein he states "Therefore, O loving God, O fearful Majesty, wretchedly caught in the midst of my extremities do I turn to Thee, the fountain of mercy; to Thee do I hasten to be healed; to Thy protection do I fly. And for Thee, before whom as Judge I cannot stand, as Saviour do I yearn". Muslims similarly see a healthy relationship with God as a perfect balance between fear and love. Christians need to recapture this primordial dynamic relationship, if they desire a revitalization of Christendom; lest the Lord say to us, "Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers!"
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Please allow me to make a correction, the quote that I mentioned was not from Saint Bonaventure. It was, in fact, from Saint Ambrose and it reads as follows.
ReplyDelete"Therefore, O loving God, O fearful Majesty, wretchedly caught in the midst of my extremities do I turn to Thee, the fountain of mercy; to Thee do I hasten to be healed; to Thy protection do I fly. And for Thee, before whom as Judge I cannot stand, as Saviour do I yearn."