I just watched a very good but short video on the place and form of emotions in the life of the Christian (see here). Fr. Maxym noted that in the gospels when we see Jesus, we see him with emotions, but emotions that are perfectly balanced, controlled and connected with reality. In Jesus, we see no fantasy. Jesus' being and action are one.
This raises some questions in my mind about the place of fantasy in the life of the Christian. Is it ever appropriate for the Christian to spend time thinking about that which is not real? It is a thought steam that I need to spend some time considering and working through. At this point, I don't have an answer, but I suspect that the answer is "no".
What about potential reality? Possibly. What about sinful fantasy? Obviously not. I don't believe this question has anything to do with ruminating on future goals and plans, but even these should not preoccupy us in a way that distracts us from present reality and present responsibilities. We really should be focused on loving those in our immediate reality and dealing with our own immediate sins.
As Paul says, "...while it is still called today, repent".
This raises some questions in my mind about the place of fantasy in the life of the Christian. Is it ever appropriate for the Christian to spend time thinking about that which is not real? It is a thought steam that I need to spend some time considering and working through. At this point, I don't have an answer, but I suspect that the answer is "no".
What about potential reality? Possibly. What about sinful fantasy? Obviously not. I don't believe this question has anything to do with ruminating on future goals and plans, but even these should not preoccupy us in a way that distracts us from present reality and present responsibilities. We really should be focused on loving those in our immediate reality and dealing with our own immediate sins.
As Paul says, "...while it is still called today, repent".
I grew up reading Narnia and LOTR - these clearly fall under the category of fantasy/not real, but are rich with Christian metaphors, and written by far better Christians than myself. Imagination is the engine of fantasy. I have long considered imagination to be a gift from God, but as with all gifts, I believe He judges what we do with them just as He judges what's in our hearts: some use their gifts to glorify Him, and obviously, many do not. I presume imagination/fantasy that deviates from Him is no better than actions in reality which do the same. (Matthew 5:28, Proverbs 23:7, etc)That being said though, I'd heartily agree that Jesus is our ultimate model of balance.
ReplyDeleteCarl, I completely understand your position and the thought makes perfect sense, but as with so many things in my journey of the Christian faith, what makes sense to me may very well not be true. I do find it interesting that the church fathers and history in general finds the church as not supportive of, or advocating imagination/fantasy. These modes of thought appear to be a post Enlightenment invention. While Jesus did use stories to communicate his truth, the stories were not fantasy per se.
ReplyDeleteThat is also a valid point.
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