The Poetry Of A Northern Eschatology
As many of you are probably not aware of, Winnipeg is the coldest city in the world with a population over 500,000. While we have just hit a “warm” break after a bitterly cold stretch At any rate, perhaps growing up in this climate and region accounts for the following being my favourite poem (and the only one I have committed to memory). So, as the emerging church is often characterized by its different approach to eschatology, I thought this would be a fitting, contextual piece to share- for fun.
Fire and Ice
by Robert FrostSome say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
I love Frost and memorized “Fire and Ice” years ago because it was short, but it has since become a favorite. I hold in high esteem and awe people who can take simple themes and create such powerful couplets.
Emerging church being characterized by its different approach to eschatology is not a subject I’ve heard much on. I’d love to pursue this line at some point.
bb,
Yeah, I feel the same way about Frost. As for eschatology, in a nut shell, the larger Evangelical church functions under a negative eschatology- the earth is going to be destroyed in the end, so why preserve it? If you sin, Hells in your future, so sin avoidance and strict morality become central. Etc… The emerging church seeks to place the emphasis more centrally on the promise, the hope, the restoration. FAR more complex than this, but there you go.
I also refer to it here:
http://emergentvoyageurs.blog.com/875021/
Peace,
Jamie
Ah, I see the point Jamie and thanks. This negative eschatology seems to come through also in the sense that many, dispensationalism particularity, see the church as a failure in its redemptive mission and only in Christ’s “millennial” reign will God finally establish the Messianic Kingdom. Sad and bad theology IMHO.
bb,
Exactly. Well said.
Peace,
Jamie
Great poem.
We live in the other side of the fence, where in the Summer it if often well over 100 degrees for dozens of days on end (with man of those going over 110), and we begin to dream of a days that would mercifully be in the 90′s.
Thanks for the poem.
Steve,
My wife is an Aussie, so she would love the 110 weather. Poor girl, she followed God’s calling into ministry, not knowing it would bring her to the worlds coldest city.
Peace,
Jamie