Are We A Small and Arrogant Oligarchy?
I can’t think of a more foolish attitude I harbor at times than when I look back on previous generations and assume they were ignorant, unenlightened, unaware and totally outside of what I’m thinking and experiencing today. I was reminded of something the British writer G.K. Chesterton wrote in his book Orthodoxy (Chapter 4):
“Tradition means giving a vote to most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead.” Chesterton goes on to say: “Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father.”
And here’s the rub. While it is absolutely true that previous generations did not have the same technologies or understanding of “how things work” in their world, but is there such a vast difference between 21st century people and those of previous centuries? Are we so far removed we think we can not possibly learn anything from our fathers, grandfathers and ancestors in the past. I’m particularly struck by this when I consider, as I grow older, how my own parents appear ever increasingly wise. The tradition in Asian culture of revering their elders has much to commend it. Today, we regard those older than us as people who, obviously, are not as “in touch” with “reality” as we are. And even more so do we view our ancestors as hopeless irrelevant.
Here’s some concrete examples of where I see the arrogant oligarchy in action over against those who have come before. Christian worship: Why is it that in the past twenty-five years the worship forms that have been used for thousands of years, have come to be regarded as wholly inadequate and must be replaced with forms that have little in common with the historic worship forms of the past? Why do I sometimes assume that nobody can possibly understand how I’m feeling when faced with a difficult situation who is a member of a generation far removed from mine? Why did I, for example, the other day when looking at Starck’s Prayer Book, smile at the fact that there were prayers there to be prayed as a thunderstorm approached and to be prayed after it was over? “Oh, how quaint,” I thought. Then I felt shame, as I considered the fact that dangerous thunderstorms back when there were no safe buildings, or emergency services, or advanced warning, were devastating.
Do you have some examples from your life where you see yourself as part of the arrogant oligarchy? Would you share some by way of comments?
You have absolutely ‘nailed it’ with this post and have articulated much of how I have been thinking and feeling recently.
If it were not for the writings of Spurgeon, I would still be stuck in the ever decreasing circle of ‘works’ for salvation. Even preachers nowadays have left behind the wonderful accumulated wisdom of our Church forefathers, and we wonder why the church is adrift.
The body of Christ transcends time and generations and is supposed to be built up like a building, with the current generation sitting atop all of the preceding. To throw this away is to try to build a roof on thin air.
I often have to fight the temptation to disregard the pre-modern exegetical insights of the Fathers (early and late), since they don’t pay much attention to modern rules of exegesis. And yet they have so much to teach us – partly for the precise reason that they don’t adhere to modern rules of exegesis.
Pr. Simojoki, I share your feelings on this point. I have become profoundly skeptical of the ultimate utility of “modern rules of exegesis.” I believe that such “rules,” developed in the academy by the guild of scholars have contributed, frankly, in large measure, to the Scriptures becoming viewed as a text to be analyzed, sliced and diced, parsed and diagrammed, dissected and put under a microscope to the point that it is regarded more as an artifact to be scrutinized, than as the Word of the Living God.
@Tapani Simojoki
How True!
PTM, My answer to your question is found on pp. 1-830 of “At Home in the House of My Fathers.”
I can’t believe how some people use the Internet to push their books.
You said “Scriptures becoming viewed as a text to be analyzed, sliced and diced, parsed and diagrammed, dissected and put under a microscope to the point that it is regarded more as an artifact to be scrutinized, than as the Word of the Living God.” That is truly the demise of the modern seminary. And this is the opportunity of the LCMS Churches. Preach Christ and him crucified. Matt Harrison was a guest at my church a few weeks ago and admired our large crusifix above the altar and he said, “This was that way all Lutheran Churches were 80 years ago….’They preached Christ the crucified One!” Please pastors don’t give us your prospective on “The Text” rather proclaim Christ for us and use the Word to deliver the promises. Both the Law and Gospel. Then stand back as your Fathers did and let God do the work.
And that was a good reminder for me to order Matt Harrisons new Book..Logging on to cph.org right now
Good post… and lest we forget… thunderstorms still threaten and kill (ie Katrina, Rita, and the thunderstorm that knocked out power for half a million around St. Louis back in ’06).
Someone once defined tradition as the living faith of the dead, and traditionalism as the dead faith of the living. It seems to me that both traditionalism and the conceit of the present are best avoided. “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” 1 Thess. 5:21 (NIV)
The way 1 John 2:12-14 speaks to 3 generations draws an interesting picture of how each relates to the Gospel: The first receives, the second achieves, the third perceives.
@ptmccain
And especially one’s that aren’t even available through Amazon yet!
Thank you Pastor McCain for another blog post that I’ll use to launch a Sunday morning discussion. The last one (actually the post about Pastor Harrison’s new book) went very well.
Me as the arrogant oligarchy (and since we’re already talking about book-pushing): I self-published a book, made it available online to purchase through this company, offered a free PDF of the book online, mentioned it on my blog and other online forums, etc. I then congratulated myself on being so cyber-friendly and getting word out there.
Today I got an email from our church body’s office: a PDF of a scanned, handwritten note from an elderly gentleman who had happened upon a reference to my book in a recent church magazine. He says, “I’d like to get this book, but I don’t have a computer and have no way of getting in touch with this person to order it.”
Humbling!