Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski has
formulated what he calls the Law of Infinite Cornucopia: The human mind will
provide a limitless supply of arguments in favor of whatever we already want to
believe. Once that happens, we go on auto-pilot because something so
self-evidently true justifies any means necessary to achieve or defend it.
Jewish
Christian theologian James has his own name for this thought process: demonic.
James
contrasts wisdom that descends from above with wisdom that erupts from below.
The two lack even a single point of contact. The Law of Infinite Grace states
that God will provide a limitless supply of significance, and thus frees us to
give out, give up, and give in. Hell’s logic begins with what I lack and thus
drives me to deploy any weapon that comes to hand. It might not actually come
to murder (4.2), but James’ big brother taught him that killing someone is only
the extreme expression of any desire to make less of someone else in order to
make more of myself. (Mt 5.21-22) Jesus also taught him that adultery (4.4)
isn’t about getting, but about wanting. (Mt 5.31-32)
When
James promises lavish answers to prayer (4.2) he refers principally to the
terrible blessing of an upended way of looking at the world. If the church
wants, if we dare to ask, Jesus will happily show us the worthlessness of
everything we hold dear and the true value of what we reject.
But
it would require a lot to take delivery on that kind of answer to prayer. In
fact, we might need an outlook so radical that it would be like returning to
infancy to start life all over again. And I have a cornucopia of good reasons
not to do that.
Look Up!
Doug
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