I spent some
time this week discussing a book with a friend. The book is Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s
“Notes From the Underground”- often hailed to be the first of the
existentialist genre. It was a great conversation – mixing up a few of the
things I like discussing – literature (I enjoy the Russian classics), political
philosophy, and theology. Naturally, I know you can all tell exactly where this
is going (sarcasm)! To be fair, this is required reading in my
friend’s philosophy class, and we were bouncing ideas off one another. I don’t know too many people that just
casually engage in literary and philosophical criticism for fun.
So – let me
outline the story a bit for you. The narrator is never named in the book. He just speaks from his place in the corner.
Some of his ramblings are memories, others are observations. But he stays
there, in the corner. It’s a comfortable place for him, he’s got a decent view
of the world and its goings-on. The man used to be a civil servant, so he’s
seen what’s out in society, and he has a lot to say about it.
And WHAT a
lot he has to say. He speaks about the society – what’s wrong with it, how it
would have been better under his leadership, how there’s little to no hope for
it now that he has left it’s service. He speaks about the people – their disgusting
habits, their repugnant mannerisms, their awful clothes, their horrible
behaviours. He speaks about the food in
the city – it’s never good enough, there’s not enough of what he wants, it’s
being wasted on those who don’t know how to appreciate it. He speaks about all
manner of things, from his lofty corner perch. He speaks negatively about it
all.
The
reasoning behind this is that the man is a judgmental character who cannot see
beyond his own selfish scope. He sees the world as a collection of objects that
have been put there simply for his use (and abuse); people have been put in his
path simply for his ridicule, experiences are there simply to be criticised
when they don’t measure up.
Worthy of
note is his detachment from all of the goings-on. After he left his job (and
there’s some controversy over that, too), he separates himself to go to his
corner. His safe, comfortable corner. His corner underground, where he is not
seen by others. His corner where no one
comes to visit. His corner where he hides, cowardly, to sit judgment on the
world as he sees it. His corner where
his is the only point of view that’s considered, his corner where only a small
fraction of society is viewed when he chooses to look through the peep hole,
his corner where no one disagrees with his assessments, his corner where his
biased arrogance grows.
In his
corner, the man has made himself into a king. He has determined that he is
better than the rest of the world, and believes that he has the rationale to
back up that claim. He is supreme, looking out.
But for the
rest of the world, this is NOT kingship, this is cowardice. The man hovers
alone in fear and desperation; he refuses to see the beauty in the world as it
is being presented to him; he focuses only on putting others down as a means to
build himself up. This is no man, this is a mouse. Scurrying in the darkness,
running away from those who might help him in the off-chance that they might
bring him harm, closing himself away from the benefits of community and trust
and love and light.
Sadly, we
can see glimpses of this type of behaviour in our world too. We see people who
choose to put themselves above others, who judge themselves better based on
arbitrary means. There are people who feel that self-worth is determined by
criticising (publically or privately) another person’s clothing – their car –
their cooking – their physical appearance – their vocabulary – their reading or
television choices – the list could go on and on. And so they are putting
others down as a way to try and build themselves up. And our society not only
accepts this, but in a way it promotes it – think of all the magazines or TV
programmes that invite criticism and self-aggrandisement. Magazine covers that anonymously, through
their own little peephole - try to expose the tiniest bit of fat on
celebrities, or attack them for being out in public without makeup. TV shows
that intentionally pit one against the other, in difficult situations, to see
just how manipulative and hurtful they can be to one another in order to win
some contest or other. Think about how we see it in community – we hear people
gossip about one another, we see them ignore their neighbour for no apparent
reason.
When we
think about it, we are putting ourselves in to that corner. Separate, critical,
judgmental, believing that we know best. We have the right answers. We are in a
position of authority over those
people, especially in these earthly matters.
Yet we are
challenged in that; we are called to be a people of humility and community and
love. We are called to see beyond the earthly and celebrate the spiritual. We
are called to realise that the corner is NOT a healthy place for a Christian to
be.
Our
teachings are very clear about this. The scriptures constantly remind us to
live our lives with humility, to see that we are not ourselves in the kingly
chair in the dark corner, but rather that we are called to live in community,
in the light, in humility under Christ. We are called to examine our behaviour
not affirming how it builds us up personally, but rather how it helps to
support the Reign of Christ in the world. We are called to see that sometimes
our earthly experiences trap us into that corner, and when that happens we are
called to move away from the corner and back into the world.
We are
called to see society as an imperfect place where we can make a difference – through
prayer, through helping our neighbour, through engaging to build community. We
are challenged to speak of society in ways that are to the benefit of everyone,
providing ideas and solutions instead of criticisms. We are called to see people as beloved –
whatever their fashion sense or dress size or hairstyle. We are challenged to
speak of people in positive and prayerful ways, we are challenged to journey
with people rather than just watch them from a distance. We are called to see that different behaviours
or abilities are neither better nor worse, but just different – and equally
important and useful to bringing about the mission of sharing the Gospel. And we
are called to see ourselves within that mix – as part of the reality that is
before us, as part of the force working to bring the light of Christ into every
dark corner in the world.
“So are you
a King?” – Not even Jesus – our true King – would answer such an earthy
question in earthy terms. “My Kingdom is not from this world.” – it is not one
of restrictions or judgment or putting people down. It is a place of building
up, of empowering, of loving. It IS the place of truth. Jesus said that “Everyone
who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." I invite us to do our best
to listen.
