6. Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
7. 2 questions: Conventional View Emerging View
From Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a
The Human
Situation: What
God created the world as perfect,
but because our primal
is the story that
we find
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain the absolute
God created the world as good, but
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in?
Revolution of Hope
perfection demanded by God,
God has irrevocably determined
that the entire universe and all it
contains will be destroyed, and
like a terrible disease. God wants to save
humanity and heal it from its sickness,
but humanity is hopelessly lost and
confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
What are the top global
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
problems?
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
What does the message of Jesus
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
say to those problems?
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
8. Top Global Problems:
High Noon (20)
The Human
Situation: What
we find
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
but because our primal
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain the absolute
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
United Nations University (15)
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
Copenhagen Consensus (10)
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
Millennium Development Goals (8)
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
PEACE plan (5)
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
9. United Nations University: The State of the Future
Top Fifteen Challenges: How can …
1. … sustainable development be achieved for all?
2. … everyone have sufficient clean water without
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
conflict?
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
3. … population growth and resources be brought into
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
balance?
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
4. … genuine democracy emerge from authoritarian
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
regimes? How did Jesus
respond to the
crisis?
want to be among those
specifically qualified to escape
being forever punished for your
sins in hell, you must repent of
your individual sins and believe
groups – including your own religious
leaders - are leading you farther and
farther astray. I have been sent by God
with this good news – that God loves
humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
5. … policymaking be made more sensitive to global long-
that my Father punished me on
the cross so He won’t have to
punish you in hell. Only if you
believe this will you go to
heaven when everyone else is
God graciously invites everyone and
anyone to question and reject what they
have been told and instead follow a new
path. Trust me and become my disciple,
and you will be transformed, and you will
term perspectives? banished to hell.”2 This is the
good news.
participate in the transformation of the
world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
6. … the global convergence of information and
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
communications technologies work for everyone?
7. … ethical market economies be encouraged to help
reduce the gap between rich and poor?
10. 8. … the threat of new and reemerging diseases and immune
micro-organisms be reduced?
9. … the capacity to decide be improved as the nature of work
and institutions change? Conventional View Emerging View
10. … shared values and new security strategies reduce ethnic
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
conflicts, terrorism, and the use of weapons of mass
God has irrevocably determined
that the entire universe and all it
contains will be destroyed, and
the souls of all human beings –
humanity and heal it from its sickness,
but humanity is hopelessly lost and
confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
destruction? Basic
exempted – will be forever
punished for their imperfection
in hell.1
Since everyone is doomed to
human beings will spiral downward in
sickness and evil.
Since the human race is in such desperate
11. … the changing status of women help improve the human
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
condition? Jesus’ message:
can God help individuals be
happy and successful until then?
Jesus says, in essence, “If you
contemporaries: living under domination
by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
12. … transnational organized crime networks be stopped from
respond to the
crisis?
specifically qualified to escape
being forever punished for your
sins in hell, you must repent of
your individual sins and believe
leaders - are leading you farther and
farther astray. I have been sent by God
with this good news – that God loves
humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
becoming more powerful and sophisticated global enterprises?
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
13. … growing energy demands be met safely and efficiently?
banished to hell.”2 This is the
good news.
participate in the transformation of the
world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
14. … scientific and technological breakthroughs be
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
accelerated to improve the human condition?
15. … ethical considerations become more routinely
incorporated into global decisions?
11. 8 Millennium Development Goals:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education.
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
3. Promote gender equality and empower
Situation: What
we find
ourselves in?
but because our primal
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain the absolute
perfection demanded by God,
God has irrevocably determined
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world with evil and injustice
like a terrible disease. God wants to save
humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
women. contains will be destroyed, and
the souls of all human beings –
except for those specifically
exempted – will be forever
punished for their imperfection
confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
wandering farther and farther into
lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
human beings will spiral downward in
sickness and evil.
4. Reduce child mortality.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
5. Improve maternal health.
Jesus’ message:
go to heaven after they die? How
can God help individuals be
happy and successful until then?
Jesus says, in essence, “If you
specific outworking among his
contemporaries: living under domination
by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
6. Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria, and other
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
diseases. the cross so He won’t have to
punish you in hell. Only if you
believe this will you go to
heaven when everyone else is
banished to hell.”2 This is the
anyone to question and reject what they
have been told and instead follow a new
path. Trust me and become my disciple,
and you will be transformed, and you will
participate in the transformation of the
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
8. Develop a global partnership for
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
development
12. Copenhagen Consensus Top 10
Global Problems
1. Hunger and malnutrition
Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
2. Climate change
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God,
God has irrevocably determined
that the entire universe and all it
contains will be destroyed, and
the souls of all human beings –
like a terrible disease. God wants to save
humanity and heal it from its sickness,
but humanity is hopelessly lost and
confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
wandering farther and farther into
3. Conflicts
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
4. Financial Instability
questions did
Jesus come to
answer?
questions: how can individuals
be saved from eternal
punishment in hell and instead
go to heaven after they die? How
can God help individuals be
question: what must be done about the
mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
the general human condition and its
specific outworking among his
contemporaries: living under domination
5. Water and Sanitation
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
6. Subsidies and Trade Barrierssins in hell, you must repent of
your individual sins and believe
that my Father punished me on
the cross so He won’t have to
punish you in hell. Only if you
with this good news – that God loves
humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
God graciously invites everyone and
anyone to question and reject what they
have been told and instead follow a new
7. Population/Migration
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
8. Communicable Diseases
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
9. Education
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
10. Governance and Corruption
13. Rick Warren’s PEACE Plan
1. Promote reconciliation to reduce
Conventional View Emerging View
conflict. The Human
Situation: What
we find
ourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,
but because our primal
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain the absolute
perfection demanded by God,
God has irrevocably determined
God created the world as good, but
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world with evil and injustice
like a terrible disease. God wants to save
humanity and heal it from its sickness,
2. Equip servant leaders to combat
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
corrupt leadership
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
3. Assist the poor through
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
humanitarian aid (poverty)
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
4. Care for the sick to combat disease
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
5. Educate the next generation to
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
combat ignorance
14. spiritual emptiness corrupt leadership
poverty disease ignorance hunger and
malnutrition climate change conflicts
Financial Instability Water/Sanitation
subsidies/trade barriers population/
migration communicable diseases
education governance/corruption
hunger education gender inequality
child mortality maternal health
environmental sustainability ethnic
conflicts terrorism weapons of mass
destruction organized crime networks
energy demands clean water population
growth authoritarian regimes
15. spiritual emptiness corrupt
leadership poverty disease
ignorance hunger and
malnutrition climate change
emergencies
conflicts Financial Instability
GLOBAL
Water/Sanitation subsidies/trade
barriers population/ migration
FOUR
communicable diseases
education governance/
corruption hunger
education gender inequality
child mortality maternal
health environmental
sustainability ethnic conflicts
terrorism weapons of mass
destruction organized crime
networks energy demands
clean water population
growth authoritarian regimes
16. Compiling and integrating the
lists of global emergencies...
The Human
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
1. Planet
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
2. Poverty
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
3. Peace
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
4. Religion
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
18. What are the “moving parts?”
Business
Government
Family
Military
Education
Media
Internet/Communications
Science
Art/Sport/Entertainment
Societal Machine
etc.
Is there a simpler way of mapping ...
27. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources Waste
Equity
Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Crisis 1. A Prosperity System that can’t stop growing beyond
environmental limits, resulting in multi-faceted environmental
crises. (The crisis of the planet.)
28. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources Waste
Equity
Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
29. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Waste
Resources
Equity
Security
Societal Machine
2. An Equity System that can’t keep pace with the growing
gap between the rich minority and the poor majority,
resulting in suffering, resentment, and fear. (The crisis of
poverty.)
30. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Waste
Resources
Equity
Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
31. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Waste
Resources
Equity
Security
Societal Machine
3. A Security System that arms rich and poor with more and
more catastrophic weapons, resulting in vicious cycles of
crime, mass migration, terrorism and anti-terrorism. (The
crisis of peace.)
32. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
33. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Framing Story
34. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
4. The Failure of the World’s
Religions to provide a framing story
capable of healing the societal Framing Story
machine - i.e. Good News. (The
crisis of purpose.)
35.
36. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
37. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
Domination
38. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
Domination
Revolution
39. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
Domination
Revolution
Purification/Scapegoating
40. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
Domination
Revolution
Purification/Scapegoating
Isolation
41. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
Domination
Revolution
Purification/Scapegoating
Isolation
Accumulation
42. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
Domination
Revolution
Purification/Scapegoating
Isolation
Accumulation
Victimization
43. Instead, our world religions can
usually be found in support of existing
framing stories of …
Domination
Revolution
Purification/Scapegoating
Isolation
Accumulation
Victimization
This is remarkably similar to the religious
situation in Jesus’ day.
51. Domination - Sadducees, Herodians, Romans
Revolution - Zealots
Purification (Scapegoating) - Pharisees
Isolation - Essenes
Accumulation - Wealthy Judeans
Victimization - Poor Galileans, sinners, lepers, outcasts
Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
52. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Good news - announcement of a new
regime, administration, victory.
Kingdom - reigning, relationships,
values, laws, customs: the unified whole
God - which one?
53. The kingdom of Whom? …
A God who forgives …
A God who includes …
A God who notices …
A God who serves …
A nonviolent God who reconciles …
A God who heals …
A God who transcends boundaries …
A God who sides with the poor …
A God who is present …
A God bigger than organized religion …
54. Many people assume “kingdom of
God” means “going to heaven
when you die.” But the Lord’s
prayer doesn’t say ...
May we come to your kingdom
when we die.
May we all go to heaven where,
unlike earth, your will is done.
55. It teaches us to pray ...
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven.
56.
57. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
58. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Instead of ...
59. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Instead of ...
Domination - Service & Love
60. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Instead of ...
Domination - Service & Love
Revolution - Forgiveness & Reconciliation
61. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Instead of ...
Domination - Service & Love
Revolution - Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Purification (Scapegoating) - Embrace & inclusion
62. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Instead of ...
Domination - Service & Love
Revolution - Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Purification (Scapegoating) - Embrace & inclusion
Isolation - Incarnation & Healing
63. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Instead of ...
Domination - Service & Love
Revolution - Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Purification (Scapegoating) - Embrace & inclusion
Isolation - Incarnation & Healing
Accumulation - Self-giving & sacrifice
64. Jesus proclaimed a radically different
framing story … Good news of the
Kingdom of God.
Instead of ...
Domination - Service & Love
Revolution - Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Purification (Scapegoating) - Embrace & inclusion
Isolation - Incarnation & Healing
Accumulation - Self-giving & sacrifice
Victimization - Empowerment & Mission
65.
66. Jesus proclaimed a radically different framing
story … Good news of the Kingdom of God.
67. Jesus proclaimed a radically different framing
story … Good news of the Kingdom of God.
PLANET - through love of neighbor as self, pursuit of
common good, learning from birds & flowers
68. Jesus proclaimed a radically different framing
story … Good news of the Kingdom of God.
PLANET - through love of neighbor as self, pursuit of
common good, learning from birds & flowers
POVERTY - through concern for the least of these,
seeking justice for all
69. Jesus proclaimed a radically different framing
story … Good news of the Kingdom of God.
PLANET - through love of neighbor as self, pursuit of
common good, learning from birds & flowers
POVERTY - through concern for the least of these,
seeking justice for all
PEACE - through forgiveness and reconciliation,
turning other cheek, walking second mile
70. Jesus proclaimed a radically different framing
story … Good news of the Kingdom of God.
PLANET - through love of neighbor as self, pursuit of
common good, learning from birds & flowers
POVERTY - through concern for the least of these,
seeking justice for all
PEACE - through forgiveness and reconciliation,
turning other cheek, walking second mile
SPIRITUALITY - through loving God “in spirit and
truth,” with all one’s heart, soul, mind, strength -
linked with love of neighbor, outsider, and enemy.
71. 4 Emergencies:
Planetary crisis
The Human
Situation: What
we find
Conventional View
God created the world as perfect,
but because our primal
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain the absolute
Emerging View
God created the world as good, but
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
Poverty crisis
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
Peace-making crisis
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
Religious/Spiritual crisis
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
NEEDED: A fresh, radical,
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
transformative response ...
74. Neither [violent] revolution nor
[political] reformation can ultimately
change a society, rather you must tell
a new powerful tale, one so
persuasive that it sweeps away the
old myths and becomes the preferred
story …
75.
76. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
77. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
78. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
- attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest,
philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)
79. Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Waste
Equity Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Good News of the
Kingdom of God
80. Conventional View Emerging View
The Human God created the world as perfect, God created the world as good, but
Situation: What but because our primal human beings – as individuals, and as
is the story that
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did groups – have rebelled against God and
we find not maintain the absolute filled the world with evil and injustice
ourselves in? perfection demanded by God, like a terrible disease. God wants to save
God has irrevocably determined humanity and heal it from its sickness,
that the entire universe and all it but humanity is hopelessly lost and
contains will be destroyed, and confused, like sheep without a shepherd,
the souls of all human beings – wandering farther and farther into
except for those specifically lostness and danger. Left to themselves,
exempted – will be forever human beings will spiral downward in
punished for their imperfection sickness and evil.
in hell.1
Basic Since everyone is doomed to Since the human race is in such desperate
Questions: What hell, Jesus seeks to answer these trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
questions did questions: how can individuals question: what must be done about the
Jesus come to be saved from eternal mess we’re in? The mess refers both to
answer? punishment in hell and instead the general human condition and its
go to heaven after they die? How specific outworking among his
can God help individuals be contemporaries: living under domination
happy and successful until then? by the Roman empire, and divided into
various competing sects.
Jesus’ message: Jesus says, in essence, “If you Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and
How did Jesus want to be among those groups – including your own religious
respond to the specifically qualified to escape leaders - are leading you farther and
crisis? being forever punished for your farther astray. I have been sent by God
sins in hell, you must repent of with this good news – that God loves
your individual sins and believe humanity, even in its lostness and sin.
that my Father punished me on God graciously invites everyone and
the cross so He won’t have to anyone to question and reject what they
punish you in hell. Only if you have been told and instead follow a new
believe this will you go to path. Trust me and become my disciple,
heaven when everyone else is and you will be transformed, and you will
banished to hell.”2 This is the participate in the transformation of the
good news. world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 This is the good news.
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its
instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90. There are many reasons to
compare our churches to an
old male tortoise …
91. There are many reasons to
compare our churches to an old
male tortoise …
Slow-moving … isolated …
Ancient-looking
withdrawn in its shell … won’t stick
its neck out
93. There are many reasons to
compare the emerging global
culture to an orphaned hippo …
Orphaned by religion …
science … government …
the economy … technology …
consumerism… “progress”…
94.
95. -formation?
What could happen in our world
if we turned back outward
toward our neighbors - with
good news, hope, gentleness,
and respect?
96. Our Father, above us and
all around us …
May your unspeakable
Name be revered.
Here on earth may your
commonwealth come.
On earth, as in heaven, may your will
be done.
97. Give us today our bread for
today.
Forgive us our wrongs as we
forgive.
Lead us away from the perilous trial;
liberate us from the evil.
98. For the kingdom is yours and yours alone,
the power is yours and yours alone, and the
glory is yours and yours alone,
Now and forever. Amen.
