Reading: Major Messages and Worldview Implications
#25 Introduction to Ecclesiastes:
Major Messages and Worldview Implications
Worldview Options
- Closed System:
- No external information or forces
- Human life is accidental and holds no more meaning than any other object
- Bible is a purely human product - Impersonal Intelligent Design:
- “Life” & “Time” are the creative edge that shape existence in a closed system
- Human life is meaningful insofar as it plays out its role and obeys “designed” purposes
- Bible is a record and reflection upon that design - Creator/Creation Open System:
- Existence is planned and intended by God
- Human life is honored, compromised, and redeemable
- Bible is part of the divine/human redemptive link
Ecclesiastes in Outline
- Prologue: Theme (“Meaninglessness”) & Brief Explanation (1:1-11)
- Meaningless Things: Wisdom, Pleasures, Folly, Toil (1:12-2:26)
- Interlude: The Bondage of Time (3)
- Other Meaningless Things: Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness, Political Advancement, Unfulfilled Vows to God, Amassing Wealth (4:1-6:12)
- In order to stay sane, get practical wisdom (7:1-8:6)
- Reflections on all the Teacher’s Observations: (8:7-12:7)
- The meaning of life must be found beyond life—in God alone
- All of life is progressing toward a common end
- So enjoy life while you have it
- And be wise
In summary—Live Boldly! Live Joyfully! Live Godly! - Epilogue: The Theme and Its Value, Plus Final Reminders (12:8-14)
Worldview Assumptions
- This universe is the Kingdom of God
- Interpretive Choice over against:-
- Evolutionary Naturalism
- Panentheistic Historicism
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- Earth is the specially-prepared domain for humanity, made in God’s image to share creative stewardship and relational love
- Humanity is in rebellion against its Creator
- At least in part because of the unique characteristics of humankind (divine imagers), the Creator has chosen not to annihilate this world, but rather to redeem this world
- This redemptive initiative is the divine mission explained and interpreted in the Bible, the authoritative handbook formed in partnership between the Creator and a community uniquely commissioned to serve as the earthly vanguard of the mission
- This redemptive mission has one purpose (reconcile all back to full communion with the Creator), but is expressed in two related strategies:
- Through ancient Israel, to place a covenantally-shaped community at the center of the world, on stage before all nations, in an effort to draw them back to their Creator
- Through the Church of Jesus Christ, to place covenantally-shaped communities into every expression of human society as a missional witness, in an effort to draw all back to their Creator
Reflecting on Ecclesiastes
- At face value, this book is rather dark & depressing (especially the opening sections)
- Its Screaming Message (on first reading) seems to be: “All we do and everything that happens to us is ultimately meaningless and has no lasting value!”
- Its Moderate Message (on second reflections) appears to be: “Yet life goes on, so let’s make the best of it and be more wise than foolish about it.”
- Its Subtle Message (underlying the others) is: “Life can only mean something if there is a God who sets the values (e.g., time & morality) and gives us a link to eternity which confirms our right to exist.”
Last modified: Thursday, August 9, 2018, 9:32 AM