Closedness is not a dimension of our faith. It breaks open, liberates, allows us to step out. With unbridled force, but without violence.
At some point, Der Spiegel asked whether Christian Lindner was a system breaker. It was about some political dispute. In my mind’s eye, I saw the FDP leader and thought: If there’s one thing he isn’t, it’s that.
“The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day” (Joel 3:4). This is how the prophet Joel announces Pentecost.
“When the day of Pentecost had fully arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound like the passing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues like fire, which were divided, and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:1-3). This is how the Acts of the Apostles describes the miracle of Pentecost.
Outside the norm
This is the great and terrible day: blood instead of moon, darkness instead of sun. Storm and fire. A day of system-shattering.
Biblical events, uncensored and unfiltered. Images that are disturbing and unsettling. That are outside the norm.
Just as there are people who are outside the norm. Adults who fascinate and irritate, who disturb and upset with their fear. With their pain. There are children like that too.
VIEWPOINTS
A word, an image, a thought – these are the “viewpoints” that are intended to make you think once a week, open up worlds, discover life, help you find God. Close to human life and connected to God. Each month the text is written by an author; the editors of Kirche+Leben freely search for a photo for the respective keyword.
Locked up and immobilized
Children who say “I hate you” and mean “I need you”. Children who, like Benni in the film “Systemsprenger”, call out for their mother ten, fifteen times into the echo of the forest: Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama… until their voices break. But the screams die away and there is no answer. “Mama hates me,” says Benni.
And when her carer starts to say, “No, she…” she interrupts him. “Be quiet.” Benni is locked up, strapped to the bed and sedated with drugs because she fights back and lashes out and hurts herself until the blood flows down her forehead and into her eyes. There is an owl on her pajamas. It is blind in one eye.
Benni is not the only child like this.
God doesn’t imprison anyone
Blood and darkness and storm. The Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples with tongues of fire. Their God is one who destroys the systems of men, their powers and authorities.
One who loosens the chains, who tears down the boundaries and brings freedom. He is the God who does not imprison or numb anyone. Who does not take away anyone who disrupts life.
It is the God who brings Pentecost.
The great and glorious day
“I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire and smoking smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And it will come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:19-21).
This is the great and glorious day: God, the system breaker, saves.
Christian Lindner is miles away from that.
