Utilitarianism

u·til·i·tar·i·an /yo͞oˌtiləˈterēən/ adjective 

designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive. "a utilitarian building."         -  Oxford                            

This morning I had an interesting conversation with a fellow customer at our local McDonalds. We have known each other’s names for a year or two, but this time it was that moment of further discovery – both of us retired, what’s the hurry. No surprise in the discovery either; he openly enthused at recent U.S. election results, and me not so enthused. Not much in common there, so what might a retired preacher and a retired RCMP officer have in common? Well, on the religion topic, his wife is Mormon and I am Mennonite, he not into religious things. I have Mormon friends right here in the neighborhood, and he grew up near Elmira, Ontario (horse and buggies?). Some clarifications were needed – fun conversation. Then some common ground (kind of); I have a considerable chapter of long-haul trucking and he used to own a limousine service before all the oil executives left town (Rachel Notley’s fault). Oh, and one of my front teeth got fixed since last time we said hello, so we agreed my smile is better now! This is beginning of a friendship. Who says friends need to agree on everything?

Utilitarian is a word that has come to mind in the last while, especially after conversations like this one. In this case the conversation was with an almost stranger but emerging friend. Conversations with people I have known for years and years; they are almost the same! As described in a previous blog (“Of Religion and Polemics,” October 31) many of us these days are in habit of eating out, and those occasions with a sort of unspoken protocol – things we can talk about and things we avoid. This is almost on same basis as my new friend. We find a way to speak with or around one another. Yes, we truly need one another, but this can also become an exercise of diplomacy - utilitarianism?

As per the epigraph definition above, utilitarian has quite a positive ring, at least for a simpleton like me. I like practical and useful things, rather than fancy or unnecessary impressionism. This down-to-earth image, however, gets blurred the minute we read into further variants, like utilitarianism. Utilitarianism gets complicated, reaching far and wide into all kinds of new images. It even reminds me of Unitarians, those in our inter-faith communities who will remind us that they don’t believe anything with too much dogma. 😏 Reading on in Google, also I get reminded of some boring university sociology classes I once sat in. I even remember a certain John Stuart Mill, a standard bearer in the social sciences, who argued in favor of Utilitarianism as an ethical approach that advocates the greatest good for the greatest number. Actions that lead to people’s happiness are right and those that lead to suffering are wrong. https://iep.utm.edu/mill-eth/

That was in 1861. This theory has had longtime credibility and also critique among philosophers, theologians and scientists. Happiness. Is it not more than our actions? Yes, so say I and so say many more (check your Google). It is indeed a longtime topic ongoing even as the world has repeatedly dipped into some opposite practices, like two world wars! Reality does not necessarily prove theories wrong (obviously because I needed to study Mill in university 112 years later). The interplay of reality and theory creates many university classes and ever more political debates! [i] Crux of the matter here? I believe that individual pursuit of happiness is not the best approach.

Not the best approach because it can also lead to hedonism. Hedonism focuses on the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain for the individual – not concerned about others like utilitarianism wanting the best for the greatest number of people. Hedonism is solely about seeking pleasure and avoiding suffering, a little further down the slippery slope from utilitarianism. Very common these days, many sins would be in category of seeking pleasure. James 1:15 sort of … “after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Personal happiness is an elusive thing. As illustrated in a previous blog, even when sitting in social ‘gatherings’ we actually pursue our own happiness quite vigorously. One of my faith brothers may advocate a point of view which I am diametrically opposed to, but hold back because I do not wish to make a scene, or I don’t like to make him feel badly, or other unhappy reasons. Personal happiness in this case may lead to fearfulness, even while the brother and I both adhere to similar sentiments as stated in our Bible, e.g.1 John 4:18, “perfect love drives out fear.”  Knowing this, we probably should look at another scripture, Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body (Ephesians 4:25). Happiness especially among persons of similar faith commitment must include genuine encounter with one another.

There is irony here of course. In the ten minute conversation with my new friend there was no fearfulness, even though our differences popped up immediately. We do not agree politically, I am a Christian believer in Jesus and also one of those weird Mennonites who don’t believe in warfare, he is a militarist not a church goer, and his wife is a Mormon, one of those cultish Christians who we agree are excellent neighbors in this our community. And both of us having lived in Calgary for about 35 years after moving from Edmonton, still have sentimental Oilers Stanley Cup memories!

This is probably why the sociologists and others still have not yet solved the world’s problems! This happiness topic along with faith/unfaith implications, and this among long time and also brand new friends. While meditating on this I happen upon a striking digital headline (where else do we get news these days). I consider this not coincidental, but providential. I read about an influential man I have known about for years.

Tony Campolo, an American Baptist minister and sociologist who spent decades trying to convince evangelicals and other Christians that their faith should motivate them to address social ills like poverty and racism, has died. November 19, 2024. He was 89. [ii]

Tony Campolo, have heard him speak and a forever influencer in my years of ministry. Two further quotes in that same clip: Ryan Burge, former pastor and professor of Political Science, said, “He was able to speak to audiences from all corners of American Christianity — reminding them of the radical grace and forgiveness that is found in th Gospel”; and this one, “Campolo was a popular professor of sociology ... who made the study of social trends come to life for his students. But after moving to … an evangelical Christian college, he discovered that his contemporary evangelical world needed the gospel message as much as the wider world did. Evangelicals’ privatized religion had led them to abandon the social gospel that Jesus taught.”

This professor had a humbling message for all of us Christians, in fact for all people of faith and unfaith. Rest in peace brother. True happiness is to count yourself among all; it is to know yourself to be blessed. Above and beyond utilitarianism, even! I cannot but conclude with a few words from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, provided for us in two versions.[iii]

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matt 5:5-9 NRSV)

 

“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.

“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.

“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.

“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children. (Matthew 5:5-9 CEB)

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[i] Well illustrated in United States just prior to latest presidential election.

[ii] Religious News Service, http://religionnews.com/

[iii] A further must see is Matthew 5:5-9 in Eugene H Peterson, The Message (NavPress, 1993, 2002, 2018).

Making Churches

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 

(Ecclesiastes 12:12)

This is the time of year when my thinker really gets going, and probably also the season of my life to think about what to do with all that thinking. My wife’s opinion, knowing me for many years, is that the thinker cannot be denied, but do not yield to too much musing. Musing can be destructive, especially when you have what the medical practitioners call Seasonally Affected Disorder. So, when I sit with my laptop and some books and some notes or out on long walks, apparently that is better than if I just lay on the couch.

After the latest predictable results of the U.S. presidential election there is of course much to read and hear and, yes, think about. After reading the next morning’s New York Times headlines (no need to subscribe, I just click the poor-man’s overview), I then also clicked to Sojourners, my lifelong Christian social justice magazine which I have subscribed to since I was a college boy – quite a while.  Two quick readings, both of similar opinion but presented very differently.  Adam Russell Taylor, [i] current president of Sojourners, gives some advice for a day like this. “There is a lot of work ahead,” he says, “and I’ve felt tempted to just pour myself into all that will be required of us in months to come…. I challenge you to rest before you reset. This is the time to lean first and foremost into our faith and not our politics." Rest. A good idea it was, because the thinker was already tempted into verbosity. In my case, verbosity can be a risk, a liability even.

This morning’s sermon in our church [ii] was on similar premise as Russell Taylor and the NYT, namely that Donald Trump is not good news for America. The sermon provided good advice from the Bible’s epistles; eager to do good (1 Peter 3:13) and also the famous one from Ephesians 6 about the full armor of God, so that “you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand…” (:13).  So here we go. The title of this post, as well as my previous post, as well as today’s sermon, does not really suggest restfulness. Considerable diligence here; if not lots of work to do, then at least lots to think about.

Without claiming any super insight at this point, I find myself thinking a slightly different line. What if the premises, the assumptions are wrong? What if Donald Trump, in spite of his misogyny, his unbearable egocentric Make America Great Again (MAGA) platform, may be the right President for the next four years? Is it right to write editorials and present sermons with the assumption that he should not have won? I totally enjoyed the opener of today's sermon recounting conversation with an elderly kind philanthropic long-time supporter of our worldwide relief service agency being of the opinion that Donald Trump is God’s choice (she cringed and we laughed). It was an excellent attention getter and clearly communicated her respect for this elder in our midst and also the importance to communicate peaceably especially in days like this. It also raises this my further question.

In this last year an interesting podcast series has emerged among all the inboxes, notifications and posts in our digital world. This one is quite gentle and very respectfully presented. It becomes interesting in its somewhat unique format, story-form history providing a new look at some old stuff. [iii] Well researched, it is about the makings of the Anabaptist Mennonites. Being a person of this background, I still have good memories of my post-secondary education throbbing with exciting sixteenth century ‘discoveries.’ That was my people back there, those not wishing to be encumbered by big Church taxes and tithes and ‘indulgences’ to help get out of the catholic middle state of purgatory and joyfully jump into heaven. This is our movement with the noble beginning and which I wrote enthusiastic essays about. This latter podcast series is now becoming an old-age ‘fresher upper’ for me.

Anabaptist history can use a little reality check. We too were among other diligent students of Martin Luther, of Ulrich Zwingli and other clerics and church leaders along with a thirsting population; all this after invention of the printing press and people beginning to read for themselves. Much has been and continues to be written about the Reformation chapter of history.

This podcast tells about a twist in those early beginnings. “Free Radicals is a historical story-telling highlighting events from the radical fringes of church history, redeeming them from the unforgiving lens of orthodoxy.” In the first post (Season 1, Episode 0 – available here https://www.freeradicalspod.com/2023/12/29/episode-zero-released/ ) William Loewen provides a delineation of the word ‘radical’ definitely there at beginning, but not the first impression one gets in today’s Anabaptist or Mennonite culture. Although a cool discovery in my college years back in the early 1970’s (hippy years), now seeing this series hosted by a young man the age of my youngest daughter is not only humbling but educational. Those of us inclined to think that our honorable way of following Jesus was and still is the right way, still kind of radical, and yes way back there we even suffered for it at the hands of our fellow believers, the Lutherans. [see my previous blog!] 😏

Fact is, our history got perverted also by us, enemy forces within (Luke 6:45) even while apparently trying to correct forces without. That early history included misappropriated ambition, egocentric preachers, misinterpretation of scriptures, twisted eschatology, and sin. Maybe after we have done our Anabaptism at 500 celebrations in 2025 and then four years of Donald Trump, us longsuffering peacemaking half-evangelical, half progressive Anabaptists will render an apology to the Lutherans and the Catholics! [Interesting tidbit from our latest historian: Loewen advises that in 2018 a service of apology by unofficial representatives of Catholic, Lutheran and Anabaptist believers actually did take place at the St. Lambert’s Church in Munster, the very place of the unsolicitous uprising.] [iv]

So this post shall conclude here. It would be premature and irresponsible of me to wade into further opinionating of how us Christians – or other faith communities – need to participate, or perhaps not participate, in the pratter and the social media so prevalent after election results in the U.S. (and before the imminent election in Canada). Elections so far by democratic process (almost?) and democracy still means leaders chosen by the people, all eligible persons of whatever faith or unfaith (if you didn’t watch too many U.S. media scrums before this last election). Our Anabaptist history and the history before that, is not about democracy; it was/is extreme faith practice in whatever political circumstance. Today’s situation: is it nothing new? Or is it very new? Or is it nearing the Parousia, the return of the One who gave his life for all? [v] I am old enough to say I’m ready for the end. Then no need to make more churches, or denominations, or seminaries to explain the Greek variants of Parousia, or political dictatorships with new old-fashioned rules.

Even as my thinker goes on, I take comfort in the epigraph above. No need to study it all too hard! And I am willing to follow the thinking of this present generation – not blindly, but with humble gratitude to those who review our formative journey. Thy will be done, Oh Lord!

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[i] Adam Russell Taylor is president of Sojourners and author of A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community. https://sojo.net>sojoaction.

[ii] Donita Wiebe-Neufeld (2024) "Thoughts of War and Peace and What to Do" (Unpublished sermon at Trinity Mennonite Church, Calgary, AB: November 10, 2024).

[iii] Loewen, W.J. (Host), 2023/12/29 – [Audio Podcast] Free Radicals.

[iv] Lloyd Hoover, “Group seeks forgiveness for trauma of Munster,” Anabaptist World, June 11, 2018.

[v] Parousia, Greek root meaning presence, with variants Divine Presence, Second Coming preceded by signs,  https://www.biblestudytools.com/dict.