Staring into the Distance: Riding a bike as a theological statement
And there’s something truly wonderful about a machine which can propel a human being at speeds exceeding our running speed, without contributing a single ounce to global pollution. The bicycle is a parable of faith: needing the rider to work with the machine, enjoying its benefits but also taking responsibility for their own contribution to maintaining its forward momentum (and if you give up peddling long enough, you will stop and fall off!)
Thanks to Dave Warnock for the link.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Kim 02.22.06 at 2:58 am
The bicycle as a parable of faith certainly makes a theological statement - and the bottom line is sheer pelagianism! I mean, faith as a self-propelling project - and you fall off you if you fail to maintain the forward momentum or run out of steam?
Luther used a similar image - but to a radically different effect: the image of a horse and rider - but the rider isn’t you or me, it’s either Christ or the devil.
Faith is not anything we do anymore than the kingdom of God is something we “build”. As Karl Barth once wrote to a young theological student:
“Many thanks for your kind letter. But what an obstinate fellow you are! You write that you were very impressed by what I told you last week at the Theological School. And now you manage to put down on paper again all that nonsense about the kingdom of God that we must build. Dear N.N., in so doing you do not contradict merely one ‘insight’ but the whole message of the Bible. If you persist in this idea I can only advise you to take up another career than that of pastor. . .”
In other words, on your bike!
Eugene McKinnon 02.22.06 at 4:54 am
Finally Kim and I actually agree on something.
Bravo. About time ridiculous cliche ideas that a bicycle is a theological statement.
But in all fairness it would be the vehicle Jesus would drive.
Eugene
Richard 02.22.06 at 7:46 am
It was worth posting just to get you and Kim agreeing, Eugene!
Beth 02.22.06 at 9:35 am
But Eugene, what would happen to the faithful donkey if Jesus took up cycling? And how would he cycle in a long skirt anyway? And how would he get all his hair into a cycle helmet?
Eugene McKinnon 02.22.06 at 4:14 pm
Your right Beth it would be hard for Jesus to get all his hair in the helmet. Jesus didn’t wear a skirt, he wore a shift and a cloak, I’m sure he could easily fold it up. As for the faithful donkey, well are they really all that faithful? Besides with their output, and the fact that their hooves contribute to soil erosion, and their voracious appetite they are an environmental nuisance.
A herd of cattle can ruin a field faster than all terrain vehicles.
Bicycles don’t pollute, donkeys do. Ban the donkey!
Eugene
lol