day no. 16,786: refined culture

"It is often said by the critics of Christian origins that certain ritual feasts, processions or dances are really of pagan origin. They might as well say that our legs are of pagan origin. Nobody ever disputed that humanity was human before it was Christian; and no Church manufactured the legs with which men walked or danced, either in a pilgrimage or a ballet. What can really be maintained, so as to carry not a little conviction, is this: that where such a Church has existed it has preserved not only the processions but the dances; not only the cathedral but the carnival. One of the chief claims of Christian civilisation is to have preserved things of pagan origin. In short, in the old religious countries men continue to dance; while in the new scientific cities they are often content to drudge." — G.K.Chesterton, The Superstition of Divorce

Christendom is the culmination of culture refined by fire. It is not simply baptizing heathenism in order to call disorder "order" or to call pagan "Christian," it is immersing it in scalding water so that it really is washed by the waters, not merely a wetter version of its former funky self. In Christ, all things are coming together. To Him all things will bow. The fire of Christ will not undo our humanity, it will save it. Christ did not become flesh to do away with it, but to redeem it. The Lord did not come to the earth in order to do away with all the dirt. The Kingdom is earthier than the pietists may prefer and more fun than the profligates can imagine. Christendom is not lame versions of cultural landmarks. It is not merely inserting the sign of the cross into the Macarena or adding a crucifix to the back pocket of our blue jeans. It is cultivating and curating the best of everything and enjoying it forever because it is enjoyed second to Christ.

Haggai 2:6-9

For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory," says the LORD of hosts."The silver is mine, and the gold is mine," declares the LORD of hosts. "The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former," says the LORD of hosts. "And in this place I will give peace," declares the LORD of hosts.

All the treasures of the nations are really treasures. The problem isn't that they treasure them. It is that they treasure them above the Treasurer. They aren't wrong to adore them. They are wrong to ascribe to them more than they can merit. All of their treasures will come to the King. No Word of God goes forth as void, but comes back to Him in full. All the lesser glories will be revealed in the light of His glory and will be delighted in by those who in similar fashion have been made perfectly glorious by Christ.

Therefore your end is on you,

Is on you and your kings,

Not for a fire in Ely fen,

Not that your gods are nine or ten,

But because it is only Christian men

Guard even heathen things.

For our God hath blessed creation,

Calling it good. I know

What spirit with whom you blindly band

Hath blessed destruction with his hand;

Yet by God's death the stars shall stand

And the small apples grow.

— G.K. Chesterton,

The Ballad of the White Horse