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“Someone forwarded me this email. What is 3R Thursday?”
(1) A newsletter published every Thursday that contains ruminations, reflections, and readings to encourage Christians in the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty; and
(2) A podcast that follows the pattern of C.S. Lewis by providing accessible theology disguised as Christian philosophy.
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3R THURSDAY: The Anamorphic Kingdom
This week’s 3R Thursday is a bit different!
Rather than go through my ruminations, reflections, and readings for the week, I wanted to share a lively conversation that we had in our small group class at church this past Sunday.
If you’re interested, please listen to the conversation on the 3R THURSDAY podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! While you’re at it, please subscribe so you never miss an episode.
The relevant passage is from Luke 17:
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.
The video we watched is about the sculpture entitled “Schwerpunkt” by Ralph Helmick at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT and is linked below:
Bonus content for Newsletter readers
This style is called “anamorphic sculpture.” Let's break down the Greek roots of the word "anamorphic."
Ana- (ἀνα-)
Meaning: "back," "again," or "upward."
Usage: This prefix is often used in words to indicate repetition, upward movement, or backward motion.
Morphē (μορφή)
Meaning: "shape," "form," or "structure."
Usage: It's the root for words that pertain to shape or form, like "morphology" (the study of the forms of things) or "metamorphosis" (a change of form).
When combined in the term "anamorphic," the roots suggest a "return" or "change" to a certain form or shape. In the context of art and imagery, "anamorphic" refers to a depiction that has been distorted and only returns to its true or recognizable form when viewed from a specific vantage point or through a specific means (like a lens). The essence of the term is about transforming or distorting an image that, under certain conditions, reverts back to its intended appearance.
The passage from Luke 17 is eschatological, meaning it pertains to the end times or the "last things." They contain the teachings of Jesus about the coming of the Kingdom of God and the end of the age.
The Kingdom of God, according to Jesus in Luke 17, is not something that can be easily pinpointed or observed in a straightforward manner. Much like an anamorphic piece of art, the true nature or "image" of the Kingdom might be hidden or distorted from our typical perspective. It's not a tangible or physical kingdom that can be seen directly; instead, its true essence is revealed when we adjust our perspective. Jesus indicates that the Kingdom is already present among them, suggesting a need for an internal or spiritual realization.
Jesus talks about how the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden and unexpected. He uses examples like the days of Noah and Lot where life was going on as usual, but then sudden destruction came.
Like an anamorphic image that suddenly snaps into clarity from a specific viewpoint, the eschatological events Jesus describes will become suddenly and undeniably clear at their appointed time. The realization of these events might seem distorted or unclear now, but they will be unmistakably evident when they occur.
For the logophiles out there, here’s another related word that I learned this week: anaphora
Meaning: A rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses.
Examples:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
…
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day down in Alabama with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right down in Alabama little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
…
Thank you for reading. If this encouraged you, please forward this email to someone else who needs encouragement as well.
See you next Thursday,
CFW
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