THE
P RTAL
November 2017
Page 24
We need the
wilderness more than
paradise
Fr Ed Tomlinson has been musing about wilderness and paradise
T
he settings of ‘wilderness’ and ‘paradise’ frequently crop up in scripture. What we learn
is surprising. Though the wilderness is desolate and wild, even scary, it is nevertheless where man
encounters God, whilst paradise, despite its allure, is where humans frequently lose sight of the living God.
No wonder the Baptist chose to minister in the wilderness, a few days’ walk from civilisation.
No wonder David fell into adultery when loafing questions in defence of the faith via dubia, or the one
around on sumptuous cushions!
made head of a new institution for the family despite
having constructed a scandalous mural in a church
We touch on an enduring truth. It is, often, those depicting himself carried up to heaven in homosexual
who dwell in the wilderness - the poor, the suffering, embrace? And in history, was the voice of Christ in
the outcast - who discern a need for God, whilst the St John Fisher who paid with his head in defence of
affluent and comfortable, dwelling in the paradise of marriage or the countless bishops who did nothing
earthly palaces, rely instead on self.
and refused to stand up to Henry?
Once we grasp this biblical truth, much becomes
Too often, we are swayed by the powerful at cost
clear. We understand why the church currently thrives to the faith. We assume ‘the poor’ are those without
in Africa, China and Asia but languishes, in moribund money. But apply the biblical test and it becomes
state, in the West.
clear the poor are actually those with bulging wallets
but empty souls. Is it not time then for a change in
Perhaps the only Christian crisis today is that the direction?
narrative is being set by failing elites in the paradise of
a Western secular culture in contradiction to what is
Ought we not to beg missionaries from the third
actually facilitating growth out there in the grass roots world to visit our shores? Not in a servile capacity to
of the wilderness!
fill empty parishes - but to lead and admonish and
teach. Might we even go so far as to call for an African
The biblical teaching on wilderness and paradise Pope when the conclave next gathers?
also brings clarity to debate. When myriad voices
claim to speak for Christ, we simply need ask, which
The only time in Scripture - after the fall - that
speaks from the wilderness of virtue and which from God is found in paradise, is at the resurrection when
a paradise of corruption? Is the claim for taking up a Christ walks in the garden. We can conclude that, for
cross or laying it down? Does it seek fidelity to God Christians, paradise exists in the next life, not this. In
or populist conformity to the world? Motives then this life, faith is dependent on wilderness experience;
become clear.
the taking up of the cross; the selling of all we have…
not because the poor need it but because we do; because
Who is speaking for Christ today? The controversial we are so are burdened by worldly desire; so corrupted
but popular Jesuit, swanning around Hollywood with by wealth and power; so disabled by entitlement as to
celebrity chums and writing dodgy theology to suggest lose sight of God entirely.
the church can incorporate the morality of the LGBT
community? Or the martyrs of Syria who died because
John the Baptist chose to dwell in the wilderness
they refused to compromise the Gospel of Christ to a little removed from the culture around him. The
extremists?
church would be wise to follow his example.
And which Cardinal ought we to listen to? The
traditionalist who suffered loss of status for raising
Geoffrey Kirk is poorly. We wish him a speedy
recovery and hope and pray that he will be back soon.