Between Two Worlds

During his last night with his disciples, before his arrest, Jesus concluded his teaching with these words: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul needs only a few words to describe his personal experience of this trouble and this peace: “When we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.” (2 Corinthians 7:5-7)

The values, priorities, and expectations of the kingdoms of this world are completely at odds with the values, priorities, and expectations of the Kingdom of God. Conflict is inevitable. The more dramatically attention is drawn to the differences between the values, priorities, and expectations, the more dramatic the ensuing conflict…and the greater the miracle of the peace that passes understanding.

On September 20 of this year, a young man named Noah Riner had an opportunity to stand before a group of his peers and speak. He could have chosen to amuse, to inspire, to flatter, to educate, or to impress. He chose, instead, to share the Good News.

Noah Riner wasn’t speaking to his youth group at church. He wasn’t speaking to the local Christian Varsity group. He wasn’t speaking at a retreat center for young adults. As elected student body president, Riner was addressing the students of Dartmouth College at the annual convocation marking the beginning of the academic year.

(I learned of Noah Riner’s address and the reaction to it from a commentary by Albert Mohler, “Division at Dartmouth—A Christian Speaks His Mind”, Friday, October 07, 2005, which can be found at http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2005-10-07.)

A commentator named Albert Mohler described the event this way:

"You really are special," he told the

Dartmouth class of 2009. …

"But it isn’t enough to be special," he

continued. "It isn’t enough to be talented,

to be beautiful, to be smart. Generations

of amazing students have come before you,

and have sat in your seats. Some have been

good, some have been bad. All have been

special."

Just a few words into his convocation

address, Riner signaled that he intended

to address the incoming students with

something more than emotionalism,

congratulations, and simplistic

affirmation. He had another issue in

mind—character.

…Riner recited a list of Dartmouth

graduates who had ended up as examples

of deficient character. A member of the

class of 1939 became a Soviet spy, even

as a later graduate committed murder and

yet another was arrested for sexually

assaulting a fifteen-year-old student.

"These stories demonstrate that it takes

more than a Dartmouth degree to build

character," Riner asserted. …

From that point, Riner expanded his focus

to include developments such as looting in

the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and a

crisis of character that affects the entire

nation.

"We have the same flaws as the individuals

who pillaged New Orleans. Ours haven’t been

given such free reign, but they exist and

are part of us all the same."

… "Let’s be honest," Riner insisted, "the

differences are in degree."

… "Character has a lot to do with sacrifice,

laying our personal interests down for

something bigger," Riner argued. "The best

example of this is Jesus. In the Garden of

Gethsemane, just hours before His

crucifixion, Jesus prayed, ’Father, if

Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me:

nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be

done.’ He knew the right thing to do. He

knew the cost would be agonizing torture

and death. He did it anyway. That’s

character."

Noah Riner went on. "Jesus is a good

example of character, but He’s also much

more than that. He is the solution to

flawed people like corrupt Dartmouth

alums, looters, and me." As he later

explained, "Jesus’ message of redemption

is simple. People are imperfect, and there

are consequences for our actions. He gave

His life for our sin so that we wouldn’t

have to bear the penalty of the law; so we

could see love. The problem is me; the

solution is God’s love: Jesus on the cross,

for us."

According to this commentator, “Mr. Riner’s speech was relatively short, intensely personal, and intellectually courageous.”

Not surprisingly, some members of the audience did not agree with Riner’s comments. Some were offended. Some were outraged.

Again, according to Mohler, “the response to Riner’s speech included vitriolic outrage. He was denounced, criticized, and lambasted for the content of his controversial address,” and “the cartoonist for the college’s campus newspaper, The Dartmouth, drew a comic strip depicting Riner as a crusading theocrat and Jesus as a marijuana smoker.” The vice-president of the student body resigned in protest, accusing Riner of being an “embarrassment to the organization.” A guest columnist used the phrase “fire and brimstone” to describe Riner’s address.