Dancing in the Kingdom- Table of Contents
Dancing In the Kingdom – Preface
Patterns of history
[Bible references: Ecclesiastes 1:9; Judges 1-21]
But when we look for patterns of love, we find them to be obscured and confused. Our rebellion against God keeps leading us to destructive, even self-destructive behavior. The signs of rebellion are everywhere.
As we examine human history for signs of progress, we instead find ourselves repeating patterns of destructive rebellion that keep us from progressing.[1] But overlaid on those patterns, we find that other patterns have been laid out for us; Patterns that lead beyond our self-destruction; Patterns laid out from creation that lead us through the times of our rebellion to the restoration of heaven and earth.
If we are honest with ourselves, we can admit that we also feel the continuous inward push against authority, even when we know that such authority is designed to be helpful, and even when we know that our rebellion will make things worse. The world around us reveals that the rebellion is universal – and devastating. The violence of wars and famine covers the world. Those in positions of authority are continually subject to the temptation to abuse that authority and to the illusion that the ability to exert force means that they are in control of their life.
But we can also see countervailing forces to that rebellion. Selflessness erupts around us with bursts of kindness and compassion, showing that love is still possible even in the most difficult of times.
The history of humankind reveals a constant battle between the forces of rebellion and selflessness. Sometimes one force seems to momentarily prevail against the other, but in the long run, nothing seems to change. Historical cycles seem to just keep on going, optimism gives way to pessimism which gives way to optimism, nations rise and fall, one after another. While history never exactly repeats itself, the patterns are there.[2]
[1] Verstappen, Stefan. “Historical Cycles: are we doomed to repeat the past?”; Hanson, Victor Davis. “Repeating historical patterns rooted in human nature”; Stratton, Geoff. “How Civilizations Fall: A Theory of Catabolic Collapse”
[2] Dyer, Geoff. “The day that killed optimism”; Digital History Reader. “Module 4: The End of Optimism? The Great Depression in Europe”; Acreman, Thomas. “Western Civilization prior to World War I”; McKay, Brett & Kate. “How the Generational Cycle of History Explains Our Current Crisis”; IGI Global. “Civilization Life Cycle: Introduction”;
Dancing In The Kingdom 