The English language could take a few lessons from Ancient Greece about love. Aristotle was among the first (though folks like C.S. Lewis have since jumped on the boat) to point out that the word “love” is so complex it can't be held in a single four-letter word so much as four separate and distinct ones. Though I'm sure we're able to think of more than four, the word “philosophy” comes from the marriage of one of these types of love, philia, with the Greek word for wisdom: sophia (any Sophies out there?).
All is well and good, at least until we read how philia means a very specific kind of love roosting ambiguously between detached relationships and the tenderness of friends – platonically at best. More than a few people of the idealistic frame of mind (myself included) have seen the word and thought to themselves “Hey! That's awesome – this elective I'm taking is teaching me how to love wisdom itself! High five!” Again, all well and good; however the love here isn't familial, passionate or ultimately consuming – taken on a etymological level it means anything from a passing aquaintance to casual friendship with wisdom. Sure – High five! – but I want more.
Luckily we haven't exhausted our supply of Ancient Greek just yet; there are more words out there. One such word seems to hold promise: agape. Where philia is the relationship/affection between aquaintances, agape is the term we use to talk about unconditional love, pure self-gift, the Love of God. Agape is a word reaching through infinity.
So what are we left with here? Agapesophy? Too awkward. Agapesophistry? Yes*! Are we called merely to befriend wisdom? To say “hey!” in the halls, to high five? Or to journey together past the doors of light, night, joy and suffering to emerge together in a sun we finally understand for the first time? A wonderful part of following Christ is the call to transcend our concepts of what is normal, attainable or humanly realistic – we are called to a holistic experience of agape.
Agapesophistry is a call that leads us out of the ivory tower – out from the detached, primarily intellectual relationship with ideas, concepts and theories into a bold and holistic horizon of glorious relational technicolour. Jesus walk[ed/s] the staggering road of incarnation – He is the Word Made Flesh – and so we too are called to take the ideas He gave us and give them flesh in our lives. This is agapesophistry. Lady Gaga says it best: I dont want to be friends! We long for more.
So, interesting thought and all, but what is this doing on Project Pulchra?
Break it down. We have ideas, feelings, concepts and memories circling around in our heads like exotic fish in a pail. They might be as serious as transubstantiation or frivilously glorious as our longing for spring. But we all have things in our minds that poke and prod the inside of our skulls trying to find a way out – a way to be incarnated. Art does this.
Art is incarnational, folks! The leap between philosophy and agapesophistry is the same jump a thought makes in order to arrive on the page, the canvas, the vocal chord. We give it hands, eyes and legs to move and touch those around us. There is a wholeness, a holisticness to art that isn't present in a common language that's purpose is to be (rightly and wonderfully) functional.
Art is like another language, one that will evoke a higher response in some people more than others – there are folks who will understand the Gospel better through song than through a prayerfully executed presentation. We're human – His genius allows for this kind of variety. There is no ONE WAY to help someone encounter the truth, goodness and beauty of God, but art is certainly a way. One road to incarnational living among others.
For me, engaging with agapesophistry involves service, genuine relationships, liturgy, moments of mischief, gratitude and acting with courage and integrity. For many people reading (and writing) this blog, agapesophistry means making art. So lets get up to a little agapesophistry – let's dare to make our thoughts and experiences run through the pages, musical staffs and stages of our lives. Let people look to our lives to see our reasons to believe. Let people see us and find our dancing God instead.
I hope my posting name doesn't make anyone think I've perfected the art of agapesophistry just yet. On the contrary – I call myself a Christian not because I am Christ but because I strive to be like him. Same diff', gangsta.
*apologies to all those objecting to the suffix: -sophistry. I mean well, I promise.
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