New Harmony

"While people are saying, 'Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1st Thessalonians 5:3)

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:3-4)

Deb and I were sitting down a few nights ago watching mindless television and the following commercial showed from a Italian source. It immediately caught my attention but I couldn't recognize  the voice. At the end, it was the voice of Charlie Chaplain, from 1940. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9OcI0C3ozc  [From Charlie Chaplain, 1940; a self-described "Peace Monger"]

There is something internal in most of us that cries out for peace, for social justice, for a society where all get along. I believe they call this a utopian model. I'm from Indiana and we have an example of this well-intended trial called New Harmony (New Harmony, IN). As one historian put it, "New Harmony was to be a perfect place but was destroyed by the imperfections of man." 

It's what I find most perplexing of both the Charlie Chaplain commercial and John Lennon's famous song, "Imagine." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkgkThdzX-8&feature=emb_logo

"Imagine there's no heaven...no hell...no country, nothing to kill or die for, no religion to. Imagine all these people living in harmony." 

Each of these men were hoping for something - peace. Charlie grew up in abject poverty and his heart's desire was that no child have to endure that abuse. But he placed his faith in imperfect man, in his abilities, in science..."We have the power...to do away with national boundaries, with greed, with hate and intolerance, where science and progress will lead to All men's happiness."

John Lennon had it all - the fame, the fortune, the fans. "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the great teacher (Eccl. 1:2). It's nice to have these things but in the end they mean nothing if you don't have peace (inner and outer). If mankind would just...

I listen to these men's messages and in my heart I say, "Yes! That's what I'm looking for as well." But the lessons from New Harmony keep ringing in my ears, "A perfect place destroyed by the imperfections of man." It feel hopeless and helpless. And that's a good thing because it allows me to turn to the one who will bring peace, who will bring social justice, who will bring perfect harmony - Jesus. 

Imagine that...