Politically, this seems exactly correct. Any type of coercive power is right out. That’s why Jesus and politics not only do not mix but cannot mix because, as I’ve commented before, politics is coercive power at its core.
Now, of course, God is all-powerful, but through history, especially after Constantine, the Church has misunderstood the nature of God’s power, which is love, not coercion.
However, I would not characterize Christian faith primarily as "a kingdom of virtue” but rather a “kingdom of transformation”. It has never been about ”doing” but rather about “being”.
I think that the author’s two choices may be too narrow. While I would want to avoid aligning the kingdom of God with social activism of with the left or right, thinking of it merely as values to attain leaves too much of the political element aside. We need to think of it in a Jewish context as well, tracing the understanding of kingdom through the Hebrew Bible, and then to Jesus Christ. If the Kingdom means anything we need to begin with the kingship, or Lordship of Jesus Christ. He obviously meant to inaugurate a new polis built on the basis of his person and teaching. Faith in the risen Christ means ultimate allegiance to him as Lord , and then living in communities that seek to live by the values of the Kingdom Christ inaugurated. I think that we should think in terms of kingdom communities, that love out those values. Most important, we cannot bring the kingdom to bear in this world, it only bear witness to it. The church community does not seek power, but to live by the values of the kingdom, and thus to be a light to the world, until Christ brings his kingdom to a renewed creation.
Somewhere I heard politics defined as “public policy”, how we get along with one another. I’m always drawn to Jesus’s final command, to love as He has loved. While seemingly vague it ends up being very specific, accountable & places a lot of responsibility on us & is likely the heaviest burden we shall ever carry. “What does love require of me?” Is another way of keeping this front & center. Love, as Jesus exemplified, requires us to lay down our own lives (our pride, envy, jealousy, etc) for another. I’m constantly reminded that my grievance with “them” is pride & that that must be laid down & put to death on Jesus’s Cross.
Politically, this seems exactly correct. Any type of coercive power is right out. That’s why Jesus and politics not only do not mix but cannot mix because, as I’ve commented before, politics is coercive power at its core.
Now, of course, God is all-powerful, but through history, especially after Constantine, the Church has misunderstood the nature of God’s power, which is love, not coercion.
However, I would not characterize Christian faith primarily as "a kingdom of virtue” but rather a “kingdom of transformation”. It has never been about ”doing” but rather about “being”.
Yes, this exactly! God's power IS love.
I think that the author’s two choices may be too narrow. While I would want to avoid aligning the kingdom of God with social activism of with the left or right, thinking of it merely as values to attain leaves too much of the political element aside. We need to think of it in a Jewish context as well, tracing the understanding of kingdom through the Hebrew Bible, and then to Jesus Christ. If the Kingdom means anything we need to begin with the kingship, or Lordship of Jesus Christ. He obviously meant to inaugurate a new polis built on the basis of his person and teaching. Faith in the risen Christ means ultimate allegiance to him as Lord , and then living in communities that seek to live by the values of the Kingdom Christ inaugurated. I think that we should think in terms of kingdom communities, that love out those values. Most important, we cannot bring the kingdom to bear in this world, it only bear witness to it. The church community does not seek power, but to live by the values of the kingdom, and thus to be a light to the world, until Christ brings his kingdom to a renewed creation.
Very well said @Leonard & thank you for that.
Somewhere I heard politics defined as “public policy”, how we get along with one another. I’m always drawn to Jesus’s final command, to love as He has loved. While seemingly vague it ends up being very specific, accountable & places a lot of responsibility on us & is likely the heaviest burden we shall ever carry. “What does love require of me?” Is another way of keeping this front & center. Love, as Jesus exemplified, requires us to lay down our own lives (our pride, envy, jealousy, etc) for another. I’m constantly reminded that my grievance with “them” is pride & that that must be laid down & put to death on Jesus’s Cross.
Once you stopped standing on my toes, you opened the door to some much-needed (for myself, at least) questions and reflection. Thank you.