A Political Movement

[bbyrd009]

"A political movement by nature draws lines, makes distinctions, pronounces judgement; in contrast, Jesus' love cuts across lines, transcends distinctions, and dispenses grace. Regardless of the merits of a given issue--whether a pro-life lobby out of the Right or a peace-and-justice lobby out of the Left--political movements risk pulling onto themselves the mantle of power that smothers love. From Jesus I learn that, whatever activism I get involved in, it must not drive out love and humility, or otherwise I betray the kingdom of heaven.

...Sheep among wolves, a tiny seed in the garden, yeast in bread dough, salt in meat: Jesus' own metaphors of the kingdom describe a kind of "secret force" that works from within. He said nothing of a triumphant church sharing power with the authorities. The kingdom of God appears to work best as a minority movement, in opposition to the kingdom of this world. When it grows beyond that, the kingdom subtly changes in nature.

For this reason, I must say in an aside, I worry about the recent surge of power among U.S. Christians, who seem to be focusing more and more on political means. Once Christians were ignored or scorned; now they are courted by every savvy politician. Evangelicals especially are identified with a certain political stance,so much so that the news media use the terms "evangelical" and "religious right" interchangeably. When I ask a stranger, "What is an evangelical Christian?" I get an answer something like this: "Someone who supports family values and opposes homosexual rights and abortion."
The Jesus I Never KnewPhilip Yancey

[Dedicated Mind]

andrew sullivan has a newsweek article for the easter issue that talks about politics and christianity. politics requires the threat and use of force which is antichristian. Jesus was not about political power and many christians confuse the two. good article. worth the read.

http://magazine-directory.com/Newsweek.htm

click forget the church follow jesus under most popular

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

"A political movement by nature draws lines, makes distinctions, pronounces judgement; in contrast, Jesus' love cuts across lines, transcends distinctions, and dispenses grace. Regardless of the merits of a given issue--whether a pro-life lobby out of the Right or a peace-and-justice lobby out of the Left--political movements risk pulling onto themselves the mantle of power that smothers love. From Jesus I learn that, whatever activism I get involved in, it must not drive out love and humility, or otherwise I betray the kingdom of heaven.

...Sheep among wolves, a tiny seed in the garden, yeast in bread dough, salt in meat: Jesus' own metaphors of the kingdom describe a kind of "secret force" that works from within. He said nothing of a triumphant church sharing power with the authorities. The kingdom of God appears to work best as a minority movement, in opposition to the kingdom of this world. When it grows beyond that, the kingdom subtly changes in nature.

For this reason, I must say in an aside, I worry about the recent surge of power among U.S. Christians, who seem to be focusing more and more on political means. Once Christians were ignored or scorned; now they are courted by every savvy politician. Evangelicals especially are identified with a certain political stance,so much so that the news media use the terms "evangelical" and "religious right" interchangeably. When I ask a stranger, "What is an evangelical Christian?" I get an answer something like this: "Someone who supports family values and opposes homosexual rights and abortion."
The Jesus I Never KnewPhilip Yancey

Reading that book myself right now. Words that speak very loudly right now in the midst of the political turmoil we see around us.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Reading that book myself right now. Words that speak very loudly right now in the midst of the political turmoil we see around us.

Amen. The politics thing is just an aside at the end, and to be fair, the next paragraph after the quoted concedes some political activism that I would not.
Prolly one of the...5? 3? Most powerful books I've ever read. Not recommended for pastors who are comfortable; or anyone who reads a physical battle in the Revelation.