" Grant me wisdom and self-control so that I might bear witness to the truth only in ways that build up love and unity in your church." (For the complete prayer, click the link below.)
Tag: love of power
Quote of Note #260: Justice & the Power of Privilege
"Privilege aborts justice, leading judicial systems, power structures, and governments to treat a person or group preferentially--with more compassion and dignity than others...." (For the complete quote, click the link below.)
Bible Note #66: God’s Big Vision in Jesus
"Help us to display the humility and compassion of the heart of Jesus, which is far more powerful than anything the “great ones” of the earth put on display. Lift our small vision above our own small borders, so that we might catch a vision of your all-encompassing, world-transforming goodness. Amen."
Pastor Note #144: Jesus vs. Brutality & Inhumanity
"To truly follow Jesus is to follow the lamb who was slain (Rev. 5:6), not the roaring lion “seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8)."
Quote of Note #224: Theocracy–the Worst Form of Government
"I am a democrat because I believe that no man or group of men is good enough to be trusted with uncontrolled power over others." C. S. Lewis
Quote of Note #219: Serving Others, Not Controlling Them
"If self-denial is at the heart of the kingdom [of God], controlling others is anti-kingdom." S. Bezner
Pastor Note #141: Getting My Bearing for These Times (Cont.): Rejecting Coercion
Coercion can never achieve the kingdom of God. I do not believe it is ever God’s desire or plan that any one group of Christians should aspire to get its hands on the levers of coercive governmental power and use that coercive power to impose its will on its unwilling neighbors. Again, coercion cannot and will never achieve the kingdom of God.
Quote of Note #208: Compassion as Social Critique
"Thus the compassion of Jesus is to be understood not simply as a personal emotional reaction but as a public criticism in which he dares to act upon his concern against the entire numbness of his social context." W. Brueggemann
Quote of Note #199: Coercive Force vs. Humble Love
"Loving humility is marvelously strong, the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it."
Bible Note #56: Mark 10:35-45 & Serving or Ruling Over
So, we’ve just come out of an election. Some Christian folks are delighted. Some Christian folks are despairing. Both are wrong because both are badly misguided. The first group—the delighted group—is delighted because they believe they now have their hands on the levers of power. The second group—the despairing group—is despairing because they believe they … Continue reading Bible Note #56: Mark 10:35-45 & Serving or Ruling Over
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 