". . . you may believe fallen men to be so wicked that not one of them can be trusted with any responsible power over his fellows. That I believe to be the true ground of democracy." C. S. Lewis (To see the complete quote, click on the link below.)
Tag: political power
Pastor Note #147: The Danger and Dysfunction of the Pentagon’s Religions List
"What is certain is that all Christians should be very wary of any government that attempts to decide what constitutes true Christianity. As soon as it does, all Christians are in trouble." (For complete post, click the link below.)
Quote of Note #254: Not by Violence but by Self-Giving Love
"At the heart of John’s kingdom theology is God’s love revealed in the death of his Son, the Lamb, the Messiah. This is conquest, but by love. This is power, but in weakness. This is kingship, but in self-giving suffering for others." Wright & Bird (For the full 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 #146: “One of ours; All of yours”
“One of ours; All of yours” is the very essence of the spirit of Lamech. It is not the path to greatness. It is the path to degenerateness and degradation. “One of ours; All of yours” is the very antithesis of Jesus. And so, it is no surprise that the MAGA love of the Lamech spirit would make that movement pretty much allergic to Jesus." (For the full post, click the link below.)
Quote of Note #239: “Not so with you!”: Servanthood as Discipleship
"Power is seductive, and it warps those who seek it. The only way to overcome power's allure is to be a servant." J. Hooten Wilson (For full quote, click link below.)
Quote of Note #232: A Kingdom without a Cross
"Christian nationalism is impoverished as it seeks a kingdom without a cross. It pursues a victory without mercy. It acclaims God's love of power rather than the power of God's love." Wright & Bird (click link below for full quote)
Quote of Note #230: Church & State in Tension
"We know also from our reading of history, that a certain tension between the Church and State is desirable. When Church and State fall out completely, it is ill with the commonwealth; and when Church and State get on too well together, there is something wrong with the Church." T. S. Eliot (click link for full quote)
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)."
Pastor Note #143: Coercion & the Kingdom of God
Here’s an important diagnostic question for American Christians to ask themselves: “Does my vision for the kingdom of God rely on coercively imposing righteousness on my neighbors?” Said another way, “Do I see the kingdom of God as something that should be forced upon people against their will? Are people coerced into the kingdom of God or invited into it?”
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 