CONFRONTING THE POWERS THAT
BE
On
Redeeming the Powers
Session 3
...for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all
things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before
all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16,17 NRSV
Readings: TPTB - Chapter 1 (last third); ETP - Chapters 3, & 4
What might it mean to "transform' the Powers in our societies, that
is, to enable them to do good rather than evil, to help them recover and
live out their unique calling from God? Wink writes:
God at one and the same time upholds a given political and
economic system, since some such system is required to support human life;
condemns
that system insofar as it is destructive of fully human life; and presses
for its transformation into a more humane order. Conservatives stress
the first, revolutionaries the second, reformers the third. The Christian
is expected to hold together all three. (TPTB 32 )
Individuals feel helpless to change anything about the huge power structures
of our time. So often we not only do nothing but try to avoid thinking
about the problems. Wink writes:
We are speaking now of a deeper evil--a layer of sludge beneath
the murky waters that can be characterized only as a hellish hatred of
the light, of truth, of kindness and compassion, a brute lust for annihilation.
It is the sedimentation of thousands of years of human choices for evil
(not wrong choices merely, but actual choices for evil) that has precipitated
Satan as the spirituality of evil. Call it what you will, it is real. (ETP
69)
The spiritual task is to unmask this idolatry and recall the powers
to their created purposes in the world. But this can scarcely be accomplished
by individuals. A group is needed--what the New Testament calls an ekklesia
(assembly)--one that exists specifically for the task of recalling these
Powers to their divine vocation. (TPTB 29)
For Discussion
1. Does your congregation have a "mission statement?" Does it call for
undertaking anything like "the task of recalling these powers to their
divine vocation?" (TPTB 29) What is your congregation doing to transform
society, to bring institutionalized power under the control of the will
and purpose of God?
2. Many believe every kind of institutionalized power needs a watcher.
Examples: A Congressional Budget Office rides herd on Presidential opinions
on the federal budget. Sweden provides for "ombudsmen" to look after the
complaints of individuals who may be victimized by institutions. Denominations
have bought stock in order to call the corporation to concern about the
effect of its actions on individuals or environment. Are these ways to
make Powers more responsive to God? Where else might ombudsmen be helpful?
Do you know of any churches which engage in ombudsman activities?
3. This week read chapters 12, 13 and 18 of the book of Revelation,
recognizing that the Babylon of the writer is the Roman Empire which was
persecuting Christians and had become, to the author, an incarnation of
satanic evil. Contrast this with Romans 13, where government is seen as
essential to human well-being and worthy of support. How should we as Christians
look at our government?
Copyright © 1998 by Vern
Rossman
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