PublicChristian

I. Pessimistic

Here’s a sad quote from a good Catholic philosopher, going from his own knowledge of history:

In nearly every historical case we can think of, the bias of a group lasts the lifetime of the group… Truly moral communities hardly ever result from the reformation of a previously selfish community. They nearly always spring from prophetic leaders who gather members from among the disenfranchised in other communities.

That is, the institutions of the religious right are unlikely to reform themselves, and are likely to continue losing people to more carefully Biblical fellowships.
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Jesus did NOT tell his oppressed hearers not to resist evil. That would have been absurd. His entire ministry is utterly at odds with such a preposterous idea.
- Walter Wink

I. THE PROBLEM:

Jesus said to “turn the other cheek”: » Continue Reading »

Algeria

We watched the documentary-style classic The Battle of Algiers for the first time the other night.

After 130 years of being the colonial rulers in Algeria, in 1957 the French became targets of a sudden and violent terrorist uprising among the native Muslim population of the city. It was brutally crushed by French terrorism including quarantine of whole sections of the city, torture, and assassination.

I am not an expert at all on these events. But » Continue Reading »

These are the quotes from one of the quote cycles that gets used in the upper right corner of this site. Soul food! Excellent stuff on theology meeting real life.

There are links here to several books, all of which I think are quite valuable. Because of their combination of brevity and potency, I particularly recommend the two books by Walter Wink (on NonViolence [highest recommendation], and on Reconciliation).

The following are from Walter Wink, mostly from his
Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way and
When the Powers Fall: Reconciliation and the Healing of Nations, two short books that I highly recommend.
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“Love of enemies has, for our time, become the litmus test of authentic Christian faith …. Love of enemies is the recognition that the enemy, too, is a child of God.”

The author of those lines was writing about thieves, extortioners, torturers, murderers, tyrants – not just someone who belongs to a different denomination. It’s a very costly standard Jesus asks of us – “love your enemies” and “pray for those who misuse you.”

But it goes beyond that. I have to assume that the efforts at grace, or at least careful honesty, that we expend in trying to deal with our enemies – whatever the type of conflict, whatever the situation – those efforts should be the minimum standard that we apply when dealing with our allies – whatever the conflict we have with them or the errors we discern in them.

If enemies deserve love, honesty and carefulness from us, how much more should allies deserve these things. And, at least in principle, it is easier to practice this with allies. Allies can be very irritating, and horribly offensive to one’s pride, but it’s REALLY hard with true enemies!

“And no one can show others the error that is in them, as Thomas Merton wisely remarked, unless the others are convinced that their critic first sees and loves the good that is in them.”

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I. THE PROBLEM

[See a summary of this post.]

Matthew 5:38-42

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Is it ever appropriate for Christians to resist authority? Many of us feel there is much in the behavior of our national leaders that cries out for criticism and resistance. Are Christians permitted to do that? Does “turn the other cheek” mean we should be doormats?

“Doormat” was not Jesus’ style, nor the style of his followers » Continue Reading »