As promised here are some more reflections from Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption (see post on 1/31/08). At the end of the chapter "The Great King Above All Gods," Johnson makes an observation that is particularly timely give this season of primaries and political speculation. He writes:
"We [Christians] are too easily seduced by the manipulation of religious affections in the service of political agendas, too easily tempted to promote the kingdom of God through alliance with the power brokers of our culture. God calls us, of course, to be good citizens and good neighbors, not withdrawn from society and its problems, but rather engaged in the pursuit of mercy and justice. But Luke's portrait of the gospel's confrontation with 'institutional religion' in the Greco-Roman world reminds us that our combat weapons are not the feeble weapons of the flesh."
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2 comments:
In my opinion this is Rowen Williams main problem this week as well. He is the head of a church but is speaking more like a politician. Although I suppose we could go the other way too and say that people are ascribing messianic qualities to Barack Obama and his political campaign. He's just another politician, but it seems like he is being adopted as the hope of the nation, even by those who claim to know our only hope is Jesus. We are living in an interesting world indeed.
Good insight Miss Brown. It is really interesting to see how powerful (and semonic in many cases)Obama's rhetorical style is. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks. If nothing else his campaign has revealed how greatly people long for someone who is worthy of their hope.
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