Christ freed us from a master who desired to destroy us and we now have a new master, one that liberates and empowers. We don’t need an umbrella because Jesus gives the church and us his very self.
Your insight into God's destabilizing models of leadership jumped right off the page when I read it. It's been right there under our nose the entire time. I think most Christian's sense that Jesus's kingdom is quintessential disruption. However, when a culturally normative, worldly, and carnal model of leadership (power) is being couched as "godly" then you need a moral decline narrative or a "culture war" to justify it as "different." After all, how can this be light when it blends in with the historic darkness of oppression and marginalization? How can it be "salt" when it seems to be of the same flavor as how things are and how things have always been? Solution - cue the argument that liberalism, feminism, progressivism are modern Goliaths requiring the traditionalist stones flung from the hands of those brave enough to stare them down. There is a war for the soul of society and God's army needs to stand up for such a time as this. After all, what's braver than marginalizing and oppressing women? True valor at its finest - a real William Wallace movement (as one very famous reformist liked to call himself online). These theologies of contempt and adversity towards those Christ loves are all a ruse whether it is intended to be or not. Even when there is a "true" enemy, Jesus said to love them and pray for them. The truth is that there is nothing edgy about continuing the tradition of men holding power over women - same darkness, no flavor here. However, a real Jesus movement is quintessential disruption, first, in our own hearts and then our communities. I'm bored with the dark and bland. As Jesus said in "The Chosen", get ready for different.
Thank you for writing so beautifully and boldly, Amber! The way you write paints a picture of well-stewarded and used power. Given Jesus is the Truth, and the truth will set us free; it seems to me, if the use of power doesn't lead to greater freedom, it's neither true or of Jesus. And, as you brilliantly name, Truth is destabilizing ... in a beautiful way! I can't wait for you next post.
Christ freed us from a master who desired to destroy us and we now have a new master, one that liberates and empowers. We don’t need an umbrella because Jesus gives the church and us his very self.
Keep writing!
Your insight into God's destabilizing models of leadership jumped right off the page when I read it. It's been right there under our nose the entire time. I think most Christian's sense that Jesus's kingdom is quintessential disruption. However, when a culturally normative, worldly, and carnal model of leadership (power) is being couched as "godly" then you need a moral decline narrative or a "culture war" to justify it as "different." After all, how can this be light when it blends in with the historic darkness of oppression and marginalization? How can it be "salt" when it seems to be of the same flavor as how things are and how things have always been? Solution - cue the argument that liberalism, feminism, progressivism are modern Goliaths requiring the traditionalist stones flung from the hands of those brave enough to stare them down. There is a war for the soul of society and God's army needs to stand up for such a time as this. After all, what's braver than marginalizing and oppressing women? True valor at its finest - a real William Wallace movement (as one very famous reformist liked to call himself online). These theologies of contempt and adversity towards those Christ loves are all a ruse whether it is intended to be or not. Even when there is a "true" enemy, Jesus said to love them and pray for them. The truth is that there is nothing edgy about continuing the tradition of men holding power over women - same darkness, no flavor here. However, a real Jesus movement is quintessential disruption, first, in our own hearts and then our communities. I'm bored with the dark and bland. As Jesus said in "The Chosen", get ready for different.
Such great points!
Yes! 🙌🏽
Thank you for writing so beautifully and boldly, Amber! The way you write paints a picture of well-stewarded and used power. Given Jesus is the Truth, and the truth will set us free; it seems to me, if the use of power doesn't lead to greater freedom, it's neither true or of Jesus. And, as you brilliantly name, Truth is destabilizing ... in a beautiful way! I can't wait for you next post.