24 April 2006

Sorry for the glitch on Friday...and one today (Monday)!
Today is more on the principalities and powers in Paul's thought in "Christ and Violence" by Ronald Sider.

The Pauline view that the principalities and powers are part of the good creation would seem to support the view that government is not merely a necessity because of the Fall. Rather, government is necessary and desirable for human existence, not just fallen human existence.
The expectation that the principalities and powers will ultimately be purged of the corrupting effects of the Fall underlines Paul's view that they are part of the good creation. After noting in Colossians 1:16 that all things both visible and invisible in heaven and earth were created through Jesus Christ, Paul goes on to declare that "all things, whether on earth or in heaven" will finally be reconciled to God through the cross.

I was going to continue with this quote but I was caught off guard by this last statement. This seems to be describing the most radical transformation that is possible. If the powers and principalities and all things, whether on earth or in heave are reconciled to God through the cross, this means that the way of the cross becomes the life among us. This means that sacrificial love will be the way - not a dream but the way - that the principalities and powers will be transformed. To be quite honest this seems impossible unless life in this world is turned upside down. That is, unless the powers hand over power to those who do not use power to overwhelm or rule over others, then things will go on as is always for us. And yet, there is this promise - this vision - that the cross will reconcile all. Can that be possible? Today I was once again shaken by how often power corrupts and makes common, ordinary, and gifted people into shades of demonic power. Power in the way power is created within the systems of our world never give power up or let it be transformed. And yet, we live by a promise and therefore must begin living as though just such a transformation is coming. That would mean...that we are a part of what is not yet. Sounds like resurrection life to me.

Connection: It is never easy (or even possible) to be a part of the life of reconciliation that makes up the transformation of all power. Then again...today will offer all of us many opportunities to practice just such a vision in our lives.

By your cross, O God, you called us all into a new life and you promise to bring about the radical transformation of all that is. When we are overwhelmed by the destructive nature of the principalities and powers, encourage us to show forth the life that follows the way of your cross. Amen.