Friday 2 March 2007

Today we continue with Cornel West and what he has to say about the "crisis of Christian Identity in America.

Most American Constantinian Christians are unaware of their imperialistic identity because they do not see the parallel between the Roman empire that put Jesus to death and the American empire that they celebrate. As long as they can worship freely and pursue the American dream, they see the American government as a force for good and American imperialism as a desirable force for spreading that good. They proudly profess their allegiance to the flag and the cross not realizing that just as the cross was a bloody indictment of the Roman empire, it is a powerful critique of the American empire, and they fail to acknowledge that the cozy relationship between their Christian leaders and imperial American rulers may mirror the intimate ties between the religious leaders and the imperial Roman rulers who crucified their Savior.

In this critique, it is important to remember that West is going after the notion of empire and, as the book jacket notes, "winning the fight against imperialism." When he addresses the church, he seems to do it as one trying to help us see what we get ourselves into when we (as church) do not come into the public square knowing how this system of power can and does use the church to help move along its agenda. What he doesn't touch on is how in Jesus' day, it was not the church but some of the Jewish leadership who were playing the game of power with the Romans and the thus maintaining the power of the empire. The ones who resisted were the the Jews who were killed by Rome for rebellion. The ones who went along with whatever Rome wanted in order to keep what they thought was the status-quo in tact, would never think of offering a prophetic word in their day. Instead, they would do whatever needed to be done to keep their place secure. We must remember that for Jesus, there was no need to go along with anyone. The powers of empire and the religious powers of his day needed a new word and he was more concerned with living within that word. Therefore, every one of his actions - even healing the sick - was seen as some sort of rebellion...some sort of movement against the system and thus a threat. He was not being threatening, he was being the Child of God he was designated in a world that wasn't all that interested in the radical loving ways of Jesus and his followers.

Connection: Being faithful today involves a critical eye. That eye must have in view the prophetic teachings of Jesus and the cross and resurrection. Then as we go along through the day, we can look at what the powers of the day are doing and where they go a ways quite different from Jesus...and how we are so very often going with them.

Lord of New Life, you really do bring life that is transformed from our simple need to be in control and secure. You pull us into your Reign in which life longs and works for the shalom - the wholeness - the peace - of your promised land. Encourage us in this day. Amen.